Being tailgated

[DIGGER]

One of my pet peeves while motorcycle riding is "tailgaters".   When on multi lane roads it's not too much of a problem as you can change lanes and get out of their way.    When on 2 lane roads when I am doing the speed limit plus and someone gets 6' off my bumper it just irritates the heck out of me.   Usually I will motion with my hand to please move back.    Usually they dont.    If the don't I start decreasing my speed gradually and motion nicely again.  If that don't work I continuously gradually slow down  and motion for them to back up sometimes till we are going very slow till they back off.    As they back off I increase my speed accordingly till we are back to the speed limit and they are giving a gap between us.    Works most of the time.     

What do you guys do when someone gets right up on your tail and won't back up?

[..]

Turn off, pull over where safe. Let them go and F their own day up somewhere else.

 

Turn around a put a couple of .45's into their radiator. Just a dream.

[Kokomo Kevin]

I would rather have the idiots in front of me than behind me everytime! That is a general rule of thumb including the times I am driving the cage as well.

[Jess from VA]

Turn off, pull over where safe. Let them go and F their own day up somewhere else.

 

This. 

I don't get many tailgaters.

If I do, I don't play games with them, I either kick in the afterburners, or get over and let them pass.  But they don't get to stay there.     

[MarkT]

Go to open carry.  Discretely so it's not "brandishing".  eg., unzip the cover garment so the wind blows it open.

[..]

Another bike? I will wave them by and let them be first to any LEO down the road.

Did this yesterday to 2 HD's all hot and heavy on my rear wheel.

Let them go and use them as radar sacrifices.

However that can backfire as soon as you approach a corner and they are anchoring as if the lives of their first born are at risk if their bike leans more than 5 or 10 degrees.

[Andy Cote]

One of my pet peeves while motorcycle riding is "tailgaters".   When on multi lane roads it's not too much of a problem as you can change lanes and get out of their way.    When on 2 lane roads when I am doing the speed limit plus and someone gets 6' off my bumper it just irritates the heck out of me.   Usually I will motion with my hand to please move back.    Usually they dont.    If the don't I start decreasing my speed gradually and motion nicely again.  If that don't work I continuously gradually slow down  and motion for them to back up sometimes till we are going very slow till they back off.    As they back off I increase my speed accordingly till we are back to the speed limit and they are giving a gap between us.    Works most of the time.     

What do you guys do when someone gets right up on your tail and won't back up?

I do the same as you and it's what is taught in defensive driving class.

I will also tap brakes or if equipped with brake light flasher, hold brake for a couple seconds.

I also will do quick swerve as if avoiding something in the road.  That will sometimes scare then a bit.

I had a guy last year in a Prius doing that exact thing but he just wouldn't/couldn't pass me.  I waved to back up.  I waved to pass.  I slowed on the straightaway.  He pulled alongside at a traffic light and yelled at me apparently for going too slow.  After telling him he was too close I just ignored him. 

[DirtyDan]

Put the blinker on and let them by

Don’t matter how fast you are going

If they are going faster, then let them go

My 2.$

Dan

[Chrisj CMA]

What I find the most effective is tapping the front brakes just enough to click the interlock switch multiple times for about 5 seconds, usually by the second 5 seconds they get the hint and back off.

[Andy Cote]

What I find the most effective is tapping the front brakes just enough to click the interlock switch multiple times for about 5 seconds, usually by the seconds 5 seconds they get the hint and back off.

usually works for me as well but every once in a while...…..

[JimmyG]

Someone here on the board, I won't mention names, carries a little container of rocks,pebbles, that he just drops beside him and they bounce back and ping the car pretty good. He swears they work wonders. I have never tried that, but would bet they back off a little thinking your bike is kicking up stones.

[Willow]

I've found the best solution to tailgating is to remove the tailgate from the bike.

I do the same as you and it's what is taught in defensive driving class.

I will also tap brakes or if equipped with brake light flasher, hold brake for a couple seconds.

I also will do quick swerve as if avoiding something in the road.  That will sometimes scare then a bit.

I had a guy last year in a Prius doing that exact thing but he just wouldn't/couldn't pass me.  I waved to back up.  I waved to pass.  I slowed on the straightaway.  He pulled alongside at a traffic light and yelled at me apparently for going too slow.  After telling him he was too close I just ignored him. 

Really, I do pretty much what Andy does and I'm not shy about motioniong someone past if he wants to run too close and won't back away with hints.

[old2soon]

Someone here on the board, I won't mention names, carries a little container of rocks,pebbles, that he just drops beside him and they bounce back and ping the car pretty good. He swears they work wonders. I have never tried that, but would bet they back off a little thinking your bike is kicking up stones.

                   Always carried a coffee can full of marbles on my big truck. Not always but sometimes they bounced Just Right and cracked a W/S. Can you say OOPS. Ball bearings too expensive and I just wanna git their tenshun-not hurt maim or eliminate. RIDE SAFE.

[DIGGER]

Someone here on the board, I won't mention names, carries a little container of rocks,pebbles, that he just drops beside him and they bounce back and ping the car pretty good. He swears they work wonders. I have never tried that, but would bet they back off a little thinking your bike is kicking up stones.

                   Always carried a coffee can full of marbles on my big truck. Not always but sometimes they bounced Just Right and cracked a W/S. Can you say OOPS. Ball bearings too expensive and I just wanna git their tenshun-not hurt maim or eliminate. RIDE SAFE.

My 40 yr old son was telling me he got into a road rage event about 10 yrs ago while driving his pickup and a car full of guys got up on his bumper going down the freeway at high speed and he reached into his pocket and grabbed a hand full of coins and chunk ed them out the window and up in the air and said their windshield exploded and they had to pull over.   I guess you use what ya got.

[Rams]

Both times my fat lady has hit triple digits with me at the controls was due to being tailgated.    The last time resulted in  a fairly expensive speeding ticket.

I am convinced that slowing down is the best way to handle it if you can't change lanes and let them pass.   I'll slow to the point of pulling off when the opportunity allows if necessary.     Can the fat girl out accelerate the tail gater?   Normally yes but, unless you get off the same path, the jerk will eventually catch back up with you.   

Rams

[..]

Someone here on the board, I won't mention names, carries a little container of rocks,pebbles, that he just drops beside him and they bounce back and ping the car pretty good. He swears they work wonders. I have never tried that, but would bet they back off a little thinking your bike is kicking up stones.

                  Always carried a coffee can full of marbles on my big truck. Not always but sometimes they bounced Just Right and cracked a W/S. Can you say OOPS. Ball bearings too expensive and I just wanna git their tenshun-not hurt maim or eliminate. RIDE SAFE.

My 40 yr old son was telling me he got into a road rage event about 10 yrs ago while driving his pickup and a car full of guys got up on his bumper going down the freeway at high speed and he reached into his pocket and grabbed a hand full of coins and chunk ed them out the window and up in the air and said their windshield exploded and they had to pull over.   I guess you use what ya got.

That's how people die or get maimed.

[DIGGER]

Someone here on the board, I won't mention names, carries a little container of rocks,pebbles, that he just drops beside him and they bounce back and ping the car pretty good. He swears they work wonders. I have never tried that, but would bet they back off a little thinking your bike is kicking up stones.

                  Always carried a coffee can full of marbles on my big truck. Not always but sometimes they bounced Just Right and cracked a W/S. Can you say OOPS. Ball bearings too expensive and I just wanna git their tenshun-not hurt maim or eliminate. RIDE SAFE.

My 40 yr old son was telling me he got into a road rage event about 10 yrs ago while driving his pickup and a car full of guys got up on his bumper going down the freeway at high speed and he reached into his pocket and grabbed a hand full of coins and chunk ed them out the window and up in the air and said their windshield exploded and they had to pull over.   I guess you use what ya got.

That's how people die or get maimed.

If they got him pulled over he could have died...or got maimed

[Raider]

Everyone here who said, "Let him pass," is correct.  No sense having a loose cannon behind you.  Just let him go. 

All the other ideas about brake lights, swerving, etc. are all passive aggressive attempts at controlling something you can't control- another being with free will.  Piss him off intentionally and you can easily find yourself under his car.  Assuming you survive, you'll walk away feeling very self-righteous about it being his fault and he may end up in jail, but you've still got the scars.

[John Schmidt]

Many years ago I used to carry some large steel washers in my jacket pocket. If some clown was following too close and wouldn't back off, I'd accelerate to pick up adequate speed which enhanced the effectivenss of the washers. When they got up close again I'd just flip them in the air and they'd run into them....usually it's goodbye windshield. I always made certain the washers had been wiped clean of any possible prints. Buddy of mine didn't bother and they took prints off the washers and it cost him big time.

[carolinarider09]

Everyone here who said, "Let him pass," is correct.  No sense having a loose cannon behind you.  Just let him go. 

All the other ideas about brake lights, swerving, etc. are all passive aggressive attempts at controlling something you can't control- another being with free will.  Piss him off intentionally and you can easily find yourself under his car.  Assuming you survive, you'll walk away feeling very self-righteous about it being his fault and he may end up in jail, but you've still got the scars.

I agree with Raider here.  And disagree with any "actions" that would cause possible physical harm to the vehicle in question.  In other words, its wrong to throw washers, marbles or other objects at someone.  If you can't handle that then you need to reanalyze your behavior. 

 

[DIGGER]

Everyone here who said, "Let him pass," is correct.  No sense having a loose cannon behind you.  Just let him go. 

All the other ideas about brake lights, swerving, etc. are all passive aggressive attempts at controlling something you can't control- another being with free will.  Piss him off intentionally and you can easily find yourself under his car.  Assuming you survive, you'll walk away feeling very self-righteous about it being his fault and he may end up in jail, but you've still got the scars.

And a torn up Valkyrie

[cookiedough]

put right turn signal on, slow down, and waive them with left hand to pass  you and go around you only when you know it is safe (no oncoming traffic) for that tailgater to pass.   

Usually that is what cagers do when I am behind them either truck or cycle, but I do not tailgate as bad as some usually leaving at least a 2 second following distance even though suppose to be 3 seconds.  I pass as soon as safe to do so.

Sometimes no matter how fast you are doing say 70 mph in a 55,  there will always be someone who thinks they need to go 80 so let them on by is my suggestion.  Very rarely do they not pass you if waiving them on by to pass you.   

[JimmyG]

Agree, best to wave them past. Hopefully, they will pass you.  Had a guy cut me off on a trip, Big Al came rushing up screaming at the guy, kicking at his SUV and was highly pissed.  I was sure we were going to have a confrontation, but the guy just kept driving on. Hard for a 900 lb bike to tangle with a 3000 lb SUV   Yep, be smart, avoid a fight....

[0leman]

I tend to ride 2 lane roads 95% of the time.   There seems to be a portion of the drivers around here that can't or don't know how to pass on a 2 lane road.  Instead of passing when you slow down they just sit on your butt and slow down with you. Even when there is a long straight away with no vehicles coming.   Only way to get them off is to pull over.  That is a good way to get them off your tail, but a lot of roads don't have places to pull over. 

I do, when there is an opportunity, pass a slower moving vehicle in front of me.  The tailgaters tend to get stuck behind that vehicle. 

Though, I have in the past hit the brakes lightly, it doesn't seem to work on these folks.  Also have tried wiggling back and forth.  That sometimes works.

[3fan4life]

put right turn signal on, slow down, and waive them with left hand to pass  you and go around you only when you know it is safe (no oncoming traffic) for that tailgater to pass.   

Usually that is what cagers do when I am behind them either truck or cycle, but I do not tailgate as bad as some usually leaving at least a 2 second following distance even though suppose to be 3 seconds.  I pass as soon as safe to do so.

Sometimes no matter how fast you are doing say 70 mph in a 55,  there will always be someone who thinks they need to go 80 so let them on by is my suggestion.  Very rarely do they not pass you if waiving them on by to pass you.   

This is all well and good when you are the person that is holding them up.

The real problem lies with the person that insists on tailgating in a line of traffic when even if they passed you they would still have multiple cars in front of them.

In this situation I get upset with them because I know that if I had to stop suddenly there's a good chance that they might run over me.

I'll usually gradually slow down until they back off and then speed back up, if they begin to tailgate me again I repeat the process.

I'll repeat it until they figure it out and stay back a reasonable distance.

I will not brake check a tailgater if I'm on a bike, but if they've been a reeal asshole, I may let them know that they are Number one when I am able to let them pass.

[Rams]

Not every situation is the same and those tailgaters all have different drivers with different skills and attitudes.   Getting them off yer ass is paramount in most situations.    Many good responses are contained with in this thread but, none will work every time.    

Ride defensively and watch yer six while hoping they are also paying attention to the task at hand and not distracted by all the different things they have entertaining them.  Getting away from them is the key.  

I firmly believe my recent crash was a result of a distracted driver.  

Rams

[3fan4life]

Not every situation is the same and those tailgaters all have different drivers with different skills and attitudes.   Getting them off yer ass is paramount in most situations.    Many good responses are contained with in this thread but, none will work every time.    

Ride defensively and watch yer six while hoping they are also paying attention to the task at hand and not distracted by all the different things they have entertaining them.  Getting away from them is the key.  

I firmly believe my recent crash was a result of a distracted driver.  

Rams

Absolutely!

You never know what else the driver that is tailgating you is doing.



BTW: Did the other driver stop?  I never heard if they did or not.

[JimmyG]

I've always wanted a tail gun with a suppressor on it and a heads up display sight so I could take out a tire or radiator on the real a..holes on the road.     Sorry.... couldn't help myself

[Titan]

Here's some information that may help you when dealing with tailgaters.
I was in law enforcement for over 25 years and most of that time I was in traffic enforcement. 

I couldn't begin to know how many folks I stopped for tailgating, usually when I observed them tailgating somebody else and sometime on the bumper of my marked unit.

I don't remember ever dealing with a single driver who thought they were following too close to the car in front. Every one of them were adamant that they were following at a safe distance and could have easily stopped if the car in front stopped. All of them! Each and every one talked about how safely they drive and some even talked about how much they hate it when somebody tailgates them and would never do that to somebody else. Now, from this you can surmise that I was always wrong and unjustly accusing everybody. You could think that. Several times through the years, the vehicle up front would even pull over with the driver wanting to talk to me and offer to testify about how the offender had been on his bumper and wouldn't back off.

Most of the time I didn't write tickets for the violation, feeling satisfied that a warning would suffice.

What I learned from the experiences was that a lot of people really don't know how to drive safely and are often oblivious to their surroundings.

So, when you have somebody tailgating you, give some thought to the likelihood that they're simply an idiot and fully believe that they're a safe following distance from you. They don't even know why you keep hitting your brakes and slowing down.

My take... When on the bike, it's really better for you to think of yourself as the 98 pound weakling and let the big ol car go on and leave you alone to live another day.

[Rams]

Not every situation is the same and those tailgaters all have different drivers with different skills and attitudes.   Getting them off yer ass is paramount in most situations.    Many good responses are contained with in this thread but, none will work every time.    

Ride defensively and watch yer six while hoping they are also paying attention to the task at hand and not distracted by all the different things they have entertaining them.  Getting away from them is the key.  

I firmly believe my recent crash was a result of a distracted driver.  

Rams

Absolutely!

You never know what else the driver that is tailgating you is doing.

BTW: Did the other driver stop?  I never heard if they did or not.

No.  They kept going.  For all I know, they never saw me or did and kept moving.   I have no proof other than what my foggy memory is.  But, I have a solid visual/picture in my mind of that dark colored SUV approaching quickly from the rear.

Since there were apparently no witnesses, my crash is listed as a single vehicle accident.
It is, what it is.  

What I learned from the experiences was that a lot of people really don't know how to drive safely and are often oblivious to their surroundings.

SNIP

My take... When on the bike, it's really better for you to think of yourself as the 98 pound weakling and let the big ol car go on and leave you alone to live another day.

I whole heartedly agree.

Rams

[..]

What I learned from the experiences was that a lot of people really don't know how to drive safely and are often oblivious to their surroundings.

So, when you have somebody tailgating you, give some thought to the likelihood that they're simply an idiot and fully believe that they're a safe following distance from you. They don't even know why you keep hitting your brakes and slowing down.

My take... When on the bike, it's really better for you to think of yourself as the 98 pound weakling and let the big ol car go on and leave you alone to live another day.

Yes
Yes
And
Yes

[Psychotic Bovine]

Had an SUV tailgating me once on a curvy road.  He was about 10 feet from my tail at 55 mph.  I kept motioning him to back off, which he ignored,
I blipped my kill switch.  The resulting backfire caused him to back off to a respectful distance. 
I know it's hard on the headers, mufflers and baffles, but it was satisfying.

[Oss]

3W put 4 way flashers on my Interstate years ago

When riding in pouring rain they are on as it is a low visibility situation   I last used them on the way to Roanoke

When someone is tailgating me on the Valk I put them on if I cant move over safely.   On the bmw I have not to my recollection had the problem yet where someone would stay on my ass

If on a 3 lane each way parkway I let them go around and then stay 100yds back so they can get the speed award from the police

While it is normal to imagine a way to off the offender its not something to follow up with in real life, we are after all no match for any incidental contact between the vehicles

[csj]

I do one thing different than others have mentioned. Numerous times when being followed very closely, I will swivel around and look the driver in the eye (on a straight piece of road), for close to five seconds.

I wouldn't advise anyone to try this. However, the method works about 90% of the time. Ding-Bat backs up several car lengths.

The idiot will eventually forget about the intimidation and start again. The interruption caused by eyeballing the offender can allow the seconds needed to escape/elude the goof.

If you're going to try intimidation, be sure you're ready to back it up when/if both vehicles come to a stop light.

[Psychotic Bovine]

I do one thing different than others have mentioned. Numerous times when being followed very closely, I will swivel around and look the driver in the eye (on a straight piece of road), for close to five seconds.

I wouldn't advise anyone to try this. However, the method works about 90% of the time. Ding-Bat backs up several car lengths.

The idiot will eventually forget about the intimidation and start again. The interruption caused by eyeballing the offender can allow the seconds needed to escape/elude the goof.

If you're going to try intimidation, be sure you're ready to back it up when/if both vehicles come to a stop light.

Maybe we should put some googly eyes on the back of our helmet.  Maybe the tailgaters don't like to be stared at.
 

[MAD6Gun]

 My wife and I were in TN a few weeks ago visiting her family. We went for a ride through the Smokey Mountain National  park. On the way back to Pigeon Forge on the last few miles I had some idiot on my ass. Tapped the brakes,waved him back. Nothing. Fortunately the road opens up after Gatlinburg so I was able to get away from him.

 

[Mr Whiskey]

they don't get to stay there. 

This ↑
If I caint get 'em to back off then I must assume they're too stupid to be there (for my own good). If there's nowhere to safely pull over (& by this I mean with plenty of room so they don't hit me while they finish their text) then I'm gone. If they should return to my 6 once I slow to a reasonable speed then I warn Sugar we're done, hit the left hand lane & test the binders. One way or another you're gettin' off my...
I've only had to actually stop in the middle of the street once when this guy kept edging up on me at stop lights. Second light he did it at I kick-standed the bike, got off & faced him squarely with my hand inside my jacket. He didn't come within 2 car lengths again
 
 

[Jess from VA]

Whisky,  I've used the hand inside the jacket to good effect myself a couple times (long ago, and not for tailgating).

There wasn't anything in there on those occasions, and it was a bit of a worrisome gambit, but it worked each time. 

And, you're a lot bigger guy than I am.... I'd be worried about you even if your hand wasn't in your jacket.   

[czuch]

I'll do the wiggle, or hit the shoulder and wave them by.
I cant stand tailgaters.
I got passed the other day. There was oncoming traffic.
He passed in an oncoming, vacant, left hand turn lane.
In a construction zone.
Fines double in C/Z, Double yellow, "Do not change lanes in C/Z" sighns every 1/4 mile.
He threw a rock that got around the windshield and lodged between my glasses and the full face helmet. Instantly horrifically pissed.
I was gonna follow him home.
By the light, 5 miles later, I decided ending my freedom with an aggravated assault and road rage incedent wouldn't be a good use of my time.
NOW, I have a stink bomb that I will simply toss at his, they're, window and move along smartly.