Ruses to stop tailgaiters

[ArtFox]

Has anybody considered putting a magnetic sign on the door and on the back of your car that says "Survey Crew?" Just put a hardhat on the dash or on the back deck, a clipboard on the front seat and wear a safety vest everywhere you go?

If your county/state allows it, add some flashing yellow lights in the rear window and behind your grill. That should keep most manic tail-gaters from
honking while you coast.

[Greybrick]

Originally Posted by ArtFox

Has anybody considered putting a magnetic sign on the door and on the back of your car that says "Survey Crew?" Just put a hardhat on the dash or on the back deck, a clipboard on the front seat and wear a safety vest everywhere you go?

If your county/state allows it, add some flashing yellow lights in the rear window and behind your grill. That should keep most manic tail-gaters from
honking while you coast.

Highway or town/city driving? Isn't it illegal to be going substantially less than the speed limit on most highways and freeways? I've seen local highway construction crew pickup trucks using a big full window sized directional flashing yellow LED arrow in the rear window so maybe those are obtainable from a safety supply store.

.

[oneinchsidehop]

[quote=ArtFox;100800]Has anybody considered putting a magnetic sign on the door and on the back of your car that says "Survey Crew?" Just put a hardhat on the dash or on the back deck, a clipboard on the front seat and wear a safety vest everywhere you go?

If your county/state allows it, add some flashing yellow lights in the rear window and behind your grill. That should keep most manic tail-gaters from
honking while you coast.
__________________________________________________ __________________

My favorite was a magnetic sign that said


----test vehicle---
--DO NOT FOLLOW--
Allied Manure Spreaders

It was just an old guy with a sense of humor, but it worked.

[fumesucker]

That reminds me:

Amish bumper sticker: Warning! Do not step in exhaust...

[jadziasman]

Yeah tailgaters are a nuisance and other than slowing down even more to really make them angry, there are no foolproof ways of keeping them off you.

I don't care much for alleygators either!

[slurp812]

Thoes are much nicer idea than mine. I want one of those programmable LED signs in my back window. when someone gets too close, it displays:
"BACK OFF <insert favorite cussword here>"

[swng]

I have been thinking about a horn that honks to the cars behind.

[101mpg]

I've toyed with getting one of those programmable LED signs for the back and one for the front (mirror).

To remove idiot tailgaters (let's say I'm doing 60 in a 65 zone and they want to do 85 in the slow lane) I simply slam on my brakes if the license plate of the vehicle behind me disappears from my rearview because they are too close, after warning repeatedly by tapping brakes. I know exactly how much I can slow down and then reaccelerate and not get hit. In Washington State this resulted in several spilled lattes from idiots tailgating me - but less tailgaters over time because I found that the SAME people would tailgate all over town! Not so much after they'd been warned by taillight tapping, and then had to slam on their brakes and dump their coffee in their lap! Probably too much coffee is why they were so jumpy & tailgating in the first place.

I have been known to stop dead on the freeway to remove idiots (no other traffic and they want to "draft" off me regardless of my speed. Nothing like someone 6'3" swarming out of a little bitty car to get them to speed off. Only done that twice but it worked.

One time I was driving in northwestern WA state, where I lived literally across the street from the Canadian border. It was POURING rain, and in WA semis have to go slower than regular traffic on the freeway. This guy would NOT let me pass for whatever reason. He was limited to 60 but I could do 70, I just wanted to get around. Every time I'd speed up, he'd speed up and swerve in & out of his lane, throwing up so much water I could not see if he was in my lane so I wouldn't hit him.

Finally I flicked my brights, once, to let him know I wanted to pass, as there was zero other traffic around. He turned on his LOADING DOCK LIGHT, on the freeway! Basically a headlight/spotlight that you shine backwards onto the loading dock! I slowed down as it was only about five more minutes to my exit. Had to do 50 because he mandated it.

BUT - at the exit I was able to easily pass him, and go to the Customs checkpoint. I told them EXACTLY what happened - he was swerving, speeding up & slowing down, and he turned on a rear-facing spotlight aimed at my windshield. Now these symptoms to me appear to be those that a drunk driver might exhibit - and I repeated that - he might be drunk or under the influence of some drugs, who knows, maybe even smuggling something.

I pointed it out, gave them the license # (it was Canadian plates, there is only ONE place you go on Interstate 5 at that point of night), and they ran over to him at the truck checkpoint, guns drawn. I bet it was several hours before he got home that night! I just turned around and went home and slept well.

I can't stand tailgaters, I keep at least "three stripes" myself if trying to take advantage of any aero drafting, usually just my own aero and no one elses.

Personally if you want to draft, I have no issue, but if the person indicates (brake lights tapped repeatedly) they don't want you to draft, be safe and find another target. Personal opinion here.

[bkrell]

My Saab, a 2001 9-5, and all SAABs of 90's and early 2000 vintage (at least) have rear fog lights. For the American market they ship with only one bulb. But you CAN put a bulb in both sides. When you flip them on, they look like brake lights. It's a nice trick for tailgaters. A fake brake check without losing speed.

[JoeBob]

Best thing is to ignore them. They eventually go away. Or go around. Every now and then, they cut in front and slow down, thinking they are punishing me. Usually I just laugh and point.

[Greybrick]

Sometimes if I need a close following vehicle to back off and rather than tapping the brakes I hit the slow moving vehicle warning light button to get all of the emergency lights to flash a few times...usually backs them off fairly quick. If one could tie in a couple of rear facing police blue colored lights into that relay it would probably make those tailgaters back way off, but you might have to support or join a local volunteer fire department
to be allowed those.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdR7...eature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_vehicle_lighting

.

[landspeed]

My car is not (yet) very aerodynamic. I have found that tailgaters improve my MPG slightly, so I put up with it (if the car is the same size, and I can see that things are 'safe' ahead of me).

Something I did in my old car once by chance, and am tempted to set up in my current car, would be a special switch to cut off the fuel to TWO of the four cylinders, while making the AFM run richer than it should.

Then, drive along. Flip the switch, then press the accelerator fully down (WOT) for half a second. The exhaust will fill with very hot, ENRICHED, burnt mixture, from the two working cylinders which are running rich. It will also be filled with pure air from the two cylinders which have no fuel...

Then, when you let go of the accelerator, this mixture will stop flowing in the exhaust, and some of it will be 'stuck' next to hot exhaust valves. There will be a loud bang as the mixture burns from the exhaust valves. The explosion pushes the mixture out of the exhaust as it goes, giving a 6-12 inch flame together with a nice bang from the end of the exhaust

I discovered this when experimenting with 2-cylinder running, on my old car (using an LPG switch to disable two of the fuel injectors). The only proviso, is that you shouldn't do this to cars that have a catalytic convertor!

I had just discovered the 'popping' noise when someone tailgated me, I tried it, and they backed off Then, later on that day, when it was dark, I tried it out again (with no-one behind me), and I could see huge flashes of light behind the car If you hide the switch somewhere, and splice into the injector wiring under the dashboard so no-one can see the modification, then even if someone reports you for it, and the police stop you or something, they will just find your car running smoothly, and there will be no sign of how the flames could have happened

I will just go and update my avatar I think to show the effect

[ArtFox]

Originally Posted by ArtFox

If your county/state allows it, add some flashing yellow lights in the rear window and behind your grill. That should keep most manic tail-gaters from
honking while you coast.

JC Whitney has LED flashers but they are $79 and not very aerodynamic...

[R.I.D.E.]

Just drift over closer to the shoulder of the road, or even put two wheels on the shoulder. The road debris will start rattling off their windshield and most sane people will back off.

Sometimes it's unavoidable here, bumper to bumper at 3 to 5 car lengths for 40+ miles, in which case I don't do anything to PO the other driver.

regards
gary

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by landspeed

My car is not (yet) very aerodynamic. I have found that tailgaters improve my MPG slightly, so I put up with it (if the car is the same size, and I can see that things are 'safe' ahead of me).

That's actually a good idea. It had never occured to me.

I will just go and update my avatar I think to show the effect

Originally Posted by ArtFox

JC Whitney has LED flashers but they are $79 and not very aerodynamic...

$10 at Harbor Freight, more aerodynamic, but not a nice modern LED or strobe...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96279

[Lug_Nut]

Clean you windshield
Ooops, I forgot to re-aim that squirter last week and it still sprays over the top of the glass...

If you have tailgaters, it's because you have created them. If they are a problem, they are your problem. You figure out how to get rid of your problem that you created.
I wait for a passing zone, put on my right directional, pull closer to the shoulder, slow a bit more, and wave them past. The wave is key. It maintains your assertion of control (passive agression) over the situation. They can't take control of the outcome of this situation by blowing past you, because you have given them permission to pass you.

[ArtFox]

Originally Posted by theholycow

$10 at Harbor Freight, more aerodynamic, but not a nice modern LED or strobe...

Thanks for the link! Much cheaper. Now I wonder if they make a clear lens magnetic teardrop housing to hide a rear view mirror in so that I can experiment with placement as a fender mount...

...I would remove the light and rotator motor b4 installing a mirror. Would not want to get dizzy!!

Relates to mirror discussion thread
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=1492


Been trying to engineer a faired bullet mirror without too much optical distortion.

Cameras are fine, but I had an electrical failure once and lost dash lights and power at night but was able to drive with a flashlight trained on the analog speedo. Real mirrors seem pretty foolproof if small, well faired and properly placed.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by ArtFox

Been trying to engineer a faired bullet mirror without too much optical distortion.

I'm not too familiar with the optics involved, but what is the nature of the distortion? Can you accept the distortion from the fairing and correct it with an oppositely-distorted mirror?

[101mpg]

This is AWESOME! I can't do this on my CRX and don't want to but I sure want to figure out a bolt-on that will do the same thing safely!

My best friend and I are always swearing we want gun turrets for the fronts of our vehicles - this is even better!

Originally Posted by landspeed

Then, drive along. Flip the switch, then press the accelerator fully down (WOT) for half a second. The exhaust will fill with very hot, ENRICHED, burnt mixture, from the two working cylinders which are running rich. It will also be filled with pure air from the two cylinders which have no fuel...

Then, when you let go of the accelerator, this mixture will stop flowing in the exhaust, and some of it will be 'stuck' next to hot exhaust valves. There will be a loud bang as the mixture burns from the exhaust valves. The explosion pushes the mixture out of the exhaust as it goes, giving a 6-12 inch flame together with a nice bang from the end of the exhaust

[R.I.D.E.]

Had a 59 Vette, gas pedal stuck to the floor, figured it out at 105 in second. Stomped the pedal three times then cut off the ignition. That old 750 Holly poured a couple of ounces of fuel in the exhaust.

I bent the key 90% when I shut it off. Straightened the key popped the hood and grabbed the linkage and it dropped to idle.

When I cranked it back up it blew a couple of pounds of fiberglass out of the mufflers!

I hope you own a muffler shop .

regards
gary

[dkjones96]

Originally Posted by ArtFox

JC Whitney has LED flashers but they are $79 and not very aerodynamic...

Do NOT drive down the road with a blue or red light like that on your car, especially the red one.

Blue they may not hassle you much unless you have it on but just having the red light can get you nailed for impersonating a police officer regardless of it being on or not.

[R.I.D.E.]

In Va. Blue is state police you will get nailed to the wall.

regards
gary

[JoeBob]

Get an old ('72 or '73 would be good) Mazda with the Wankel Rotary Engine...stomp on the foot feed then let off...makes the most satisfying explosions. Loved doing that under overpasses or in tunnels. If you get one, make sure the exhaust system is still up to that. They were when the cars were new...Remember watching one guy fishtail all over the place after I did that!

Originally Posted by landspeed

My car is not (yet) very aerodynamic. I have found that tailgaters improve my MPG slightly, so I put up with it (if the car is the same size, and I can see that things are 'safe' ahead of me).

Something I did in my old car once by chance, and am tempted to set up in my current car, would be a special switch to cut off the fuel to TWO of the four cylinders, while making the AFM run richer than it should.

Then, drive along. Flip the switch, then press the accelerator fully down (WOT) for half a second. The exhaust will fill with very hot, ENRICHED, burnt mixture, from the two working cylinders which are running rich. It will also be filled with pure air from the two cylinders which have no fuel...

Then, when you let go of the accelerator, this mixture will stop flowing in the exhaust, and some of it will be 'stuck' next to hot exhaust valves. There will be a loud bang as the mixture burns from the exhaust valves. The explosion pushes the mixture out of the exhaust as it goes, giving a 6-12 inch flame together with a nice bang from the end of the exhaust

I discovered this when experimenting with 2-cylinder running, on my old car (using an LPG switch to disable two of the fuel injectors). The only proviso, is that you shouldn't do this to cars that have a catalytic convertor!

I had just discovered the 'popping' noise when someone tailgated me, I tried it, and they backed off Then, later on that day, when it was dark, I tried it out again (with no-one behind me), and I could see huge flashes of light behind the car If you hide the switch somewhere, and splice into the injector wiring under the dashboard so no-one can see the modification, then even if someone reports you for it, and the police stop you or something, they will just find your car running smoothly, and there will be no sign of how the flames could have happened

I will just go and update my avatar I think to show the effect

[SL8Brick]

I've found that rear fog lamps can temporarily dissuade tailgaters, especially at night. When you switch it on, they assume its a brake light and back off a bit. Works nicely if you accelerate slightly as you switch on the light.

Hella rear fog lamps for universal applications can be found here: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/backup.asp#rfog

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by swng

I have been thinking about a horn that honks to the cars behind.

I like that idea, like 190 db super horn, yea!

[Powerstroke IN]

Originally Posted by ArtFox

Has anybody considered putting a magnetic sign on the door and on the back of your car that says "Survey Crew?" Just put a hardhat on the dash or on the back deck, a clipboard on the front seat and wear a safety vest everywhere you go?

If your county/state allows it, add some flashing yellow lights in the rear window and behind your grill. That should keep most manic tail-gaters from
honking while you coast.

I've found that a few pumps of the accellerator from soot belching diesel does the trick nicely. I basically have a switch on my dashboard that says, "Get off me, I'm in front and you can't change that," by adding 140 more horse power. Try that one sometime.

[OokiiMamoru]

Originally Posted by dkjones96

Do NOT drive down the road with a blue or red light like that on your car, especially the red one.

Blue they may not hassle you much unless you have it on but just having the red light can get you nailed for impersonating a police officer regardless of it being on or not.

I'd say it depends on the State you live in. In my case its blue. A nice amber light should do it.

[Randy]

The craziest anti-tailgater thing I've seen was a set of train horns pointed rearward in the bed of a mini pickup.

For the most part I don't worry about tailgaters. The major fear is them hitting you... obviously they would if you had to hit the brakes. But they wouldn't hit you very hard as you only have a few feet to decelerate. You could loose control, or hit whatever you were trying to avoid, but the major danger is still in front and mostly controllable by you.

On the other hand, someone way back and completely spaced out will slam into you at nearly full speed. I've had this one happen, and it sucks, even at way less than highway speeds.

So I normally just ignore them. If they really wanted to go fast, they would pass. I think a lot of people just get so used to tailgating that they don't even think of it as 'pushing' you, just normal driving. I've been passengers with several drivers like this. It doesn't matter if you're 10 over or 10 under, they're just stuck there.

On rare occasions I do stress about it... the last was a semi who flew up on my bumper in the right lane just because he wanted to pass traffic on the right instead of left, and thought I'd make room somehow if he threatened me enough. Even this worst case I just gently slow down until there's room for them to pass, reminding myself that it's not constructive to cause an accident then pull them out of the truck and shoot them with a shotgun at close range repeatedly. The crazier traffic gets, the saner you need to be, as it's the only way everyone arrives home in one piece.

[theholycow]

How about the urinating car mod?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...46325790254055

[R.I.D.E.]

Today I was driving my normal route, going into the last 4 mile stretch, in the right lane approaching the Naval Weapons Station where a lot of people turn right. Sure enough the car two cars in front of me turns on his signal.

I was watching the traffic all around and I had a clear left lane to move over to avoid stopping. Speed limit was 45 and I was doing just over 50 moving with traffic. I move over to the left lane, but there is a pickup truck about 150 feet behind me. The problem is he is doing at least 65 trying to pass the group of cars to get into the right lane to get on the interstate.

I guess I pissed him off, so he pulls up on my rear end in his full size Chevy pickup.

Three feet off my bumper at 52 MPH!!!! I could only see his grille in my rear view mirror. Couldn't see the hood or the top of his front bumper.

When this idiot realized he wasn't going to be able to get in front of the car in the right lane he finally slowed down to merge in front of another car, maybe 1 car length between the car in front and behind him.

I get soo tired of idiots that accelerate to try to block your lane change to avoid a huge fuel wasting stop. It seems like they think its a challenge to see if they can cause a wreck.

Maybe one day I will take my spritzer bottle and fill it with a 50-50 antifreeze and water mix to spray it out the window. Windshield wipers wont do much of anything to get antifreeze off the glass. This idiot certainly deserved a shot of that kind of juice.

Around here you don't need to worry about drafting. I see people tailgating at 1 car length 12-15 feet at 70-75 MPH everytime I get near the interstate.

regards
gary