Last night, I was driving home on this twisty dark road. The road was so twisty, there is actually a sign on it that said "this road has dangerous turns". In addition to that, it was raining. Great driving weather.
When I turned out of the daycare onto this road, there was an SUV pulling out of the daycare behind me. Despite how dark, twisting, and rainy it was, this car stayed really close to me. It was so close, that its headlights were completely of obscuring my rearview mirror and even obscuring my windshield slightly. I really wanted the car to somehow pass me, but it seemed to be following me at every turn. Finally, when we got to a light, it quickly skidded ahead of me and went through a red light in order to pass me.
I really don't understand tailgating. I can't say I've never done it because somehow it's hard not to when do you want to get someplace fast and the car ahead of you is too slow, but it really just doesn't make any sense. This car being right behind me and blinding me was making me go slower, not faster. I don't think I've ever been tailgated by a car and it's made me go faster. In fact, I usually slow down because I figure if they slam into me, at least we'll all be going slower. I really doubt anyone speeds up when they're being tailgated.
In the case of that other car, they were doing something incredibly dangerous with their children in the car. They were tailgating on a slippery twisty road and then went through a red light. Is there anywhere you really need to get to that quickly to make it worth risking your life?
The most frequent tailgating I get is on this road near my house. I always slow down there because about 25% of the time, there is a cop car lying in wait. I'm holding my breath for the moment that the car behind me gets pulled over for tailgating me.
Ooooh! One of my most powerful pet peeves! Tailgating is a nasty habit. Very thoughtless to the car in front. If they are driving slow for whatever reason, unsafe conditions, not familiar with the area, looking for something...the LAST thing they need is a car pushing them.
ReplyDeleteYou may get your wish having the cop pull over a tailgater on your road...years ago I was travelling on an interstate highway, very light traffic. A woman rode my ass for miles, no apparent reason. I changed lanes, so did she. She was just plugged in. I was in the right lane and saw a police car coming up in the left lane. I flashed my brake lights repeatedly and - joy of joys - he saw it and pulled her over! I can't tell you how my heart sang!!!!!
So that's my suggestion to you, if you have a car on your butt and see the cop, tap your brakes over and over so he can see what's going on. You never know!
I'm not a slow driver, but I try to mind speed limits when possible. Easily once a week I choose to pull over and let somebody go past me so I can drive without fuming. But not without putting my favorite curse on them: "May you have two flat tires on a rainy night."
One of the most beautiful things in life is to see an aggressive/dangerous driver get pulled over. Just keep sending positive energy out into the universe and one day it will happen for you.
ReplyDeleteI hate that. I'm not sure what you drive but I usually drive a small-ish sedan and whenever an SUV or truck gets behind me in the dark the height of their lights hits my side and rear view mirror perfectly to nearly blind me with the reflection. To do that when conditions are poor is just plain dangerous and these people don't understand that their lights only make people go slower! I mean, it's hard enough to see as it is.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that thethingspatientssay.com is down and earlier this week I read a post in which he said something about deleting his previous post because he wanted to remain anonymous and it may have compromised that. I hope he is ok and just wanted to say that's unfortunate, I enjoyed that blog as well.
Yeah, he's one of the few bloggers that I still read. I don't want to talk about him in his absence, but I am also hopeful he will be returning soon.
DeleteI am fine. Thank you for asking. I have been advised to remove the blog in its entirety, which I have. There is a copy saved and eventually may return, but not until this is all settled. I have also deleted my FB, Twitter, Instagram, etc. I have also been advised not to make any large purchases or go on vacation for the same time frame. This is the cost of a litigious society and I will, apparently, be suffering that cost for some time.
DeleteWell, that truly sucks. For what it's worth I wish you luck and like Dr. Fizzy says, hopefully you will be able to return soon.
Delete@tps: This is so sad that everything we say/write has potential to be used against us. I wish you all the best and a speedy resolution. Hard not to take it personally when we tend to give ourselves so fully to this calling. Please remember many of us can empathize with and are pulling for you.
DeleteIf there is a car next to me, I will speed up to get over. I was hit at a high rate of speed from behind in 2003, so I try to get that person off my tail as quickly as possible. What really bugs me is when you and the other driver are the only ones on the road, there are 4 other lanes & they still ride your tail.
ReplyDeleteOops I meant I will speed up to get in front of the car next to me if I'm being tailgated
DeleteI, too, really, really hate tailgating. My ex and I had repeated arguments over his apparent wish to climb into the trunk of the car in front of us. Another reason we are exes. Anyway, that spot near your home ... the one where a cop is usually parked? ... here is what you do. Just drive as slowly as you can to really, really frustrate your 'gater, but be sure to take up enough of the road so he cannot pass. Then, when you are nearing the cop, slow wayyyy down and pull over a little to the right. Your tailgater will, by this point, be sooo impatient that he [and, yes, I am purposely using the male pronoun] will jam his accelerator to get away from you -- and he will be right in front of your speed trap. I did that once and it felt sooo good. Tricia
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I might come up close to you in the passing lane to let you know that I am there and want to pass - PLEASE pull over. The passing lane is supposed to be for passing, not for cruising at 55 or 60 mph. One of the most dangerous drivers I ever encountered was a Q-tip (little old white haired lady who could barely see over the steering wheel) doing 45 mph in the passing lane. It was a scary, scary place to be as we all tried to avoid hitting her and each other. She, of course, was oblivious to the chaos she was creating. Tricia
DeleteTricia you comment at 10:54 am? STUPID. You assume the other driver is rational and won't come after you for intentionally being an asshole to him. What in the world are you thinking?
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