Do you brake-check people?

[adrian]

When people are tailgating you, do you be a *(insert your word for a "not a nice person")* and brake-check (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brake+check) them?

Tonight, I had a minivan riding on my behind (probably 2 inches - gotta love trunkless vehicles). Usually I don't like that, but I was already going over the speed limit, so I just pissed him off and slowed down.

And what I don't get is why people have to speed? It was almost midnight - unless they were going to the ball and their Cinderella was about to be turned back into a witch.

[Kungpao]

When people are tailgating you, do you be a *(insert your word for a "not a nice person")* and brake-check (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=brake+check) them?

Tonight, I had a minivan riding on my behind (probably 2 inches - gotta love trunkless vehicles). Usually I don't like that, but I was already going over the speed limit, so I just pissed him off and slowed down.

And what I don't get is why people have to speed? It was almost midnight - unless they were going to the ball and their Cinderella was about to be turned back into a witch.

My Pa tells me about what they call "Curtesey lights" in the Philippines. Basically, an offroad light mounted to the rear of the vehicle. Course... that's ILLEGAL here. Thenagain... I could always claim that it's a backuplight for a boat or trailer of somesort hehe.

I tend to slow as well.

[Da Rolling Eye]

When I was young, stupid and full of myself, jam'em. I learned real quick, the rage can go both ways. :eek:

Nowdays, when this grouchy old fart is tailgated and I'm already exceeding the posted speed limit, I gradually slow down to the speed limit and torture them. My observation is that very few actually tailgate maliciously. Most are too busy talking story with passengers or talking on the cel to notice that they're driving too close. The majority end up going around or backing off to a safe distance. The few really stupid ones don't catch on and just keep coming. :rolleyes:

[blueyecicle]

On the very rare occasion someone is behind me....I just get in the other lane or slow and pull over.
Makes me nervous with kids in the car to have people so close.
But like I said usually I am out front anyways. I am told I am a NY driver at heart. Whatever that means??:rolleyes:

[Leo Lakio]

Nope. Not worth the danger to play games with idiot drivers. No brake-check, no slowdowns (they are likely already p!$$ed off, so why should I add to it while they are wielding a ton or more of weaponry?) Let 'em pass, and keep your own blood-pressure out of the stroke zone.

[Hellbent]

i slow down and block them in.

[Pomai]

I was behind a car yesterday that had a bumper sticker that read "I Brake for Tailgaters".

The driver was an elderly man. I suppose he has kids who put that on his car, knowing that he probably drives slow all over town. :D

[timkona]

I've yet to meet a driver in Hawaii who was skilled enough to keep up with me. So tailgating is never an issue.

Beep-Beep..............>>>>>>>>>>>@@@@@@@@

[cynsaligia]

i rarely drive on the freeway (bcs i pay high rent in town for the joy of not suffering traffic on a daily). but if i am already going 65 in a middle lane and some eftard is tailing my car's okole by a mere yard when he could easily switch lanes to the left...i slow down, usually by downshifting, not using my brakes. and then when said eftard finally switches lanes, i do what the beau taught me: yell, "I WIN!!"

muahahahahaha!!! :D

[zff]

I used to. Nowadays, I just leave them be. If it's really bad, I just pull over -- on the shoulder if necessary -- and let them pass.

[DaFerret]

I downshift to slow down too. Sometimes, when the tailgater switches lanes and I feel s/he's going to try to cut in front of me, I block him/her in the lane they got into. But usually I just want them away from me so I just slow down to give them the hint to back off or go around me.

To me, tailgaters aren't that much of a problem. It's inconvenient for me because I'll have to watch my speed and distance from the car in front of me in case they brake suddenly or whatever happens. Then at least I can slow down gradually and hopefully that'll prevent the idiot tailgater from crashing up my okole. It's other folks like no-signal swift lane-switchers, people in trucks or suv's that think they're more important and try to bully smaller vehicles out of their way (which doesn't work on me and usually ends up with me in front of them forcing them to go slow or me blocking them out of a lane they want to be in), that are worse. I think anyway.

[1stwahine]

I removed my post early this morning...must have been a gut feeling dat sumting was going to happen today. :rolleyes: It did!

Not about brakes...about Road Rage!

Just got home.

MAMA and Antonio were in Leimomi with me. A car driven by a Woman and a male passenger stopped all of a sudden in front of me at the corner of Aala Street and Beretania. The light was green. She continued to move very slowly on Beretania as if not knowing where to go. I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I distance Leimomi from her vehicle. Finally, I got into another lane. We came to the Stop light across Aala Park by the Bus Stop. She looked at me and said "Where did you get your driver's license from? Da Welfare Office?":eek:

MAMA tried to restrain me. Antonio got quiet. No...I didn't get outta Leimomi. I didn't have to. My mouth and eyes was ALL I needed. That few seconds at the Stop Sign was Hell for her!

Yeeeehhhaaaaaa!

rOAD rAGE?

Wat dat?

Have a great day everybody! Drive safe! Keep calm and don't let nothing bring ya down!;)

Auntie Lynn

[oceanpacific]

Don't brake-check them by stopping your car - you're likely to get rear-ended if they're following too closely. Instead, turn on your head-lights: your rear lights will go on, although not as intensely as stepping on the brakes. That should be enough to cause the idiot to slam on his brakes while you proceed merrily along your way.

[joshuatree]

Don't brake-check them by stopping your car - you're likely to get rear-ended if they're following too closely. Instead, turn on your head-lights: your rear lights will go on, although not as intensely as stepping on the brakes. That should be enough to cause the idiot to slam on his brakes while you proceed merrily along your way.

Yep, that's a much safer way for yourself. Or even just ease up on the gas and let your car slow down from road resistance. At some point, the guy in the back is gonna get it. If not, they will try to go around you. Then it's up to you, let'em pass or floor it to block'em off. :D

[Keanu]

I usually let them pass then I give them a taste of their own medicine. :D

[Leo Lakio]

Reading this thread, I get this sense that so many of you like to play traffic games - speeding, changing lanes with or otherwise behaving just like the tailgaters who annoy you.

That's the kind of behavior that I often hear Island residents say is "typical Mainland behavior." Guess that's wishful thinking on the part of some, eh?

Your vehicle is not a toy. It's a multi-ton machine that can maim and kill, if not operated properly - look at all the recent news on the rise in pedestrian accidents on O`ahu.

If some other driver is being an @$$ on the road, why would you have any desire to sink to their level and instantly double the number of fools behind the wheel? Just let them go on their way, people - you have nothing to prove to anyone, unless it is to show you can be just as stupid a driver.

Oh - and I'd wager the number of idiot drivers carrying weaponry is on the rise, too; feel like putting that theory to the test? Is it worth it?

[Keanu]

Reading this thread, I get this sense that so many of you like to play traffic games - speeding, changing lanes with or otherwise behaving just like the tailgaters who annoy you.

That's the kind of behavior that I often hear Island residents say is "typical Mainland behavior." Guess that's wishful thinking on the part of some, eh?

Your vehicle is not a toy. It's a multi-ton machine that can maim and kill, if not operated properly - look at all the recent news on the rise in pedestrian accidents on O`ahu.

If some other driver is being an @$$ on the road, why would you have any desire to sink to their level and instantly double the number of fools behind the wheel? Just let them go on their way, people - you have nothing to prove to anyone, unless it is to show you can be just as stupid a driver.

Oh - and I'd wager the number of idiot drivers carrying weaponry is on the rise, too; feel like putting that theory to the test? Is it worth it?


Good point Leo. Thanks for sharing that perspective. I think anger clouds our better judgement at times but you are absolutely correct.

[WindwardOahuRN]

On the very rare occasion someone is behind me....I just get in the other lane or slow and pull over.
Makes me nervous with kids in the car to have people so close.
But like I said usually I am out front anyways. I am told I am a NY driver at heart. Whatever that means??:rolleyes:

It's a compliment, IMHO. :D

[zff]

If you really want to see how unpleasant other drivers can be, try driving around in a flashy high-end sports car.

For the most part, I've found most people are friendlier than normal to someone in an exotic car, but every once in a while, you come across a startling level of rudeness. I've come across people who go out of their way to tailgate me, block me from changing into their lane or merging into their lane of traffic -- then go out of their way to make sure I know they're doing it intentionally. That kind of thing, I suppose, comes with the territory, but there are a few who are shockingly crass and vulgar. I pulled up at a stoplight once and heard the passenger in the car next to me say something like "look, a Ferrari" to the driver. He looked back at me, I smiled and gave a friendly wave... and to this innocuous gesture, the passenger begins to yell obscenities at me! "F**k you! You think you hot sh*t, just because you get one Ferrari? F**king asshole", etc. Other people I know who own exotic cars have shared similar stories.

[cynsaligia]

honestly, i think a gentle, yet firm reminder, whether it's slowing down or honking is better than just letting people slide with their selfish, oblivious to others and road rules kinda driving habits.

[Da Rolling Eye]

If you really want to see how unpleasant other drivers can be, try driving around in a flashy high-end sports car.

For the most part, I've found most people are friendlier than normal to someone in an exotic car, but every once in a while, you come across a startling level of rudeness. I've come across people who go out of their way to tailgate me, block me from changing into their lane or merging into their lane of traffic -- then go out of their way to make sure I know they're doing it intentionally. That kind of thing, I suppose, comes with the territory, but there are a few who are shockingly crass and vulgar. I pulled up at a stoplight once and heard the passenger in the car next to me say something like "look, a Ferrari" to the driver. He looked back at me, I smiled and gave a friendly wave... and to this innocuous gesture, the passenger begins to yell obscenities at me! "F**k you! You think you hot sh*t, just because you get one Ferrari? F**king asshole", etc. Other people I know who own exotic cars have shared similar stories.

They weren't rude, but this reminds me of the time I drove my BIL's 60's vintage Ferrari to school. Windward Community College. I guess one can hear the whine of the engine clear across campus and when I found a parking space and got out, a couple of big, mean looking bruddahs came up to me and asked, "EH!....", and I started thinking big trouble.........."Das wun keet caw?" :p

[adrian]

I downshift to slow down too.
QFT
(I use the auto-stick feature in my car)

And I heard that slowing your car down w/ your transmission is bad. Is it true?

[joshuatree]

QFT
(I use the auto-stick feature in my car)

And I heard that slowing your car down w/ your transmission is bad. Is it true?

Your Mazda3 has tiptronic?

On a manual, it isn't necessarily a bad thing to slow your car with your tranny if you use the right gears. Obviously, if your rolling at 40 MPH, you don't drop it into first. :D

[cezanne]

Don't brake-check them by stopping your car - you're likely to get rear-ended if they're following too closely. Instead, turn on your head-lights: your rear lights will go on, although not as intensely as stepping on the brakes. That should be enough to cause the idiot to slam on his brakes while you proceed merrily along your way.

Hah I thought I was the only one who does that. Yeah its kinda funny looking at that in the rear view mirror.

[oceanpacific]

Hah I thought I was the only one who does that. Yeah its kinda funny looking at that in the rear view mirror.

The best thing is that we avoid getting rear-ended by those idiots. What's their recourse? Admit that they were tail-gating?

Great minds think alike, wouldn't you say?

[Vanguard]

On the very rare occasion someone is behind me....I just get in the other lane or slow and pull over.

Good idea, tbh. Tailgaters probably don't have good judgment on average, so I don't take a chance, I simply get out of the way as soon as I can.

[christa]

tailgating is my BIGGEST driving pet peeve. seriously.

i usually don't take it personally because sometimes people just space out and don't realize how close they are. i always put on my hazzards when someone is tailgating and usually they will pass or back off.

[MixedPlateBroker]

There's a more than a few good reasons not to brake-check someone. But the top two that come to mind:
1. The motorist who is rear-ended in a two-car collision is far more likely to suffer serious or life-ending injuries. Check with the NHSTA or any accident scene investigator.
2. Some pissed-off icehead could give you the bump-and-run to your rear fender when they finally pass you, causing you spin out and, possibly, slam into the concrete divider. Police sometimes use this tactic to take out reckless drivers. You can catch it on and given NASCAR race.

The best way to deal wih tailgaters is to have your passenger call them in to the police while you calmly maintain your speed. Just think of it as a charitable donation to the state coffers.

[na alii]

I usually let them pass then I give them a taste of their own medicine. :D
If it's dark I let them pass then turn on the high beams behind them.