chatillion 71M
2289 posts
3/1/2018 4:18 am
Your bad driving is making MY hands sweat...


No matter how fast I go, there's always someone who wants to go faster.
I could be doing 80 in a 65mph zone and the chances of someone getting one car length behind me rapidly flicking their ultra-white high beams is pretty good. A few times a week good.

Last week I'm headed home in the left lane of the expressway and I see a tractor-trailer ahead in the lane on the right of me. I'm gaining on him, but some moron behind me just can't wait a few seconds for me to pass... Flashing high beams isn't going to work here. Well, maybe he's alerting me that I'm speeding... so I better slow down.

Good idea... I'll synchronize my speed with the trucker. Most tailgaters get a quick refresh of what they are doing and back off fifty feet or so. Not his guy, I actually thought he was planning to rear end me and he continued to hug my bumper. No, tapping the brakes is an invitation I don't want to give out. What works for me is shifting my car back and forth in the lane... Yes, it's a message to remind him of the 60' long rig alongside us !!
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chatillion 71M
1567 posts
3/1/2018 4:20 am

I've also been known to wash my windshield then someone is tailgating me.
That works too!


chatillion 71M
1567 posts
3/1/2018 6:59 pm

Too many psycho drivers around here.
One guy appeared to be provoking me to hit the brakes but I maintained my speed and resisted his attempts to intimidate me.
He pulled along side of me looking to be acknowledged but I ignored him.
Four seconds later he was in front of me and jammed on the brakes.
That was a close call as I had little time to react.
Naturally, I would have been charged with the accident.


chatillion 71M
1567 posts
3/3/2018 12:37 pm

Sunset, having attended several defensive driving courses your responses are somewhat text book.

Positioned in the inside (left) lane, I was already fixed in a position to overtake the trucker who was one lane to the right of me. The other driver had he considered the speed he was going, could have easily gone around the right side of the truck (it's a 4 lane highway) I didn't need to be rear ended at 80 so I slowed down.

I dislike tailgating and despise being tailgated. I was taught to keep ample distance... textbook mentality. That doesn't work In the real word, because that 'safety gap' now allows every aggressive driver to fill that 'empty space' I left for them.

I have a brother living in Dayton, Ohio. Life is much slower there and when he came into town (Miami, Florida) last month to visit (driving a rental car) made his best attempt at following the speed limit. Cars were swerving around us from BOTH sides to get ahead.

Not long ago, I renamed 'bad drivers' to 'good drivers' because they have the ability to drive at excessive speeds, tailgate, change lanes rapidly while weaving in and out of traffic. Yeah, good drivers.


beyondfantasy3 113M
4740 posts
3/4/2018 9:41 am

I do monthly classes for work groups on Defensive Driving...
"An Aggressive Driver" is an "Aggressive Driver"... one has to acknowledge it, as well not allow others to make them engage "Aggressive Driving Habits'.

I have to agree with "SunsetGriffin".

One knows nothing about the mentality of the Aggressive Driver, it is better to make the adjustment and let them go. So one can stay focused on their own driving safely. We can only control the vehicle we are driving.

In life, everyone is not going to be "orderly", nor "respect the rules of safe driving", Therefore, the focus has to be on one's self driving safely and arriving at their destination without having been consumed by agitation from the conduct of other drivers.

It should never become a battle of wills, but a cooperative function, even when others choose not to be cooperative. It is best to "let them go", so one can maintain and sustain the ability to drive safe and be with a calm demeanor while operating a vehicle.

Defensive Driving in always a continual learning experience, as well as its a matter of Always putting Defensive Driving skills to work.

The objective when ones gets in their vehicle, is to proceed and arrive at their destination safely.


chatillion 71M
1567 posts
3/24/2018 9:46 am

I'm glad to see you both agree on the passive-driver technique. I invite you to do some driving on the highways of South Florida.
Currently, I'm averaging 600 miles a week and get to see lots of those 'good drivers' on the road.
You probably haven't experienced someone with a pickup truck jacked with 3' high tires, ultra-blue white headlights and fog lights (especially when there isn't any fog) and a 2 foot wide band of high intensity LED lights bolted to the bumper... you know, the ones that develop a million candle power. We have a few of them in this area. Maybe they are brothers or members of the macho truck club and they love getting up on on you... especially when you are going fast and not too many cars around. Since the light they give off is blinding, you're unable to see if either lane is clear so you can get away from them. Just wait it out until they decide to punish someone else.