How to deal with jerkoff bikers on the road

[APDrone]

I was the last car in a small line of cars on the left lane. We were all moving a couple miles per hour faster than the rest of traffic. I didn't want to give up my position because I was maintaining my speed, at a safe distance from the guy ahead. I was not the one dictating the speed of the lane, mind you, simply sticking with the speed of the lead car--some distance up ahead.

As far as common courtesy, I have no problem with it had they not started off by tailgating at a compeltely inappropriate distance. The right lane was partially clear during this little incident, and yes, they could have passed me, but they didn't. They insisted on pushing me out of the way. Once I realized that their need to squeeze me out was stronger than my need to hold my ground, I moved. The right lane was moving slightly slower, so I ended up having to slow down not long after changing lanes.

Pride is silly in this situation, but I'm only human, and in sticking to my guns, I don't believe I did anything that was out of line. I do not think it is my duty to yield to any hoot who decides that he must endanger himself and everyone around him every time the entire lane isn't moving as fast as he wants to.

Ahh.. thanks for the clarification.  

If you were solo, then my previous post holds, however, being part of a clump, and if the clump wasn't going as fast as you wanted, then I don't see a big problem with holding your position.  The bikers should have recognized the situation and chilled, IMO.  However, any biker that follows that closely at those speeds is asking for a date with concrete rash.  Absolutely no room for avoiding debris.  That would probably cause me to let them by.  When I see idiots I'll back off just to let them get as far away from me as possible so I don't get involved when their stupidity catches up with them.

[culero]

Slower traffic in the right lane, faster traffic in the left lane. I agree, and adhere to that convention. As Texas custom dictates, I yield to faster traffic whenever its appropriate to do so.

However, if you're in the left lane going just as fast as everyone else in that lane, and merely maintaining a safe following distance from the vehicle to your front, the collective speed is at least the maximum speed limit, and the right lane is full of significantly slower moving traffic, screw any icehole who wants to drive a lot faster and tailgates. In that example, its the tailgater who is out of line.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with anyone who wants to drive very fast. I do so myself when in my opinion its safe to do so. On a completely open road, I will drive as fast as the vehicle I am driving is capable of doing safely - in some cases, cruise control set to 115-130 mph.

But when there is a significant amount of traffic within relatively close distance to each other in BOTH lanes, the speed that the preponderance of traffic in the left lane is moving is the speed I drive at. If you tailgate me, you place me and any passengers in my vehicle at risk. I will therefore take steps to see that you back off - up to, if you ignore more polite warnings, tossing a handful of pea gravel from the sack I carry for that reason out of my window.

Tailgaters are more dangerous and equally as onerous as folks who won't yield the left lane to faster traffic. I hate both types, but am prepared to take stronger action by far against tailgaters.

[Bones]

Seems to me the entire situation would have been avoided had you been aware the bikes were closing on your tail and simply moved over when it was appropriate and safe to do so, if no one else was in front of you cauing your speed to be what it was.

They were wrong for vandalizing your car, but you did do your best to piss them off as well.

While two wrongs do not make a right, it was within your power to make everyone happy and not have to slow down or speed up in the process.

In Germany, on the autobahn, you would have been ticketed for your actions.  Just FYI.

However, if you're in the left lane going just as fast as everyone else in that lane, and merely maintaining a safe following distance from the vehicle to your front, the collective speed is at least the maximum speed limit, and the right lane is full of significantly slower moving traffic, screw any icehole who wants to drive a lot faster and tailgates. In that example, its the tailgater who is out of line.

Quite right.

[MiloMorai]

Seems to me the entire situation would have been avoided had you been aware the bikes were closing on your tail and simply moved over when it was appropriate and safe to do so, if no one else was in front of you cauing your speed to be what it was.

They were wrong for vandalizing your car, but you did do your best to piss them off as well.

While two wrongs do not make a right, it was within your power to make everyone happy and not have to slow down or speed up in the process.

In Germany, on the autobahn, you would have been ticketed for your actions.  Just FYI.

Quite right.

+1 Bones.

You are lucky they only spit at you slipknot. They could have pulled out their piece and and given you a piece or two of lead.

[slipknot]

+1 Bones.

You are lucky they only spit at you slipknot. They could have pulled out their piece and and given you a piece or two of lead.

Wow, now this thread is getting juicy!

[Gryffin]

Once again, I was not holding anybody up. I was going the speed that was chosen by the lead car--which was 10-12 cars ahead of us. After I got out of the way, the bikers continued to squeeze everyone in that lane until I lost sight of them. There were at least several chances for them to pass on the right, but they continued to tailgate.

You didn't mention the other cars in the left lane in your first post. The lead car was in the wrong.

Personally I wish they would change the rule to "keep right unless overtaking"' ... and give out tickets for it. In the US police will forgive almost anything ... overtaking on the right, driving in the left lane when not overtaking, tailgaiting, etc etc, just as long as you obey the speed limit. On most fast roads in europe, like the autobahn, it is the opposite ... they will forgive any speed as long as you obey all the other rules. I think their system is superior.

[Megalodon]

I sped up, made some more distance, but they closed it as fast as it had appeared. I tried doing it again and with the same result.

 
This is where you hosed it!

If had you just pulled over and let them buy in the first place, your speeding up and down you would not have closed the gap on the car in front of you. Who you say were making the pace. BS

I can tell you ALOT of what if's.... your gonna swallow your pride... big lump of it or a very tiny lump.

Had you just moved over in the 1st place, instead of spit, it would of been head nod maybe , with a smile specially if your "Ol'lady" was hot.     

[Cthulhu]

Personally I wish they would change the rule to "keep right unless overtaking"' ... and give out tickets for it. In the US police will forgive almost anything ... overtaking on the right, driving in the left lane when not overtaking, tailgaiting, etc etc, just as long as you obey the speed limit. On most fast roads in europe, like the autobahn, it is the opposite ... they will forgive any speed as long as you obey all the other rules. I think their system is superior.

Couldn't agree more.  Here in the US, you can talk on your cell, slurp your Big Gulp, apply eye liner, and beat your kids while watching a DVD... just as long as you don't speed.

[Pooh21]

If you are driving like a pokey grandma then get the fudge out of the left lane.
Go knit in the right lane if thats your thing.

on the other hand for douchbaggery, nothing spreads the love like an E-Brake check.



I always let faster traffic through if hes going 100 that means I can go 90 and he runs piggy interference for me V1 to pick up and alert me to.

[Gunthr]

I'll move right for anybody that wants to go faster than me.  I don't want those people directly behind me anyway.  I always try to keep my ego out of it for the sake of my kids, whether they're with me or not.

[Carrel]

Thanks for the psycho-analysis, Carrel. I've never even been to texas.

You're welcome...but it's too bad you aren't from Texas cause it's justifiable homicide if you shoot someone for spitting on you or your property.

 

Anyways I pull over and let people go past me, even if I'm going 90- that way if there's a cop he'll get them instead of me.

[eskimo2]

The left lane is for passing (in the US).

I had the opportunity to drive all over Britain for a month, about 20 years ago.  Everywhere (except big downtowns) drivers used the passing lane for passing.  I was stunned that I almost never was held up by slower traffic.  I wish all American drivers could experience that and learn how well it can work if everyone isn�t so selfish and stupid. 

[storch]

I'll move right for anybody that wants to go faster than me.  I don't want those people directly behind me anyway.  I always try to keep my ego out of it for the sake of my kids, whether they're with me or not.

beat me to it with slightly different words.  the left lane is the passing lane let those who wish to travel faster do so unbothred by slower traffic.  loogies wipe off with window washer fluid.  no harm no foul.

[CAP1]

whelp, you could've avoided all of this simply by following the law, and yielding to faster moving traffic. doesn't matter if they were above the speed limit or not, all you needed to do was slide into the next lane, let em by, and slide back out again.

<<S>>

[Dowding]

Eskimo - that was 20 years ago, unfortunately - it must have changed somewhat because now in anything more than light traffic, you often have people clogging up the right hand lane (fast-lane) over here.