This law is true almost everywhere, but no one realizes it, and it's never enforced. So continues the myth of the "fast lane".
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Why You Never, Ever Brake Check (Or Tailgate!) Another Driver
- Thread starter Makonero
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TarpitCarnivore
Member
It's an over correction not because of intention because of reaction. If you're moving that fast and someone taps their brakes out of nowhere you're immediately going to try and move the car.
Cybrwzrd
Banned
I am an aggressive asshole in far too small of a car to be tailgating some of the assholes that I do on a daily basis, but the number of morons that go under the speed limit in the left lane while passing at 0.1 MPH faster than the even slower semis on my 20 mile rural commute makes me wish I had a rocket launcher mounted to my car.
Seriously, the left lane isn't for cruising and doing your makeup or for two semis to drag race uphill.
Seriously, the left lane isn't for cruising and doing your makeup or for two semis to drag race uphill.
Why the fuck would you break check someone? Tailgating is shitty. But why would you want to run the risk of them rear ending you, potentially raising your car insurance and forcing you to have to deal with having your car repaired. Why would you want to contribute to the potential for an accident, and as others have stated - potentially bring innocent parties into the fold? Is making an example of someone really worth all of that shit?
Absolutely ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Look at this tailgater
Seventy_X_Seven
Member
Tailgating is my absolute most hated driving habit. I always drive at least 3 seconds behind someone. I don't care how slow someone is driving or how big of a rush you're in, if you are closer than 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you then, unless you're spiderman, there's no way you and your vehicle can possibly react in time should the other guy randomly slam his breaks. "But why would he randomly slam his breaks?" That's not the point. The point is you are putting yourself and your passengers safety out of your control.
Break checking is awful too, but if we try to fix break checking tailgating will still exist.
Looking at the video more... 3 seconds may seem extreme precaution to some but this guy looks like he's in-tow.
Break checking is awful too, but if we try to fix break checking tailgating will still exist.
Looking at the video more... 3 seconds may seem extreme precaution to some but this guy looks like he's in-tow.
I've seen people pulled over for passing in the right lane a couple times. Depends on the cop I guess.
I rarely get angry enough to want to physically harm another person, but if these fuckers did this to me when I had someone I cared about in the car, or my little brother, I would fucking destroy them.
I hate bad drivers so fucking much.
Im not advocating brake cheaking, but this particular scenario couldnt have worked out better.
Keep the speed your and wait for a hole. Or speed up to find a hole to merge and get over. Simple.
Dreams-Visions
Member
I'd like to hear from the tailgaters here. Do you not realize how uncomfortable you make drivers when you're 3 yards away from their rear bumper while going 70mph? Do you just not give a damn? At what point did your rush become everyone else's burden, adding stress to their driving experience and opening them up to driving mistakes because of your driving behavior?
superdeluxe
Member
Up here in Seattle, there was a car that break-checked the car tailing them. Well he didn't break in time, he crashed into the car..killing the break checker's wife. that sure showed the Car behind him.
BlitzerRadic
Member
Well obviously you can't move until it's safe. What I'm talking about is like in the OPs video, the brake checker could have slowed down and let the other car on the right overtake him then merge and let the tailgater pass.
Other posters intentionally slow down to aggravate a tailgater... whats the point? Why can't you just move over and let the fast driver get where he wants to go. Who knows maybe he has some emergency he needs to attend to.
I'm a fast driver, but I don't tailgate. There are other drivers faster than me and when I see them closing the distance I just get out of their way. When they pass, I move back. Why do so many here seem to have an issue doing that.
Michigan is cracking down on passing lane squatters and has public announced it is doing so. Good that my state is doing something right.
LoserMakesGood
Member
Yep I've reverted to this. I'll hold that middle finger for as long as you're in viewing range.
Neither is an acceptable excuse to tailgate.
SteveMeister
Hang out with Steve.
The tailgater was wrong to be tailgating. But tailgating didn't cause the accident -- the driver doing the brake-check did. The video clearly shows there were no hazards, poor road conditions, obstructions or any other reason to slow down. I think any court of law would find the brake-checker at fault here.
They'd probably also charge the tailgater for following too closely, but the brake checker would likely get charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident.
They'd probably also charge the tailgater for following too closely, but the brake checker would likely get charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Yeah well I think a controlled tap to let them know, is much safer than just allowing them to tailgate. If an emergency occurs, you're going to get a full blast rear ending when you slam your brakes.
If the brake checker was following the rules of the road and wasn't squatting in the passing the tailgater would not have had to slow down and be on his bumper. The brake check could wait until it was safe and merger right like the law tells him to do.
Why do you support not following the laws of the road and endangering other with highly risky protest?
Dreams-Visions
Member
Yes, because I'm sure the tailgater is concerned about the letter of the law as he/she sits 6 feet off of someone's bumper at 75mph. There are a bunch of ways to get people to move over. Tailgating is the worst possible option. You open yourself and them up to real and unnecessary danger. If you're so close you can't make a proper defensive maneuver (like break normally if the car ahead has to)' YOU'RE TOO FUCKING CLOSE. BACK THE FUCK UP. You are not in that big of a rush and if you are it's time to learn how to use a clock and leave on time instead of late.
Maybe they're all sociopaths like this gentleman, fantasizing about murdering people with bazookas because they aren't passing quickly enough, slowing his commute by what is probably a total of about 45 seconds.
Pro tip: leave 10 minutes earlier, play some music you like and/or take half a Valium. Stop riding bumpers or eventually something bad will happen to you sooner or later.
For those confused about what states have what laws regarding left lane usage, here's a good, old-fashioned table: http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html
Ohio, North Carolina, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Maryland have no rules regarding left lane usage. The others have a variety of different laws, such as: "Some states require drivers to move right if they are blocking traffic in the left lane. These have "yield" in the "keep right" column. Most states follow the Uniform Vehicle Code and require drivers to keep right if they are going slower than the normal speed of traffic (regardless of the speed limit; see below). These are listed as "slower"."
And of course, a lot also don't allow you to use the left lane for anything but passing.
Ohio, North Carolina, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Maryland have no rules regarding left lane usage. The others have a variety of different laws, such as: "Some states require drivers to move right if they are blocking traffic in the left lane. These have "yield" in the "keep right" column. Most states follow the Uniform Vehicle Code and require drivers to keep right if they are going slower than the normal speed of traffic (regardless of the speed limit; see below). These are listed as "slower"."
And of course, a lot also don't allow you to use the left lane for anything but passing.
BlitzerRadic
Member
If you're so uncomfortable why dont you just move over and let the other driver pass?
Agreed. I follow from a safe distance and flash my brights.
LoserMakesGood
Member
This is frustrating. I've had to change my route three times because of it. It takes me an hour to get to work but only 25 minutes to get home without speeding because it's late at night and there is no traffic. It sucks but the extra time is not worth the risk.
Dreams-Visions
Member
answering a question with a question is sophomoric. Try again and this time answer the question or just don't respond at all. K? K.
Cybrwzrd
Banned
The closest I will get is a car length. I usually try to go around, which is illegal. I only will tailgate if you are going the speed limit or slower in the passing lane and are effectively blocking me. I set my cruise at 10 over. Slow people cause accidents on the freeway - Δv is the enemy. Don't be a dick and create a Δv that I have to react to because you want to cruise in the left lane.
Dreams-Visions
Member
That is the best way to do it and works for me most of the time. I drive fast and I've never tailgated for all of the obvious reasons. It's an unnecessary risk for everyone. Mothafuckas need to get a watch and get over themselves. When it doesn't work I just wait for an opportunity to pass them or just...you know...chill the fuck out.
TheBryanJZX90
Member
Yeah I think the brake checker was more in the wrong than the tailgater here. Look what the brake checker does immediately after the accident. Gets in the right lane. Which should have been his response in the first place (when it was safe given the merging car) instead of making the bad situation worse by brake checking.
I have very little sympathy for tailgaters since they're recklessly endangering other drivers and passengers, but accidents are always tragic.
In this case, the tailgater was just being a donkey. Traffic was merging onto a highway, so the slower car in front of him couldn't pull over to the right to let him by. There needs to be far harsher punishments for tailgaters when it's proven in cases like this where there's dashcam footage available.
In this case, the tailgater was just being a donkey. Traffic was merging onto a highway, so the slower car in front of him couldn't pull over to the right to let him by. There needs to be far harsher punishments for tailgaters when it's proven in cases like this where there's dashcam footage available.
Ragnorok64
Member
Ding ding!
That said, given the positioning of the camera, that whole scene is probably a work.
Not always possible to get out of the way.
I rarely if ever tap my brakes at a tailgater but I have done it, situationally.
Tailgating is extremely fucking dangerous. Let's be clear, the first sin is ALWAYS on the tailgater. No ifs ands or buts. And especielly egregious tailgating is putting my life in danger every moment they continue to tailgate.
I used to have to drive a long stretch of one lane road and not often but once I had cars in front of me and a tailgater riding my ass hard. Honking and slowing and then getting right up on my ass. He kept swerving over into the oncoming traffic lane and back. I slowed down in an attempt to let him pass but he still wouldn't pass. Just got angrier and more tailgating. Eventually I did brake check him slightly because at this point it was only a matter of time before he either hit oncoming traffic or hit me. He cooled off a bit and gave me more room.
Brake checking is dangerous but the first sin remains the tailgaters.
Yes, it's funny how most people don't understand that a big difference in delta V between speed limit and traffic flow is dangerous.
The thing that bothers me the most is that the brake checker had to have seen the accident in his/her rearview mirror and instead of stopping to help, he/she took off. Just completely irresponsible.
DrGonzo615
Banned
Nah, I only do this if somebody tailgates. If somebody is coming up from behind going faster but doesnt just sit on my ass then I politely move over.
Digital-Hero
Member
Glad no one appeared to get hurt. The ego of the tailgater did though.
Which leaving the scene of a accident that a person caused is also a crime. And people here are cheering this sociopath. It was so hard for the brake checker to wait 10 more seconds to merge right safely after lane squatting. But he so got over into right lane and speed up quick after he caused the accident.
Ragnorok64
Member
What?!!
Dreams-Visions
Member
Yes. That being said, if you're in the left/fast lane you should also be looking to at least move at the pace of traffic at bare minimum.
Obvious enough to have never required stating.
Squirrel Killer
Member
To remind the tailgater that "safe following distance" is a thing that exists for a reason.
FinalStageBoss
Banned
Man I hate tail gaters..I don't brake check any more though, I'd rather move over. I've seen it cause some serious accidents so I'd rather not chance it tbh. And if you want somebody to move over just flash your lights at them, much safer than scraping their bumper.
Cybrwzrd
Banned
I love how sociopath is tossed out. Insults are a surefire way to win an argument.
I think your request is bollocks though. You are asking me to give up nearly 3.5 days of my life per year to leave a little earlier so that people can break the law and lollygag in the passing lane.
thechristoph
Sir!
I've never break-checked anyone. If someone tailgates me, I just let off on the gas and let myself slow down. I figure that'll learn 'em and it won't result in me being injured.
But man, I did get some smug satisfaction watching this tailgating asshole get ditched.
But man, I did get some smug satisfaction watching this tailgating asshole get ditched.
Why? Just move over.
Exactly,
I have been driving for 12 years now. Never gotten a ticket on the road, never tail-gate, never gotten into an accident, and still manage to be faster than 90% of the people on the highway.
Ofcourse with me saying that all of it is gonna happen tomorrow when I take a long drive upstate.
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