The Art of Tailgating: Moving Violations. All opinions welcome.

I drive a *lot*. And generally I don't screw around when I drive, point A to B at the fastest speed possible.

I've seen the view. My brakes are good, I did 'em myself. Full control of the vehicle.

After many years and many many hundreds of thousands of miles, It's become apparent that everybody has a different idea of personal-vehicular space. The skoochers are the most obvious example, they follow with forty feet of space between them and the person in front of them in rush hour traffic. They are unaffected by being repeatedly cut off. Then they stop at a light, and wait till you come to a complete stop behind them, then they get nervous or something and skootch a foot or so. Then they do it again. And again.

I just sit there anymore, pretending there's not ten plus feet of empty space between us now from all the skootching. I know it irritates the herd to not see me skootching too, but when the light turns green, the car in front of them moves, and then, after a five second interval they start to roll, I floor it and tailgate the hell out of 'em.

My logic is: Don't stop before you have to, and don't give out nervous signals to the long line of traffic behind you to "go" when it's not time to "go".

So...... to the original point: What exactly qualifies as tailgating in your book? Do you always go by the two second rule? Do you consider the posted speed limit an actual limit? Are you a skootcher?

Personally I just know anymore the personal space the handicapped woman veteran in the RV in front of me wants, and if she does the speed limit or at least close to it, she gets that space, even if I think it's ridiculous. If she does ten under and swerves a lot, she gets less. The dumber and slower they are, the more I infringe on their perception of personal space, until I can get around them.

I know that makes me the bad guy, but someone has to do it. So what do you guys and gals think is really tailgating?

I leave at least 2 cars length between me and the car infront, and i cant stand morons who are up my arse. I drive 3 hours to work and back each day, so each day im covering 250 miles. I've got an advanced test pass, and i can drive very fast, very safely. I do speed, but only when it's safe to do so, i dont wear a seatbelt because i choose not to, although i wont allow others not to in my car/van without one. I do smoke while i drive, and i STILL have never had an accident. I refuse to drive wasted though. I NEVER drink drive, and i never act like a fool. I REALLY cannot stand people tailgating me, so i never tailgate them.

My cousin on the other hand is a lunatic. He drives up everyones arse untill they pull over, and speeds everywhere, skids everywhere, hand break turns - the lot. It's a company car so he doesnt have to worry about tyres and the like. He drives with the mentality that he's DUE for a crash. He's a good driver - he's never crashed so far, but he will if he carries on.

I don't wear my seatbelt either, although there's a law on the books that they can pull you over for that. Helps temper my desire to ram the car in front of me.

I wear my seatbelt when I occaisonally cart kids around though. Have to set a good example and all. How wearing one protects society in general and therefore requires a law still baffles me.

i allways leave a couple of car lengths space in front of me, i drive a focus st and all the boy racers want to race me, i let noone in front of me and if anyone drives up my arse i slam the breaks on or slow down to 10mph knowing that most cars wont have the performance to get round me and the ones that try useally end up faceing oncomeing traffic as i keep the same speed as them when they're level with me, just because i have that sort of car doesn't mean i have to go fast all the time, just most of the time:D

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Originally Posted by chaliceburn

I don't wear my seatbelt either, although there's a law on the books that they can pull you over for that. Helps temper my desire to ram the car in front of me.

I wear my seatbelt when I occaisonally cart kids around though. Have to set a good example and all. How wearing one protects society in general and therefore requires a law still baffles me.

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I know what you mean. I remember when it was optional over here in England. Now it's law - although the police dont pull us over, they just toot and point to it.

I only wear it when im taking my little cousins out for a spin, otherwise i cant stand the things - although that's my own choice - i wont drive if the other people in the car arnt wearing them.

To be honest, i STILL think im safer without - i'd rather not get every rib broken, or neck. Isnt it true for seatbelts that they kill more than they save? Or was that airbags? I dont know, nor do i care. When im driving im safe - at least as far as everyone around me is concerned. Anyway, in a little Diesel work van that cant go much past 90 mph i think im pretty safe.

Although, my other car is a belter. Shoots around the place like a rocket. 06 Mondeo Estate 2L Turbo Diesel Common-rail Injection.

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Originally Posted by weedmaster

i allways leave a couple of car lengths space in front of me, i drive a focus st and all the boy racers want to race me, i let noone in front of me and if anyone drives up my arse i slam the breaks on or slow down to 10mph knowing that most cars wont have the performance to get round me and the ones that try useally end up faceing oncomeing traffic as i keep the same speed as them when they're level with me, just because i have that sort of car doesn't mean i have to go fast all the time, just most of the time:D

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The ST is such a nice car to drive. I had a blue one that was slightly modded for a couple of weeks, and jesus - the thing dont half have some power. I was driving down the M6 i think, and without realising i was going 130 - had no idea. As soon as i saw that my mouth went dry and i slowed down, but it was about 2:30 am so most people are doing that kinda speed lol.

It had the blueish xneon headlights on it and as i was going round a roundabout i flicked the throttle and had to slow down, so the front of the car moved down and then up and the little mini metro infront though i was a cop and pulled over!!! Hahaha, i dont think i'll EVER forget that.

I went for the orange color, Clarkson on top gear said orange is only for chavs, so i must be a chav lol

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Originally Posted by weedmaster

I went for the orange color, Clarkson on top gear said orange is only for chavs, so i must be a chav lol

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Hahaha. When they first came out that electric orange was the only colour avaliable wasnt it? I cant really remember, but im sure it was like fords model T [you can have any colour you want, so long as it's black!]
Tbh, i like the orange. It's certainly unique.

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Originally Posted by LIP

Hahaha. When they first came out that electric orange was the only colour avaliable wasnt it? I cant really remember, but im sure it was like fords model T [you can have any colour you want, so long as it's black!]
Tbh, i like the orange. It's certainly unique.

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not sure if it was the only color available when it was first introduced, but it is now an extra. £750. same as the exion lights i got the st 2 which is £1000 more than the standard but you get the exion lights, esp and a better sony sound system.

I try not to tailgate unless the idiot is going 20 less than the posted limit. I figure they need to lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way. What pisses me off is when I am cruising at 80 when the limit is 70 and some bonehead is tailgaiting me in the slow lane, I don't have a problem with downshifting a couple of gears and side stepping the clutch. slow down real quick with no brake lights. In this neck of the woods, they give out tags with pictures of wheel chairs on them for DAIN BRAMMAGE!!! If somebody does something real stoopid on the road, 99% of the time if you look at their tags, they have a wheel chair on them....and *most* of those are from Pearl River County....go figure.
Seat belts??? My vehicles don't move unless all occupants are belted in. *NO EXCEPTIONS*....no seat belt, you walk. period. When I first started driving in 1973, I already had it figured out that if somebody in a race car can hit a wall at 180+ mph, roll a dozen times, burst into flames, and the driver can walk away from it, thats good enough for me.