I've had this post on my mind for a while, but l wasn't going to post it until I recently heard two other people comment on it. Pickup truck drivers tailgate!

Naturally, I don't mean every pickup driver, but when I see one approaching in my rearview mirror, I tense-up because I know that in a few minutes, all I will see is the grill. It makes no difference how fast I am going. It's never fast enough. I'm not one of those old fogies who drives ten mph under the limit. With a speed limit of 55, I refuse to go over 60. We have four police departments here, and I see people stopped almost every time I drive into town.

When I get tailgated, my standard procedure is to check my speedo to make sure I'm driving over 55. I'll speed up to 59, if I'm not already there. If he's still on my bumper after a mile, or so, I'll take my foot off the gas and slow down to about 50. Sometimes, they take the hint and drift back. If not, I look for a place to pull off the road and let him pass.

I know what the first excuse is going to be: they're going to work, and time is money. "Going to work" is not a legal excuse to speed or tailgate. In most cases, they're going home, going shopping, or going to get a cup of coffee. Basically, they're stupid rednecks driving big trucks, and they think they have to right to do whatever they want.

I've had four pickups over the years, and I always drove like a normal person.

There. I said it.

I've had this post on my mind for a while, but l wasn't going to post it until I recently heard two other people comment on it. Pickup truck drivers tailgate!

Naturally, I don't mean every pickup driver, but when I see one approaching in my rearview mirror, I tense-up because I know that in a few minutes, all I will see is the grill. It makes no difference how fast I am going. It's never fast enough. I'm not one of those old fogies who drives ten mph under the limit. With a speed limit of 55, I refuse to go over 60. We have four police departments here, and I see people stopped almost every time I drive into town.

When I get tailgated, my standard procedure is to check my speedo to make sure I'm driving over 55. I'll speed up to 59, if I'm not already there. If he's still on my bumper after a mile, or so, I'll take my foot off the gas and slow down to about 50. Sometimes, they take the hint and drift back. If not, I look for a place to pull off the road and let him pass.

I know what the first excuse is going to be: they're going to work, and time is money. "Going to work" is not a legal excuse to speed or tailgate. In most cases, they're going home, going shopping, or going to get a cup of coffee. Basically, they're stupid rednecks driving big trucks, and they think they have to right to do whatever they want.

I've had four pickups over the years, and I always drove like a normal person.

There. I said it.

I've had this post on my mind for a while, but l wasn't going to post it until I recently heard two other people comment on it. Pickup truck drivers tailgate!

Naturally, I don't mean every pickup driver, but when I see one approaching in my rearview mirror, I tense-up because I know that in a few minutes, all I will see is the grill. It makes no difference how fast I am going. It's never fast enough. I'm not one of those old fogies who drives ten mph under the limit. With a speed limit of 55, I refuse to go over 60. We have four police departments here, and I see people stopped almost every time I drive into town.

When I get tailgated, my standard procedure is to check my speedo to make sure I'm driving over 55. I'll speed up to 59, if I'm not already there. If he's still on my bumper after a mile, or so, I'll take my foot off the gas and slow down to about 50. Sometimes, they take the hint and drift back. If not, I look for a place to pull off the road and let him pass.

I know what the first excuse is going to be: they're going to work, and time is money. "Going to work" is not a legal excuse to speed or tailgate. In most cases, they're going home, going shopping, or going to get a cup of coffee. Basically, they're stupid rednecks driving big trucks, and they think they have to right to do whatever they want.

I've had four pickups over the years, and I always drove like a normal person.

There. I said it.

I'm with you on this issue Jerry.
To add to what you said a truck loaded or unloaded will not stop nearly in as short a distance as a car and it seems like I am constantly trying to avoid road hazards not secured by truck owners.
So when an animal darts out into the road and the car applies the binders the truck makes use of its "Crumple Zone", ouch. . . .
Also, the number one best-selling vehicle in the US is a Ford F-150 pick-um-up truck, sigh . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Yikes!!! - Yikes!!! - Yikes!!!

I've had this post on my mind for a while, but l wasn't going to post it until I recently heard two other people comment on it. Pickup truck drivers tailgate!

Naturally, I don't mean every pickup driver, but when I see one approaching in my rearview mirror, I tense-up because I know that in a few minutes, all I will see is the grill. It makes no difference how fast I am going. It's never fast enough. I'm not one of those old fogies who drives ten mph under the limit. With a speed limit of 55, I refuse to go over 60. We have four police departments here, and I see people stopped almost every time I drive into town.

When I get tailgated, my standard procedure is to check my speedo to make sure I'm driving over 55. I'll speed up to 59, if I'm not already there. If he's still on my bumper after a mile, or so, I'll take my foot off the gas and slow down to about 50. Sometimes, they take the hint and drift back. If not, I look for a place to pull off the road and let him pass.

I know what the first excuse is going to be: they're going to work, and time is money. "Going to work" is not a legal excuse to speed or tailgate. In most cases, they're going home, going shopping, or going to get a cup of coffee. Basically, they're stupid rednecks driving big trucks, and they think they have to right to do whatever they want.

I've had four pickups over the years, and I always drove like a normal person.

There. I said it.

Jerry, I never found that to be the case in California or Arizona. But if someone did it too much, too long, I would lightly tap the brakes a few times in rapid succession. If that didn't work, I just would maintain speed and position. I one time had a driver who took exception - sped up, drove around me, and then gradually stopped. When he got out to approach me, I just took off. Here, almost everybody tailgates, especially taxi drivers. General driving habits are atrocious, but in almost seven years, I think I've seen the results of only three or four bad accidents! - and I'm on the road a lot, on my Honda and in taxis. My biggest gripe is the all-too-common practice of drivers trying to squeeze me out of my lane just to gain ONE position. I hold my position, though, and nobody has seen fit to run into me. I'm not a slow driver - and I do take advantage of the bike's maneuverability, but never to go where I shouldn't be. In a similar situation, many on a crowded escalator will push by just to (predictably) gain only one step!

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City