Tailgating - one response

[bobh41]

From the Kansas City Star 3/21/2007:

Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Woman opens fire on tailgater
A woman near Detroit is charged with opening fire on a truck that had been tailgating her, following her across lanes. So she allegedly pulled alongside and fired at the pickup's tires with her 9mm. (The lady's mom says they were just warning shots.) The woman's family says she's been under a lot of stress because her mom and son have been sick.

From the story: When she was arrested, she told police, "I'm tired of people tailgating me."

(---- ya' gotta start somewhere)

[SIBUD]

Guess that guy won't tailgate again.

[jdmetzger]

The fact that she only shot at the tire shows a lot of restraint, I think. :)

I don't know how many times I've WANTED to do that to someone when driving through Detroit!

:nra

BTW: I think that guy isn't very bright; after she shot at him, he followed her and flagged down an officer. Personally, I can't see following someone who has taken a shot at me.

[RandyB]

:nra

BTW: I think that guy isn't very bright; after she shot at him, he followed her and flagged down an officer. Personally, I can't see following someone who has taken a shot at me.


Advice for the ages. We pay people to do that. We call them cops and soldiers.

I have a bud who is a retired Detroit homicide detective. This sounds pretty normal from what he's told me.

[GeneT]

In South Florida we turn on the nightly news to see how many of our neighbors have been shot. New average seems to be one a day.

:mad

[crazydrummerdude]

If slow drivers would stay right, we wouldn't see so much of this.

In St Charles, MO.. people drive 55 in the fast lane, oblivious to the 30 cars behind them. I think around here people do it just to be annoying.

[BeemoKat]

I have a bud who is a retired Detroit homicide detective. This sounds pretty normal from what he's told me.

Deeetroit style, the Murder City. ;)

[OfficerImpersonator]

Just ride an old bike with worn-out rings - the "smoke screen effect" will keep tailgaters way back!

[jdiaz]

I have a bud who is a retired Detroit homicide detective. This sounds pretty normal from what he's told me.
A friend of mine had a t-shirt that said:

Come back to Detroit, We missed you the first time

:laugh

[jdmetzger]

Just ride an old bike with worn-out rings - the "smoke screen effect" will keep tailgaters way back!

I'm not sure anyone would notice this in the fresh Detroit air. :doh

:D

[PAULBACH]

Try this solution. Saw them in Daytona.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Make them :nra operational and it is a rider's dream come true, especially for S.Floriduh :stick :laugh

[OfficerImpersonator]

Try this solution. Saw them in Daytona.

That's EXACTLY what I need.

Do they come with a fork mount option for firing forward?

Maybe next year's model will be a directed energy weapon?

"Get outta my way or I'm rearranging the molecular structure of your cage!"

[tommcgee]

Try this solution. Saw them in Daytona.

Dunstall Decibel Megaphones circa 1975.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/5512/file0165bd9.jpg

[bmdubyou]

Here's what one gal did to me for allowing her to follow so closely last Sunday. During the 6 or 7 miles that she was behind me I used my windshield washer twice to get her to back off which she did and actually had to use her wipers...she was that close. but then when I came to my turn, she "fell asleep" again and ran me off the road. Thank God I was in the cage because I wouldve been riding that day...of course I'm a different driver on the bike-much more proactive!

[BlackHoof]

My favorite pet peeve/homicidal rage inciting behavior. I've engaged
in every behavior known to man/woman to get people to back off.
My latest tactic is to just pull over & let the a** faces go by, & hope
that someday someone just blows them away for their inconsiderate
dangerous behavior. Rant off...

[godzilla]

That's EXACTLY what I need.

Do they come with a fork mount option for firing forward?

Maybe next year's model will be a directed energy weapon?

"Get outta my way or I'm rearranging the molecular structure of your cage!"

I've been after them to get me a Hand-Held DEW. The program manager thought that would be a great idea and wants one for herself!

[CTHalk]

I've long thought abouut a nice fat CS teargas canister in the saddlebag, with a spray nozzle (well camouflaged) pointing rearward. A little servo to actuate it, and a button up front. I'm sure a blast of that stuff into a grill, and then up through the fresh air intake would cause them to back off. Works great for skunks. Most things avoid skunks. My bike is black-and-white too. Hmmmm..

[Crow18]

I think if you nonchalantly lobbed an egg over your shoulder, you might get your point across.

If you are close enough to be hit by the egg...

[RandyB]

I've long thought abouut a nice fat CS teargas canister in the saddlebag, with a spray nozzle (well camouflaged) pointing rearward. A little servo to actuate it, and a button up front. I'm sure a blast of that stuff into a grill, and then up through the fresh air intake would cause them to back off. Works great for skunks. Most things avoid skunks. My bike is black-and-white too. Hmmmm..


Pepper mace works, as long as you can stand it being sucked back into your Humvee. The guy behind us crashed. Better than shooting him. Same on a bike I would imagine.

Marbles, they tell me.

[YELLOW_S]

The reason why you can't have a gun with you while driving your bike, you can never carry enough ammo to be satisfied.

[bobh41]

When driving my truck or Buick. If someone is serious about tailgating me they are going to do it at ten mph - if that's what it takes. I normally drive a little bit fast but there are a few who just seem to want to "connect" with my rear end.

My high school driver ed instructions were to slow and move to the right - which I continue to do to this day. On a two-lane country road that doesn't help much - and that's where people seem to love to tailgate, especially on a blind curve or hill with limited visibility.

On the freeway, at minimum 45mph most people will wake up and go around. The ones who don't are unbelievable. I have even turned on the emergency blinkers on a couple of occasions. If that doesn't do it I look for an exit - cause they must want something they think I have.

I get out of the way of tailgating 18 wheelers.

[BONEY]

My latest tactic is to just pull over & let the a** faces go by

And definately the best one yet.

[manicmechanic]

I've often considered carrying some paintballs in the tankbag, and tossing one over the shoulder.

Regarding the slowing down idea, lo-o-o-ng ago I was living in upstate NY, going to school. A buddy had washed out and was sent to sea, but he couldn't take some of his belongings, in particular a machete. I couldn't keep it in the house with an infant crawling around, so I kept it in the car alongside the driver's seat. One day the family and I were driving somewhere and the tailgater wouldn't pass, no matter how much I slowed. So I finally pulled over and stopped. He pulled around and stopped in front, got out and started approaching my car with a tire iron. I got out and, as he got to the front of my car, I pulled out the machete. He turned around and left. I'm not sure I understand what his problem was.

[bobh41]

seems to characterize this incident (not accident). I'm no lawyer and wouldn't know how to advise in this case - but I would clertainly recommend checking into the possibility of criminal charges. We have laws against road rage that can net fines and jail time - and news reports have shown people being arrested just for screaming and gesturing. Why not pursue legal means to remedy what appears to be a clear instance of assault - even if it is "negligent"?:deal

[bobh41]

My "negligent battery" comments are inreference to mcclimans84rt rear-end photo.

[aerialfilm1]

Once while leaving an Orlando Magic B-Ball game, some goober was up my keester in the slow single file crawl out of the multi level parking garage. You know the type. Lots of hand jesters, shoulder shrugging, and neck straining to see if I was the traffic clog or maybe one of the other nine buh-zillion cars ahead. After his frustration got the best of him and he layed on his horn (that always helps), I couldn't resist any longer. I told my GF to watch his face. I threw the car in park, blocking the lane completlely, hit the hazards, got out and walked to the front. Then I popped open my hood as if something was wrong. I tried looking perplexed like " it just died." Well truth be told there was nothing wrong with my car, but to watch that guys head explode was priceless. After a short time watching this more important than anyone else bung-hole have a melt down, I took sympathy on his family who had to bear the brunt of his rage. I dropped the hood, got back in and closed the now 2 car gap between me and the next car ahead. I then maintained a safe one car length following distance til we all got out of the garage, just to torture him further.

The whole thing took less time to do than it did to read about it. But that jag-off thought it couldn't get any worse, and I showed him that it certainly could.

Just doin my part. :thumb

[manicmechanic]

Had another event, this time in VA. Limited access highway, just about dusk when you can't see much and the headlights aren't very effective. '67 Chevy, 3-on-the-tree, broken switch for the back-up lights, so I installed a toggle switch on the dash. Wife-n-kids in the car, passing another vehicle, when a 2-headed monster in a go-fast car gets right on my bumper, trying to get me to pass faster. Drop it up into second, hit the back-up lights, and drop the clutch. See his headlights get real small.

[BradfordBenn]

Just remember you are on a bike not as protected as the one in the cage. Discretion is sometimes the better solution. So I just get out of their way and enjoy the ride.

[bmdubyou]

Hey Jeff Vaughn..I actually got a chuckle from that one!
We just have to remember...people are just knuckleheads and it usually doesnt make things better when we participate in bad driving. Perhaps pulling over might be the best thing (as much as I hate seeing some goofball getting ahead..its like letting them win...they might start to think that intimidation is the way to drive. but they dont care how they drive anyway. so who knows?) We can try all different things to get them to back off...its been a dilemma for years....remember the bumper stickers.."if you can read this-you're too close" & "stop following so close or I'll flick boogers at you" or Yosemite Sam saying "back off" mud flaps! The whole road rage thing is bad news....I'm guilty so I'm preaching to me too!

[bmdubyou]

BobH41
"Negligent battery

seems to characterize this incident (not accident). I'm no lawyer and wouldn't know how to advise in this case - but I would clertainly recommend checking into the possibility of criminal charges. We have laws against road rage that can net fines and jail time - and news reports have shown people being arrested just for screaming and gesturing. Why not pursue legal means to remedy what appears to be a clear instance of assault - even if it is "negligent"? "

---------------------------
You dont mean that I'M the one who was negligent do ya?? haha
just kidding. what do you mean...about "legal means"??

[aerialfilm1]

We just have to remember...people are just knuckleheads

I used to be one of those always in a hurry people. About 6 years ago I was heading out of Orlando up to North Carolina. I picked the worst day to to make the trip. The last day of Bike Week in Daytona. So in bumper to bumper traffic, I get slamed from behind ( :laugh ) by some moron with his cruise control set to stun, driving a large p/u truck with a trailer full of bikes heading home to Texas. The pain from that wreck that I carry to this day serves as a reminder to leave early, drive relaxed and get there relaxed in one piece.

Having said that, it sure is fun tweek the great unwashed public from time to time.:stick

[bmdubyou]

"Having said that, it sure is fun tweek the great unwashed public from time to time."


HuH??
:dunno

[bobh41]

You dont mean that I'M the one who was negligent do ya?? haha
just kidding. what do you mean...about "legal means"??

Legal means - "criminal [anything]" calls for action from the justice system. Again, not being a lawyer, I don't know if this is workable, but my view is that there may be a case for a police citation or arrest for a criminal action on the part of your tailgater. (She either intentionally or negligently plowed into you even after you signified - by spraying the windshield washer fluid - the danger she posed to you by tailgating. Who knows, maybe she intended you harm for some reason known only to her.) An arrest or citation would only require one or more witnesses to the event.

Otherwise a civil suit might be brought against her (pain and suffering?) In this case you would employ an attorney.

This is purely speculative on my part. It just seems to me there must be a recourse for the suffering caused by stupidity, ignorance or carelessness (or evil intentions ??) of some drivers.

No, I don't mean you were negligent or doing wrong in any way. As they say - this is just my 2c.

[bmdubyou]

I see. I'm pretty sure she wasn't acting intentionally. I did have to sign the ticket because the officer could not issue one since they didnt witness the accident. I am seeing a doctor...still having neck/head pain.

[bobh41]

The myths and stories I've heard about Chicago police would have induced me to wrap my drivers license in a "C Note" in order to gain advantage here. (This was protocol for driving in Tijuana when I worked there a lifetime ago, except that the amount was only a twenty.)

I'm very surprised with the outcome. I was under the impression that running into the back of the car ahead was a sort of "automatic" fault for the car following. No?