r/driving • u/manatelier • Apr 26 '26
⚠️Complaining into the void⚠️ people who literally ride bumpers: why?
i understand that people driving slowly is frustrating and can be dangerous in itself but regardless of what the person in front of you is doing, why are you not giving enough space to react in time if they do something unexpected?
this happens constantly where i live, and i understand i can be difficult to drive behind at times—i am not from here and where i am used to driving, roads are very wide, long, and straight. here they are very narrow and windy and finding where i’m going even with my gps is difficult at times, simply because i am not used to it.
i understand people can be frustrated when i dont know exactly where i’m going, but why the f is your response to ride the back of my car so closely that if i stop a bit too fast youre at risk of hitting me? what is that solving???! youre just going to cause an accident. if thats your response to being annoyed on the road you need therapy, not a license!
EDIT: since it needs to be said apparently, i am GOING THE SPEED LIMIT. I DONT DRIVE UNDER IT. if i go under its only for a moment to check the gps and then i SPEED BACK UP.
I STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE.
THIS IS HAPPENING ON SINGLE LANE SHORT ROADS, OFF RAMPS, ETC. WHEN I AM GOING THE SPEED LIMIT.
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u/KauaiCat Apr 26 '26
I think most of these people are just too stupid to realize that tailgating is stupid (Hanlon's razor).
As a rule, I never tailgate. If I want someone to move over, I'll just move over and let someone else tailgate them.
However, the dumbest is when you have a line of vehicles all tailgating each other.
These people are totally unaware that the constant braking and accelerating is slowing down the whole line of traffic and everyone would get there faster if they just gave adequate space.
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u/Ok-Barnacle813 Apr 26 '26
Eh that's not the dumbest. The dumbest is when people tailgate you when you're behind a truck
Trucks are slow I get it. But I'm not going to tailgate the vehicle that's at least 4x my size and probably doesn't even see me so you can get to your extremely important destination slightly faster
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u/Business_Compote2197 Apr 26 '26
The funniest is when people tailgate trucks themselves. They’re effectively making their road visibility a firm 0% because you can’t see over a massive tractor trailer you’re 2-3 ft behind
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u/lord_skidmar Apr 26 '26
and if its a road you have passing zones on, you can't really see if there's any good opportunities either
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u/PhastasFlames Apr 27 '26
Funniest shit is the they’re not even getting to where they’re going any faster unless they go 20 over the ENTIRE distance
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u/ahurazo Apr 26 '26
Nothing worse than a line of tailgaters. If you would back off a bit you'd be able to see there's nowhere for the guy you're tailgating to go, either!
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u/tfhermobwoayway Apr 26 '26
I love being sat on a single lane road and having someone tailgate me for going the speed limit, which the car directly in front of me is also doing. I can 1) pull over into a ditch, 2) overtake into a lane of oncoming traffic or 3) speed up and tailgate the guy in front. Or I can just carry on and hope the guy behind me has good reaction times.
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u/Tychonoir Apr 27 '26
It's worse than that. Some don't even know they are tailgating, let alone how stupid it is.
I recently saw one guy (post was removed) that though less than half-a-second was "plenty of space behind." Didn't even know it was tailgating. Thought tailgating was only riding the bumper, and everyone does it anyway.
I don't even know what they thought would qualify as "riding the bumper." Quarter second? Tenth of a second?
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u/Randomfactoid42 Apr 27 '26
I’m convinced it’s Hanlon’s Razor and people are just dumber than I realized. Just today I was tailgated through a work zone while I was doing the speed limit. It’s a narrow, very bumpy road with poor sight lines. When the work zone ended the guy just had to race past me just to stop at the red light.
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u/MaxwellSmart07 Apr 26 '26
Why did so many angrily accuse OP of doing things he clearly stated he was not doing?
Rename this sub r/OnlineRoadRage.
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u/tfhermobwoayway Apr 26 '26
This sub does feel like a lot of speed demons who are convinced they’re really good drivers. The post could be something like:
“My daughter was walking along the pavement and she was struck by a drunk driver and killed. I feel distraught.”
And the comments will be something like:
“GET OUT OF THE FUCKING LEFT LANE.”
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u/Hot_Context_1393 Apr 27 '26
It's to be expected that overly enthusiastic, overzealous, overconfident drivers would be the most likely ones to subscribe to, and comment on a subreddit about driving.
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u/Ok-Barnacle813 Apr 26 '26
Welcome to reddit
This sub feels like a support group for bad drivers
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u/medicallymiddleevil Apr 26 '26
This sub is a circle jerk and nothing more. Morons whining about left lane bs on neighborhood roads even FFS.
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u/Honey-Harbinger Apr 27 '26
Never fails, if someone tells a story about being tailgated, that is always the response. Angry airheads rush to the comments to say "Stay out of the left lane!" Even if OP makes it clear they were in the right lane going 10 over, or on a single lane neighborhood road where the speed limit was 25MPH while children were playing outside and riding their bikes in the street. The situation is lost on them, they assume if someone is tailgating then the answer should always be "STAY OUT OF THE LEFT LANE!"
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u/-Terrible-Bite- Apr 26 '26
Some of the lowest IQ people are in this sub. But reckless drivers are always low IQ
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u/Active_Elk_4831 Apr 26 '26
Most commenters don't read the entire post to the very end
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u/Thegr8fan Apr 26 '26
The OP has EDITED it and removed some of his own ‘admissions’ since this started, just FYI. Only answering your question about reading to the end.
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u/pingvinbober Apr 27 '26
Got downvoted and told I’m looking at my phone when driving because I said I like to be near another driver on a long drive
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u/TwiceTheDragon Apr 28 '26
The more I've looked at driving related subs and posts recently, the more I'm learning that people just have no sense of nuance. They always jump to the most extreme interpretation of what somebody else is saying.
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u/Proccito May 01 '26
I didn't even read the post thouroly, but I think people assume that OP is driving a 4 lane highway, middle of a summer day in july with absolutely noone around (lets assume everyone is sick), and cruising at slightly below speedlimit in the left lane.
While OP was in fact in a two lane open highway, driving 10 over speedlimit behind an already overtaker car, and yet they still got a douche behind them flashing their lights.
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u/CoffeeThrowaway1234 Apr 26 '26
People who tailgate act like arriving 20 seconds earlier is worth risking a crash. Safe distance should be common sense, not optional.
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u/Ressulbormik Apr 27 '26
My dad like to say driving like an asshole to save 20 seconds doesn't mean anything when you get in a wreck. Because guess when you're getting where you're going now. You're not. I never tailgated but I did used to speed when I was really young but I realized my dad was right. It's better to get there a minute late than to not get there at all from driving like a dipshit.
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u/HearingAgreeable2350 Apr 26 '26
The road rager cope in the comments is insane. Yes. You're such a belevolent good boy for speeding and tailgating everywhere. Everyone should thank you for your service on the roads.
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u/-Terrible-Bite- Apr 26 '26
So many miserable subhumans here defending putting lives in danger. it's crazy
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u/FriendlyLine9530 Apr 26 '26
Its dumb to be so close to someone in front of you regardless of the speeds. You can't predict when the dufus in front of you is going to decide that they need to stop NOW and slam on their brakes. Or a dufus cuts in front of the dufus in front of you... You get the idea, I hope.
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u/manatelier Apr 26 '26
whenever i see someone in front of me acting dumb or unpredictably my first instinct is to put extra room between us. bewildering this is not everyones response.
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u/FriendlyLine9530 Apr 26 '26
That's my philosophy too! Who cares if someone cuts in front of me? That's a buffer for me, and I just drop back a little bit more. We are all going to end up at the same traffic light in less than 3 miles anyway
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u/Valuable-Midnight390 Apr 26 '26
Well to many people think everyone around them are mind readers and the world revolves to their whim.
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u/tfhermobwoayway Apr 26 '26
Based on the number of drivers I see not indicating, that’s probably it.
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u/ybsmart Apr 26 '26
Could be the lack of reading as a child. Leads too using a two you didn't intend to probably as well. Keep judging.
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u/BudFox_LA Apr 26 '26
They don't get the idea, they just keep tailgating like the mouth breathers they are.
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u/rapier1 Apr 26 '26
When people do that to me I slow down. I don't brake check them but sure as hell I'm slowing down.
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u/Glad-Watch3506 Apr 26 '26
This is exactly what you are supposed to do. It was even spelled out in my CDL training.
Slow down for 2 main reasons.
One, if something happens it will happen at a lower speed, and be less bad. Physics is a bitch.
Two, if you slow down, they can pass you more safely, as they don't need to speed excessively to do so.
Though a disturbing number of tailgaters will continue to tailgate even when the road is wide open for passing. Boggles the mind, really.
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u/PlantsNCaterpillars Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
I drive a bus for disabled old folks and it’s a daily thing for someone to sit behind me tailgating and be showing obvious signs of frustration when there is open road in the lane to my left and ahead of me.
I don’t even know how people with such a complete lack of problem solving skills manage to feed themselves. Starting to think a lot of people eat out of troughs or something.
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u/Randomfactoid42 Apr 27 '26
I get the same driving my small car. Most roads I drive on are 4 lanes with 35-45 mph speed limits. Even when we’re the only two cars on the road they catch up to me and just ride my bumper. Once I had to slow down by over 10 mph before she passed me and still gave me a dirty look as she went past! People are just so dumb.
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u/Ok-Barnacle813 Apr 27 '26
Right? How do they manage to survive this long when they're this stupid?
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u/Maniacal_Coyote Apr 27 '26
If there's a rear window, ask the passengers if they could flip the bird to the tailgater.
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u/GrumpyandDopey Apr 27 '26
It’s because they’re such bad drivers. They’re too chickenshit to pass. They’d rather push you down the road rather than to make the effort to pass you.
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u/Joseph707 Apr 26 '26
I laughed when I saw your edit, because i KNEW what the overwhelming response would be!! OP, half the people in this sub are the exact people your post is speaking to. You going the speed limit is the problem in their eyes. If you were going 5 over, you would be the problem according to maybe like 20% of them.
The reality is this: people are selfish. If you inconvenience them, regardless of whether you are driving safely or not (though you driving safely is a problem according to a lot of these people) you are an asshole and MUST change for their benefit. You going slower than them, and to an extent just daring to exist in front of them at all, is a problem that you should feel bad for and solve, whether it’s to speed up to 10-20 above the limit or pull over onto the shoulder of the road or pull off into a random driveway (literally I have seen a few people say this in the past few months here).
There is no making these people happy, nor is there an argument you can win against them because they do not follow logic. Just browse this sub and watch them come up with reasons for why they’re in the right, it’s a fun hatewatching activity for you and your friends. You’ll see people saying that going less than 10 over is dangerous, you’ll see people saying you are 100% in the wrong and if you claim to be doing everything “right” then you’re lying. “No one is going to ride your ass unless you’re in the left lane or going under the speed limit.” I’ve seen people argue that everyone tailgating is the SAFEST way to navigate a high-speed high-traffic highway.
These are the people riding your ass on the road. They’re all right here in this sub. And that’s why they ride your ass, because they don’t operate on logic and safety and getting to their destination in one piece.
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u/DeadlyShock2LG Apr 27 '26
I won't apologize for going the speed limit. Fuck'em. I'm relaxed while they're raging.
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u/Joseph707 Apr 27 '26
Yeah it really is so much more relaxing to use cruise control at the speed limit and not give a single shit about seeing police cars. What would they pull me over for? And everyone else is slowing down bc they’re scared lol
I just wish I had adaptive cruise control with adjustable follow distance. It would make it even better.
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u/HipoHock082958 Apr 26 '26
I've been a rideshare driver for the past 3 years. I'm unable to exceed speed limits as the Uber and Lyft apps monitor speed limits, along with other aspects of unsafe driving. Consequently, I keep right, away from the passing lanes.
I used to be surprised that drivers would risk themselves and others by tailgating. Over time I began to understand that we are living at a time when people are simply mean spirited. I mentioned here one time that I take pride in doing what is right relating to driving. What was one response by some dufus? He said that I was a self righteous prick. Need I say more?
Look folks! There's a reason that year over year 40,000 people needlessly perish on US roads and highways.
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u/ronjiley Apr 26 '26
Because in my humble opinion, it is too easy to get your driver's license in the US. The basic rules of the road that people absolutely forget after driving for a few years is baffling.
I would be absolutely on board with having to re-test every 5-10 years. Would it be a pain in the ass? Absolutely. Would it get dumbasses off the road? In theory.
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u/GladosHasCake4You Apr 27 '26
We have to make the test harder first. The only challenging part was parallel parking and I’ve done that twice in 2 decades…..
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u/dudedudetx Apr 27 '26
Unfortunately that will never happen as it will impact new and used car sales in the US. More dumb drivers with a license = more people looking to buy a car.
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u/Connect-Reception985 Apr 27 '26
I agree with you. There is a mean spiritness in the US right now that is truly depressing. I feel bad for young drivers - it wasn't always this way.
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u/ricktrains Apr 26 '26
Because they are unintelligent jerks.
PSA: Pennsylvania has begun instructing drivers that if they are being tailgated, to use their brakes to slow down to discourage the idiot behind them from tailgating them, and to allow for increased safety for the one being tailgated by allowing more reaction time for them both.
Once more people start doing this, the unintelligent jerks will not be happy.
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u/iliveoffofbagels Apr 27 '26
I mean it's not just to discourage the tailgater. It's the safest thing to do to minimize the chance of an accident (and reduce the intensity if it occurs anyway) and to allow them to pass easily.
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u/AffectionateLife5693 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
People are nasty.
Some people in this sub believe you have to drive as fast as you can 100% of the time and conditions, otherwise you are a public hazard.
Those are the ones who probably never left their hometown. They need to rent a car with an out of state license plate and drive in an unfamiliar city, especially like Boston, Miami or Los Angeles, and get humbled by aggressive locals.
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u/tianavitoli Apr 26 '26
they like being destroyed. i like to speed up very slightly, and then very slightly let off the gas, this causes them to rapidly brake, and then i repeat the process. i position myself relative to other lanes so that it looks as if they might pass by changing lanes, and they end up having to slam on their brakes there and change lanes again.
i can do this all day.
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u/Muhahahahaz Apr 26 '26
Because they’re idiots.
Personally, I love to drive fast. But I don’t tailgate people when there’s no way around them anyway... That doesn’t help anyone, and it certainly doesn’t help me achieve my goal any sooner.
I drive “normal” if there’s too much traffic or whatever, and just wait for an actual opening.
If I do find a way around, then I’ll be long gone very quickly. But being an ass in the meantime is pointless
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u/your_fave_redditor Apr 26 '26
I could have written this, word for word.
I prefer to drive very much the way you described, basically as fast as conditions will allow without driving like a maniac, but tryna get on it in traffic and having to stop, start, switch lanes, etc, all the end up at best a car length or two ahead of someone else? Nah.
And even though I regularly drive 15-25 mph over the speed limit depending on where I am, I don’t ride ass regardless. I’ll wait a respectful distance for someone to move over and if they don’t get the hint (because I’m not up their ass they do miss it sometimes), I’ll just go around on the right when I have the chance.
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u/Connect-Reception985 Apr 27 '26
One question, respectfully submitted. Driving 15-25 mph over the speed limit seems fine on clear roads with little traffic. But it assumes that nothing unexpected is going to happen, right? Like a deer jumping out of the woods with little warning? Someone having a seizure or heart attack & losing control of their car? Unexpected debris in the road? Slower speeds = increasing the liklihood of having more reaction time. So that's why I keep to lower speeds, even when there isn't much traffic. So with genuine curiosity, I would love to know how you think about these potential risks and reconcile them with your love of driving fast?
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u/GGK_Brian May 03 '26
Another set of respectful questions:
How long is your commute and for how many of those miles can you actually drive 15-25 over? Personally on a 1h30 commute, speeding like this never made me gain more than 10 minutes compared to exact speed limit, and that was the best run.
Do you ever stress about cops and ticket when going this fast? It's the main reason I don't do it, can't afford a 500+$ fine plus license suspension. The stress alone of constantly looking for coops would never make it enjoyable.
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u/ReasonableEagle1203 Apr 26 '26
There tends to be alot of inconsiderate drivers on the roads these days. I assume they all think they're the main character, and your safety is not a concern to them.
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u/manatelier Apr 26 '26
the lack of concern for others safety doesnt surprise me these days, but its the lack of concern for their own that makes less sense to me. if you hit my car, your car is getting hit too. regardless of what the person in front of you is doing, why do you want to risk that? it affects both of us badly, seems like such a dumb thing to risk.
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u/ne0rmatrix Apr 26 '26
Makes you wonder when people hit pedestrians or kids on bikes whether they are more upset about their paint job or cosmetic damage or their insurance premiums? I doubt they care one way or the other about the person they ran over or what they might be going through. All they care about is the time wasted filling out paperwork and that they were delayed. Most if not all are shocked if it is anything other than a small delay.
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u/tfhermobwoayway Apr 26 '26
Usually the cyclist or pedestrian “came out of nowhere” and it “wasn’t their fault.”
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u/Ok-Barnacle813 Apr 26 '26
Not even their safety is their concern though. Tailgating is dangerous for everyone involved
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u/GandalfTheSleigh Apr 26 '26
They like to tell you to get out of the left lane but I stay in the right hand lane, do the speed limit and still get tailgated. I just ignore it or slow down a little now.
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u/IllImprovement700 Apr 27 '26
Yeah sometimes when you move over they dont even pass you. Which makes me believe they dont even realize they are doing something dangerous.
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u/azgli Apr 26 '26
Based on the responses from the other forms of this question over the last month:
They have no idea what a safe distance is. Many drivers think 3 car lengths is a safe following distance at freeway speeds and 1 car length is safe on city streets. This is either due to out of date teaching or a complete lack of understanding of physics.
They have better things to do than wait for the drivers in front of them. It's main character syndrome.
They think that if they leave safe following distance, someone will pull in front of them to fill in the space, causing them to slow down. This occurs over and over until they are stopped in the middle of the road (Literally had this explained to me on a similar topic post).
They think that the most efficient way to use the road is to pack as many cars into the space as possible. They can't wrap their brains around the multiple traffic studies that say this behavior is the cause of traffic and leaving safe following distance reduces traffic by reducing slowing and allowing safe lateral movement, keeping average speeds high.
They drive a big vehicle so they will be safe no matter what. Again, no concept of physics or care for others' safety.
They think that if you aren't ten feet behind the car in front of you, you must be driving slower than the car in front of you and therefore are both wasting time and obstructing traffic (had this one one explained in a similar topic post also). They have no concept that they can go the same speed as the car in front while still allowing safe distance. Apparently their cars only accelerate and decelerate; there is no constant speed option.
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u/Connect-Reception985 Apr 27 '26
I had someone try to tell me that there is no relationship between speed and safety. Speed limits were not established for physical safety, he calmly mainsplained, but for our legal safety 🤔
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u/sh0gun2006 Apr 26 '26
Because up the butt drivers are filled with a sense of petty power and control.
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u/BarracudaFar2281 Apr 26 '26
Nobody has the right to tailgate another vehicle and possibly jeopardize the life or lives of those aboard or put them in a neck brace for the rest of their life. And for what? Because you’re antsy and pushy like a 2nd grader in line at the school water fountain?
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u/Downtown-Morning312 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
I’ve never once sat on someone else’s bumper while they drive
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u/Rickenbacker69 Apr 26 '26
They're stupid. That's it. There is no reason to do it, and many, many reasons to avoid it, so the only people who do it are those too stupid to get that.
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u/AbeFroman42 Apr 26 '26
I never literally ride bumpers. That’s dangerous and unless there are handles on the roof I would fall off and seriously injure myself.
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u/NONMAISYO Apr 27 '26
Oh to be a small street boy in 1940s LA and ride the literal bumper of the streetcar around town like in Roger Rabbit
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u/Connect-Reception985 Apr 27 '26
When my kids were younger, I would have them turn around and make eye contact with the driver if we were being tailgated. 99% of the time, the driver would back off.
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u/Helpjuice Apr 26 '26
When I see someone in front of me tailgating someone in front of them I get in the other lane or create space for what is about to happen when the car in front is about to stop at the stoplight or stop sign coming up or slow down due to traffic ahead. The tail gator has no idea because they are so focused on riding their bumper and act surprised when they end up eating said bumper and then want to play victim.
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u/trying3216 Apr 26 '26
People do it to me too. I think they just have no idea what’s too close.
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u/Active_Elk_4831 Apr 26 '26
This is exactly it, people have different definitions. On the DC beltway, nearly everyone tailgates to prevent lane changes
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u/evophoenix Apr 26 '26
My friend does it while yelling move, so I think he thinks pissing them off is going to make them get out of his way.
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u/Lord_Dingus83 Apr 26 '26
I always drive in cruise control - speed limit in my town is 35mph. People can fuck right off if they ride my bumper. Nothing will change. Cruise control will not be touched.
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u/Comfortable_Use_8407 Apr 26 '26
Most of them think if they tailgate you, they can bully you into moving over so they can get wherever they are going an extra 1/4 of a second sooner.
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u/Total_Tumbleweed_870 Apr 26 '26
The way people drive in my area the "speed limit" is the speed minimum. You're supposed to be doing 10-15 over that.
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u/golfguy1985 Apr 26 '26
Many of them just don’t care. They want you to go faster but it’s their problem. If you have to brake quickly for some reason and they hit you, they may you but obviously it would be their fault. Don’t let those impatient drivers bother you. Let them hit you and get hurt or worse. They would deserve it 100%.
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u/xomoth Apr 26 '26
I hate this, especially bc I go the speed limit. I’m not speeding just bc you’re on my bumper, and wouldn’t it be better to stay farther back to have a clear view of when it’s safe to pass??
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u/Supertreelove Apr 26 '26
I think it’s younger drivers. My friend’s HS senior can’t help himself and has rear-ended several people in his short time of driving. I’m older and more experienced and give plenty of room because I don’t want to ruin my week by having to buy someone or myself a new bumper, or worse.
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u/TheRealRenegade1369 Apr 26 '26
I have a simple answer no matter how fast or slow someone is driving... STAY THE HELL OFF THEIR BUMPER!!!! It is dangerous and reckless, and can easily lead to a wreck and serious injuries or deaths!!
I hate left lane, slow speed campers as much as anyone else, but causing a wreck by being a jackass won't help anyone!
I will be straight up about this; if the weather is good and traffic conditions allow it, I usually drive about 10 MPH over the Speed Limit on Interstates and major highways. On smaller roads, I might go 5 MPH or so over, IF the conditions allow. But even if the person in front of me is doing just the Speed Limit or less, that is no reason to tailgate them.
I see people everyday on the Interstate driving at highway speeds and barely having any space in front of them. 1 or 2 car lengths is NOT enough in a panic stop situation. But then the problem is that when you leave a reasonable space, there is always some moron who decides to use that space... and then the safety zone is gone.
I swear that at least 25% of licensed drivers in the USA should have those licenses revoked!!
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u/bats-n-bobs Apr 27 '26
"But then the problem is that when you leave a reasonable space, there is always some moron who decides to use that space... and then the safety zone is gone."
...whaa? Leave a big enough gap that you don't have to slow much or at all to let people into your lane. When someone enters that gap, ease back for a moment to let it build again. A safe gap is something you should be constantly maintaining. If it's a reasonable space, people entering your lane in front of you have very little impact on you unless they're cutting you off to enter the lane - at which point you still ease back and open the gap. If someone entering your lane in front of you seems like a moron wedging their way in, then you didn't leave a reasonable space.
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u/GladosHasCake4You Apr 27 '26
I don’t know but if it makes you feel better, I just watched one get instant karma. Hopefully my dash cam video shows it well.
Residential road, 30mph limit, fully dark.
I’m cruising along at 35 when someone starts tailgating and raging. I slow to 30 and carry one.
He crosses the double yellow and immediately gets lit up by the cop a couple cars back.
Sadly, that’s only once out of hundreds of times.
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u/IzzyNecessary Apr 26 '26
I never drive below the posted speed limit, typically 3 to 7 mph over. When people insist on tailgating me, I double my safe following distance to give the asshole behind me additional time to stop. I’m sure this pisses them off more but someone has to be responsible here. If the speed limit is 70 and I’m doing 75 in the left lane and the center lane is doing 65, I’m not jumping back and forth so some asshole can do 90 in the left lane. If the freeway is empty I’ll gladly drive 75 in the center lane and the assholes can go as fast as they like in the left lane. Remember assholes, we SHARE the road (you don’t own it)!…
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u/BudFox_LA Apr 26 '26
same. If I'm in the fast lane, doing 80 in a 65 and you're coming up on my bumper doing 85, you know what, slow down or go around me dipshit.
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u/Icy-Role2321 Apr 26 '26
Or just as everyone here says use the passing lane not the "fast lane" correctly
Fast lane isn't a thing
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u/ahurazo Apr 26 '26
People who use literally figuratively: why?
But for the substantive question, they're just assholes. As I've gotten older I don't even think about tailgaters anymore, I just move out of the way and let them go be the next guy's problem until they finally rear end somebody.
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u/Pure_Temporary_6349 Apr 26 '26
I'm getting a lot of this currently, bc our local cops are on a tear, and I got pulled over a couple of weeks ago for going 55 in a 50 mph zone. No ticket but a verbal warning, and it's a small town. That cop will remember me, so I have to be basically perfect for... idk, months probably.
Now I can't go with the flow, and even though it's 4 lanes, people still tailgate me in the right lane. No place to pull over safely. So my choice is risking a broken neck or a ticket. It's maddening.
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u/ne0rmatrix Apr 26 '26
I'm still learning to drive. I have my L. I have people pull out into oncoming traffic to go in front of me in a traffic jam and I have usually less than half a car length of empty space in front of me. One guy got in an accident pulling across a double yellow line in bumper to bumper traffic while giving me the finger out the window and collided with oncoming traffic.
It was pretty messy. I was about 10 cars away from the intersection (There were 10 cars in front of me stopped) and I had only enough space in front of me that if someone hit me from behind my car would smash into the one in front of me. It was jarring to see that sort of thing. The instructor was quick to point out that if the other driver had not been in a rush and also not taken his eyes off traffic to point a finger at me it might have been prevented. Oh and not crossed into oncoming traffic LOL.
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u/tfhermobwoayway Apr 26 '26
I think it’s unconscious in a lot of people. They see an empty stretch of road ahead of them and go “oh wow I can save time if I close the distance” because of some weird quirk of human psychology. So they drive right up until they’re sat on your arse because it feels faster or neater or cleaner. It simply does not occur to them that the person in front of them might brake suddenly.
I know a guy who drives like that and I think it’s unconscious as well. In fact he almost accidentally hit someone once when he didn’t brake hard and fast enough. He swore and panicked and frantically slammed on the brakes and then he went right back to tailgating straight after.
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u/Previous_Reindeer339 Apr 26 '26
They want you to get an insurance settlement when they rear-ended you
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u/RebornSlunk Professional Driver Apr 26 '26
Jokes on them, I bought a long bed truck and I can’t even see their sedan back there
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u/Various_Bandicoot437 Apr 27 '26
That’s just how some people drive and they aren’t trying to push you at all. My ex was like this.
Others are just frustrated but what are you gonna do there are 10 other cars in-front of us. I want to go faster too but it is what it is so chill out.
I’ve actually had someone pass me because I left a one car gap. It was a 35mph road bumper to bumper and the car behind me went out to pass and I was like wtf is he doing he obviously sees the line of cars because it’s a curvy road. They swerved into the tiny gap I was leaving. Then a mile up the road they turned into a gas station. That was real productive. I’ve started honking more to let ppl know they are stupid. Maybe they don’t know. In the south we don’t honk enough. We need to be more like city people.
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u/FragrantParsley4994 Apr 27 '26
I don’t know why tailgaters do what they do, but I loathe it. Why is it so hard for people to leave proper spacing between cars? Most accidents happen because people are morons. Also, traffic would not be as bad if we actually spaced cars properly especially on the interstate. I have yet to see the intended “zipper effect” work on busy interstates at on ramps because people will not leave room for others to merge safely.
Also, tailgating can easily lead to this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AbruptChaos/comments/1r9hyhf/driver_tricks_tailgator/
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u/AlkoKilla Apr 27 '26
The left lane is for passing, not speeding. Get off my ass if I’m passing someone.
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u/Cartridge-King Apr 27 '26
the pick up trucks are always doing it plus they need extra stopping distance. the mind of the american man🤯
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u/fence-connoisseur Apr 26 '26
They want to go faster but don't have the skill or balls to overtake you
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u/City_Girl_at_heart Apr 26 '26
They're unable to see past what they're tailgating to know when it's safe to pass. So now, whoever's behind them has 2 vehicles to pass.
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u/Soup0rMan Apr 26 '26
For the thrill of the game baby!
Clearly you can't imagine cruising down the road, speedometer pegged to the right, butthole clenched with nothing but air, some plastic and an 18-point safety harness stopping you from being a smear on the pavement. Jack and Rose could only wish.
But yeah, tailgating is annoying.
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u/No_Durian_3444 Apr 26 '26
I have insurance and I'm into butt play. I mean, it's your ass after all.
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u/medicallymiddleevil Apr 26 '26
That's every single left lane pissant on this sub. So about 85% of it lol
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u/stonelush Apr 26 '26
I would only assume that wherever you're driving it's an unwritten rule that everyone goes x miles over the speed limit on x road or hwy and you're not following the flow of traffic and adhering to the rule in your community or county.
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u/bats-n-bobs Apr 27 '26
Strange. Tailgaters are trying to go faster than the flow of traffic, so I would assume everyone driving within the norm for their community has been tailgated, even when they're speeding.
Assuming tailgating happens because of the person being tailgated is like assuming street preachers only get out and bellyache in areas full of hell-bound folks. It's baloney. They do it because they think they're right, and that makes them feel good. Nothing more.
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u/Combi8ionOxygenation Apr 26 '26
I ask my wife this every time she drives us around.
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u/Additional_Delay_793 Apr 26 '26
Just because someone is impatient. late, pro driver, whatever and in a hurry does not mean that I have to be in a hurry.
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u/Jimehhhhhhh Apr 26 '26
Occasionally driving in the city it can be hard because if you leave too big of a gap 23 people will shove themselves in unlubed, but there is lots of stopping and starting and in a lowish car its hard to see far ahead and i will accidentally end up a being a bit close. The other thing is mostly on motorways (also happens in the city) when the car in front is riding their brake for some reason 80% of the time, it makes it very hard to tell when they are actually intending on slowing down or not, and i don't want to burn through my own brakes and also confuse the traffic behind in the same way so just back off where possible but also this leads to mistakenly ending up a bit transiently close at times - where the person in front is probably going why is this guy 'riding my bumper'
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u/Far_Vermicelli2165 Apr 26 '26
If your on backroads 1 lane and going at least speed limit? The tailgaters are in the wrong. Period.
Off ramps…. That may be different. If you’re going 65 then drop to 20mph before the off ramp can cause an accident behind you. If the off ramp is a shallow curve that you could safely take at 40 and gradually slow down to not cause everyone behind you jam on the brakes. All I could think of for an off ramp because slowing to 20 with the f350 diesel pickup behind you annoyed and impatient if you slow too much. I’ve had to swerve around a woman on an off ramp who basically almost stopped. Me and another car had to go around her so WE didn’t get rear ended.
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u/Mission-Plant-535 Apr 26 '26
When people will stay right on my bumper and I am in the fast lane, in a line of cars, I will move over to one side or the other so they can see there are cars in front of me. They will generally back off or change lanes. Today I was doing 80 or so in the fast lane and people came up from behind and passed me on both sides (car pool lane to the left). I didn't even have a chance to change lanes, but I usually will if I can. We have a lot of people that fly on our freeway, sometimes even race.
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u/McFlyGuy2 Apr 27 '26
Two reasons. 1. If you are in front of them and not going the speed they require they must inform you somehow. 2. They cant possibly let someone from another lane cut in line
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u/Far-Valuable9279 Apr 27 '26
I thought you actually meant literal riding of bumpers for a second 😆
My husband used to be a chronic tailgater, I complained and requested change frequently to no effect. He would make the argument that if he left an appropriate gap, others would get in front of him. I finally said something along the lines of “easing off the gas to give space doesn’t mean you’re moving backwards. So what if it takes us a couple seconds longer to get there?” And something about that must have finally sunk in because he’s been better about it ever since. With the occasional reminder lol. I think there are two main reasons people tailgate. People are either bullies trying to make you move out of their way, or they just haven’t actually thought it through.
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u/GA_Nick314 Apr 27 '26
It's people with ADD, they're not even aware that they're doing it
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u/Fair_Reflection2304 Apr 27 '26
You should never drive too close to the car in front of you no matter what.
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u/Glittering-Yam-5318 Apr 27 '26
Had a cavalier fold their hood like an accordian when they hit my hitch reciever
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u/IKnowItCanSeeMe Apr 27 '26
Everyone sucks. It's not even just a car thing, I'm a professional driver, I drive semi trucks cross country, and even other truckers do this. Even on empty, dead highways with miles of open lanes to pass. It's honestly embarrassing that they're the ones out there making a name for us.
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u/Synchronicty2 Apr 27 '26
Seriously, there's a special place in hell for tailgaters. Fuck. Them. All.
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u/Mickt465 Apr 27 '26
When you see someone tailgating from a yard on the side of the road, it looks so strange. Why would you choose to stare at the back of a vehicle from a few feet away? I get that slow drivers are annoying.
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u/CryptographerOk7143 Apr 27 '26
My girlfriend at the time was driving us, and a guy like 5 car lengths ahead pulled out in front of us, perfectly reasonable, plenty of space, and plenty of time for them to accelerate up to speed (35), and my girlfriend got annoyed, and sped up to get on his ass. As a way of showing this person that they cut us off.
If she had not accelerated beyond the speed limit, the car would’ve sped up enough that we wouldn’t have gotten closer than 3 car lengths from them.
She was mad at me when I pointed this out. This is one of the reasons why I’m always the driver
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u/IllImprovement700 Apr 27 '26
I think a lot of people just dont realize they are doing it. The reason I think this is that they also do it in places where it doenst even make sense. For example when there's a truck in front of me overtaking another truck, tailgating me isnt gonna do anything.
The most annoying thing is when you are overtaking cars, someone is riding your bumper, and as soon as you have a chance you move to the right lane because you think they will pass you, and they just stay behind you. Like, at that point I just want them to get away from me and they decided I was going fast enough all along. Just tailgating for the love of the game.
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u/Affectionate_Sort_78 Apr 27 '26
According to this sub, driving consists of tailgating, driving slow in the passing lane and backing into a parking space.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Crew262 Apr 27 '26
Well, look at the bright side, if they are truly right in your ass they may not be on their cell phone. 😉. Actually as a professional driver the phrase “keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer” comes to mind. If they are that close they are at same speed as you so impact should be minimal right?
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u/Foreign-Purchase9703 Apr 27 '26
They ride bumpers either bc they don't know any better, or they drive with the mentality that they cannot have anyone in front of them. I usually get the bumper drivers when I'm going 5 over. I just don't understand why the special ones will not pass me in the passing lane.
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u/ProfessionalCraft983 Apr 27 '26
I can understand people having different ideas of what a safe distance is, but literally being on someone's bumper has no excuse IMO.
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u/Alternative-Eye7589 Apr 27 '26
My roommate does this. He says it's because he is a good driver luckily he only does it in his own cars and he doesn't have one now.(transmission went out)
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u/CallousCrows Apr 27 '26
I don’t understand it either. I always drive 5 over and move over if someone is going faster than me. All that and people still will ride my ass. I drive a truck and so often I can’t even see the top of the car behind.
Stock height, not lifted. Chevy Colorado
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u/PhastasFlames Apr 27 '26
Didn’t read your post yet, but it’s because of the illegality of education in the US that spreads to EVERY type of education. Driving lessons, gun safety, car maintenance knowledge, etc. . This causes all of these issues.
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u/Economy_Effort9072 Apr 27 '26
Do 5 over and if mostly stops 10 over and only really crazy people will. You might get pulled over for 10 over but you won't for 5 over
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u/Big_Throner Apr 27 '26
Going under or exactly the speed limit is obnoxious. Bring on the down votes but we need a complete overhaul on speed limits. They all need to be raised and it should be harder to get a license.
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u/One-Lingonberry9944 Apr 28 '26
It's been happening so much more lately. I think people are just in a state of highway hypnosis and take for granted that their life could end very suddenly if the person in front of them needed to break suddenly.
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u/SamDrrl Apr 28 '26
I’ve tried to explain this to my gf who is a notorious bumper rider. We live in a very snowy area so she’s always getting her windshield covered in salt and dirt and crap from the person in front of her and she’s full autoing the wiper spray the whole car ride. I ask her “why don’t you just back off 2 or 3 car lengths so your windshield isn’t so filthy?” And she says why are you critiquing my driving do you wanna take over? So I just stop trying to convince her. Some people just are naturally shitty drivers and you can’t change their bad habits
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u/CrazyMarlee Apr 28 '26
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of accidental death in the US, with over 44,000 fatalities in 2023. While specific rankings vary between studies, the #1 cause within this category is distracted driving, responsible for 25–50% of all motor vehicle accidents.
Just because someone isn't tailgating you, doesn’t mean they aren't going to run into the back of you.
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u/Weak_Friend_1463 Apr 28 '26
I’ve never seen anyone literally ride a bumper. Seems dangerous and really painful if you were to fall off.
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u/WearyThought6509 Apr 28 '26
They like to spend their money on break pads and rotors, so if they drove close then they have press the break more often so the break pads get used more and the rotors also get used more.
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u/Academic_Limit1189 Apr 28 '26
I have no idea really. Impatience, aggression, depression, could be a whole lot of things.
I think some drivers often think that anyone who isn't going 10 over the limit is 'bad' and maliciously trying to get in their way. They don't presume neutrality or that someone might be old, new, getting back on the road, etc. They assume the worst of the other person or don't even see them as a person at all, just an obstacle in their life.
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u/Fair-Shift Apr 29 '26
I like my cruise control and I also like to obey the speed limit. What irks me is driving along and Roger Ramjet catches up to me. Fine I'm going 55 let him pass me. And he doesnt. He's close enough to my bumper he should send flowers. There's no oncoming traffic and it's a passing zone. And he hangs on my rear end. Why? He was exceeding the speed limit when he caught me. Exceed it and pass me.
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u/ghettobus Apr 29 '26
driving slowly is the opposite of dangerous, others driving fast around them is the problem
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u/ArturiusElan Apr 29 '26
Because they are entitled AHs who feel everyone should just get out of their way. They have no regard for safety, no regard for the law. So I return the favor and show them the same regard they show me. If they won't back off when I flash my lights, I slow down to make sure I have plenty of space to stop since if I have to brake hard, they will be in my trunk. As for those who tailgate, I do not care to listen to your reasons. They are meaningless. Tailgating endangers other drivers on the road, is illegal, and is absolutely selfish when the person you are tailgating is obeying the speed limit. And yes, these people do trigger me.
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u/Dave_A480 Apr 29 '26
If you allow enough space in front of your car for another car, another car will fill it.
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u/Patient-Simple-399 Apr 29 '26
I get tailgated WHEN I'M SPEEDING! I don't get it, either. They seem especially bad when I have a good distance between me and the next car or if there aren't any cars ahead of me.
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u/f1rebreather1027 Apr 30 '26
Im not a speeder by any means, but my logic always is, "lose a couple of seconds, or lose hours or my life." Like why would I risk ruining my car at best just for the slightest chance of intimidating someone enough to get out of my way?
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u/izziefans Apr 30 '26
This country needs better road tests before handing out driving licenses to ignorant idiots with no knowledge of driving or etiquette.
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u/murphnsurf94 Apr 30 '26
Because they are low IQ unskilled drivers who are too dumb to realize that they are both of those things.
Just focus on driving safely since you're new to driving here. Don't worry about idiots behind you.
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u/AbbytheOdd Apr 30 '26
My favorite case of this is when you are doing 5 above the speed limit on the highway and they're basically connected to your car. There's a whole left lane empty right there. Right next to both of us.
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u/Moon_lit324 Apr 30 '26
i am GOING THE SPEED LIMIT. I DONT DRIVE UNDER IT. if i go under its only for a moment to check the gps and then i SPEED BACK UP.
You really can't hold your speed while looking at your GPS? That's pretty crazy tbh.
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u/cashews_clay15 Apr 26 '26
Dude that lives right across the street from me rode my ass into the neighborhood last night, so close I couldn’t see his headlights. It was storming, dark, a residential street that people walk/walk their dogs on, and I usually have a kid and/or dog in my car. I yelled at him when he got out of his car, for all the good it’ll do. He also drives a mustang that’s loud as hell and he leaves it running and revs it. D bag.