If a big-ass semi tailgates you, what do you do?

[Deja Q]

You know the thug wants to go faster and it's clear that he wants to do something by driving as close to your bumper as possible.

[BlondieK143]

1. I'd get my slow ass out of the left lane.

And I'd laugh if he got pulled over. (hey, I'm fully aware I run that risk too!)

[Deja Q]

13. I was in the right lane... as with the left lane.

there were lots of other cars in both lanes.

Oh, the speed limit posted is for ALL lanes. The left lane isn't the Autobahn and two tickets I had (one year apart) prove it. :D

[liberal N proud]

2. When someone is on my ass, I get a little bit slower

Two reasons.
One, I want more distance between me and the car in front of me so if I get hit from behind, I don't then in turn hit the car in front.
Two, If I get slow enough, maybe the jerk will pass.

One rule, if you are in the left lane, you had better be traveling faster than the cars/trucks in the right lane.

Otherwise you deserver to have a big ass semi in your rear view mirror.

[aeolian]

29. AHMEN!

[billyskank]

3. One of two things

(1) Drive faster. Those things are speed limited, right? They certainly are here, anyway, to 55mph. If you're driving slower than a truck wants to go then you're driving too slow!

If that's not an option,

(2) Get out of the way. I know the truck driver's being an asshole, but let's face it. He's being an asshole in many many tons of metal. That counts for something. Let him go and be an asshole somewhere else.

[BlondieK143]

7. An 18 wheeler rear-ended us.

I was coming back from a concert just outside of Atlanta and apparently the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. Needless to say, if she hadn't stopped when she did, she would've plowed right over top of us.


(that's just one of the pics)

[billyskank]

8. You were very fortunate.

[billyskank]

9. Fortunate not to be killed, I mean

Not fortunate to have a truck run into the back of you.

[BlondieK143]

10. We were really lucky.

Although stranded and scared shitless. It was a pretty big ordeal (especially since we were about 3 hours away from home). When she hit us, it broke the frame of the car, shattered the windows, and broke out seats. Needless to say, I was freaked out when Brandon had to beat on the door to get me out of the car.

[Shell Beau]

17. Wow! That looks scary!

[Mutley]

25. Damn thats fucked up!

I was nearly run off the road about a year ago by a trucker trying to get into an exit lane on the left from the right lane! I had to pull over and hyperventilate for awhile after that one.

[Shell Beau]

18. They aren't here. I see 18 wheelers flying down the road. Scary!!

[billyskank]

35. I suppose speed limiters on trucks would be an unconstitutional

restriction on their freedom to be the stupidest bastard in the world!

:D

[iconoclastic cat]

4. I'm selling a copycat thread: If a big ass semi-tailgates you, what do you

do?

$5!

[flvegan]

5. Speed up/move over. Then, of course,

I'd get the number of his/her employer off the door of the cab, and make a phone call (hopefully while I'm right next to him in traffic.

[In_The_Wind]

6. 1st

move out of his way ... then if you think the driver is behaving dangerously or if it's road rage ... make a note of his license number and report his ass ... either to his company or to the state patrol. It isn't easy to stop those things - trust me I have a license to drive one.

[Orsino]

11. Move to the right to let faster traffic pass.

As long as I'm passing traffic to my right, then I'm doing my duty. If there are open lanes to my left, I might slow down a bit to encourage the tailgater to pass me. If I'm not passing, then I know I'm in the wrong, and I move right.

Now, if I'm already in the rightmost lane, then I'm sure it's the tailgating driver who has a problem. I'll slow down further, to encourage him/her to pass.

[progmom]

12. don't fuck with trucks

they can hurt you.

[aden_nak]

14. In Jersey, this happens a lot.

It's a daily thing for me to get a semi behind me that wants to do a ridiculous speed, and once it gets past me it slows down. . . only to force me to get into another lane and re-pass it, because I am doing a far more ridiculous speed. I prefer a mettod between Tap and Slam on the brakes that I like to call a "Taste Of The Brakes".

Esentially, you hit the brakes hard for an instant, so the person behind you can see your car jump a bit as it begins decreasing speed. Then you let up on the brake pedal almost all the way, so you aren't slowing down anymore, but your brake lights remain on. It's far safer, and it still gets the point across.

[streblin]

19. i agree

:applause:

[streblin]

15. flip him/her off

give them the finger, get in their face... slow way down, way down...
way down... just be polite...

[Shell Beau]

16. Who is slamming on the brakes?

Jeez, you must have a death wish. I mean it pisses me off when they do that beyond belief b/c they think bigger means they rule the road. But if they rear-end me, I have a good chance of dying.

[Telly Savalas]

22. Especially in light of the fact...

that it takes longer for one of those monstrosities to decelerate than a normal car.

Flip 'em off, switch lanes, then take note of the "How I'm driving?" number on the back if there is one.

[Shell Beau]

24. Exactly!! I always look for a number!

Usually, when I would actually call, there is no number!

[texas1928]

20. Man , you slam on the breaks and make him/her mess himself.

It is great fun.

[Patiod]

21. I hate when truckers get all "Duel" with me

has happened once or twice in my life, and is MOST likely to happen, as someone already noted, on the NJ Turnpike. Not good for the heart or blood pressure.

[aden_nak]

23. I think a lot of people don't realize how it is in Jersey.

Where if you are more than one car length behind someone, another driver is going to cut into your lane in that space. Where semis get in the middle and even left hand lanes, travelling anywhere from 45 to 90 miles per hour. Where if I reported every asshole driver on the road, I'd run out of cell phone minutes.

[edbermac]

34. Damn, you beat me to that one...great Spielberg TVM

Just got it on DVD...

[Patiod]

38. I have great memories of the first time I saw it

It premiered on network TV, and my parents and I watched it in my parents' bedroom (the only room in the house with a/c -- it was a broiling hot night). It was really remarkable - almost no dialog, except the scenes in the diner.

By the end of the movie, my dad, who was a traveling salesman at the time, was about as wrung out as Dennis Weaver. Scary stuff!

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. Ya get the holy fuck out of the way!!

Doesn't matter if the driver is being an asshole or not - he/she outweighs you by about 38 tons. Play "dick and mouse" with the assholes driving cars, not with the semis.

Semis you just let go where they want, and make sure they are never close behind you.

Your Mustang or Alero or Civic might stop on a dime, but that semi doesn't even need to slow down to go over top of you.

[Wapsie B]

27. I'd try to get the heck outa their way

and hope that they had a decent night's sleep so they can operate that big rig safely. Not to alarm folks here but sleep deprivation is a big concern with semis.

[aeolian]

28. I do what I do with any tailgater

put in the clutch and coast. Usually, at about 40 mph or so, the asshole will just pass me.

Of course, if this is the left lane we're talking about, then I just move right. :)

[Aristus]

30. Here's an old thread that may warm the cockles of your heart.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=236525

I still remember that moment fondly. :-)

[Ikonoklast]

44. Not a commercial vehicle, though. n/t

[Aristus]

63. Nah, but I still love seeing highway assholes get what's coming

to them. :-)

[Lowell]

31. I'm a biker

and I hate these big, dangerous psychopaths driving these 18-wheelers. I can't tell you how many times I've damn near been run over by them.

I get the hell out of their way, follow them to their next stop and get their tag number and other identifying markings. I make a point of reporting them to their employers and if there is a LEO handy I let them know about unsafe drivers.

If I am driving my cage I will put my headlights on. This turns my tail lights on and they can be mistaken for brakes. This sometimes gets them to slow down for a minute while I get the hell out of their way.

The main thing to remember is that you don't stand a chance in a pissing contest with an 18-wheelers. Let them by and deal with it once you are safe.

[Ikonoklast]

32. I, too, am a biker

and have been for thirty years. I also am one of those "psychopaths" that own and operate one of those monsters. Do you know that more than two-thirds of all car-truck accidents are the fault of the car driver? Those are not my statistics, but NTSB and insurance company statistics.

The reporting of unsafe conduct will usually fall on deaf ears by the safety dept. at any of the large carriers, unless the results are an accident.
If I could show you some of the antics that I have to put with every day by people that are tailgating, speeding, changing lanes without signaling, eating, talking on the phone, reading the newspaper, HAVING SEX, putting on makeup or shaving, typing on a laptop, all while driving down the road you would say the exact same thing about car drivers.
I have a digital recording system that is on a savable incident loop that pans the front of my vehicle. The last time that I was in an accident (cut off by a car driver that couldn't read English and was legally blind! I swear!) I put my truck into the median but still got the drivers side of the car. I showed the cop what had happened and that was the end of it, except my insurance rate went up, and the other guy went to jail.
There is fault on all sides, but mostly, according to all verifiable statistics, the bulk of it comes down on car drivers. Don't forget, I, too, drive a car.

[Lowell]

33. Great view up there

I guess I used a "psychopaths" a little too broadly there. Not all big riggers are bad, but those that are more than make up for the rest of you. I am sure that being a biker yourself carries over into your profession and you have an appreciation for the little guys on the highway. True the cagers are the worse, but their passing doesn't create a windshear like a big rig. I've been literally sucked into their wake a few times. Also, traveling at a high rate of speed, it doesn't matter whether you are hit by a big rig or a cage, you don't stand a chance on a bike. I've been riding since 1963 and have had only one bad accident and that was the result of a moron in a cage rear ending me at a light.

[One_Life_To_Give]

36. Is it the trucks passing lane?

If your sitting in the truckers passing lane. (Leftmost lane thay can run without automatic fine)Then pull one way or the other. Many drivers are paid by the mile. And you represent a cut in pay for them. Besides your vehical ways maybe two tons. Loaded a semi could be as much as 60 tons.

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. A 5 axle, 18 wheel tractor trailer is limited to 80,000 pounds, nationwide

thats 40 tons, not 60 tons. 120,000 pound trucks are an exception and will have an extra axle (4 tires) for every 17,000 pounds OVER 80,000 pounds of GVW. (Gross Vehicle Weight, the weight of the truck, trailer and load)

[Ikonoklast]

45. There is a wide range of weight limits

that vary state-to-state. Many states make exceptions for local industry if they have enough pull. Michigan, Kentucky, Colorado, Washington, North Dakota, just to name a few. I was permitted for turnpike doubles in Ohio and Indiana; twin 48's at 112 ft. and 127,400 lbs. Special permits and heavy hauls are another matter, though.

[A HERETIC I AM]

48. The "Bridge Formula" DOES NOT VARY and your TPK doubles STILL

follow that rule. I agree weights of truck vary and not all trucks are 80,000 pounds but i stand by my statement.

on edit to add that the bridge formula does vary a little but not by a significant amount. I dont recall any state that allows 40,000 pounds on a set of tandems, for example. I have my truckers atlas out in the truck and i should verify before i make such a definitive statement My apologies. BTW, i am about to go get behind the wheel of my rig right now, going from West Sacramanto to Vallejo, CA. and i WILL be in the right lane, doing the speed limit!

Drive safe, everybody!

Bye

[One_Life_To_Give]

46. A US registered truck is 40 ton

A Canadian registered truck is 45 ton and
a Mexican registered truck is 60 ton IIRC.

[bullwinkle428]

37. I recall an incident about 10 years ago...

I was driving from work back home, on a 2-lane undivided highway when I noticed a semi some distance back in my rear-view mirror. It seemed like mere moments before he was dangerously close behind me. This highway had a speed limit of 55, and I typically used my cruise control set to around 64 or so, where the cops left me alone 99.9% of the time. About 2 miles later, I had reached the top of a hill, where the opposite-bound lane actually expanded to 2 lanes, to allow faster vechicles to pass slower ones going up that hill. The semi decided to pass me (legally) coming down the hill, so I took the cruise control off and just coasted, but he completed his passing maneuver by swinging his truck hard back into the proper lane and I had to brake heavily and move onto the shoulder at the bottom of the hill to keep from getting flattened by his trailer, where there was a small bridge that crossed a creek - it was the classic "life passing before your eyes" moment! I was behind him for the next 5 miles or so before there was a speed zone approaching a small town. This was in the pre-cellphone days, so I couldn't call 911 to report him. He drove through the town at well above the 30 mph limit, and ran the red light through the center of this town. The lone police officer was right there and immediately went after him. The semi driver pulled over, got out of the truck, and ran around to the other side of the truck where I'm guessing he probably threw his amphetamines into the ditch. The cop got on his PA, and told him not to move - I was driving past him at this point, so I didn't bother stopping to give him any other info...I figured the guy was going to get busted for whatever he dumped and I didn't want to risk the cop freaking out about me stopping...

[Ikonoklast]

42. I get drug tested every year

and at random DOT locations everywhere in this country. The old stories about speed-freak truck drivers is just that, an old story. If that guy was using drugs, he wouldn't be driving professionally for very long before getting caught.
By the way, at random drug and alcohol check points around the country, car and motorcycle drivers test positive seven times more than truck drivers. Now who should be scared?

[billyskank]

47. Who should be scared?

Pedestrians and cyclists, that's who! Nothing a person in a car can do to a person in a truck, after all...

[Ikonoklast]

55. Not true at all

A drunk or impaired driver is a menace to ALL vehicular traffic. I have more than one friend or co-worker wrecked or run off the road and flopped over because of an impaired driver. If anyone decides to drive that way, it is just a matter of time before something tragic will happen.
Also, if you do decide to drive impaired and a truck driver sees you, trust me that every trucker within ten miles will know what car you are in, your registration, and will call the patrol of that state to stop you. The Highway Patrol in Ohio loves when you do that. If you ever see a patrol car in Ohio with a lightning bolt decal on the trunk, that patrolman got a DUI offender. When he gets five lightning bolts, he gets his own dedicated car instead of slip-seating, and a plate that says "ACE". Needless to say, they LOVE when you call in with a report of an impaired driver.

[bullwinkle428]

54. I absolutely was NOT trying to make a sweeping generalization

about all truckers...if you knew what I did for a living, you'd be more than convinced that I was not on some kind of crusade against all truckers! In my opinion, well over 99% of the drivers are courteous, conscientious professionals. I only brought up my own story of an event that occurred over 10 years ago to relate to the original poll about being tailgated by a semi. After he pulled his BS move on me, I said to myself that a creep like that would eventually get what was coming to him, and it completely made my day to see it happen in front of my own eyes. You don't have to convince me that there is at least 100 times the amount of ridiculous behavior on the part of car drivers and motorcyclists than there is from truckers - the only "fear factor" I feel around trucks is based on the tremendous size differential between their vehicle and my Honda...

[DS1]

39. Make like Sly Stallone in Cobra - bang a 'bootlegger' 180 in my lane

turn around and machinegun his engine block - execute a second bootlegger and carry on with my business.

For real.

[NoPasaran]

40. Give the pistol to my passenger

And have her fire a few random shots in that general direction.

[billyskank]

49. That's the Los Angeles solution, n'est pas?

:D

[A HERETIC I AM]

41. The 5 of you that voted for "Slam on the brakes" must have a death wish.

I also drive a tractor trailer for a living and please, trust me, the overwhelming majority of professional drivers out there are ANYTHING but "Psychopaths". Hypno, there is no doubt that the one guy that was tailgating you was being an asshole. He should know better and if he doesn't, he wont be driving for very long. The downside of that statement is that he might injure or even kill someone before his employers realize it.

Let me point something out to all you folks that have a bad perception of truckers. You notice the occasional, and i DO MEAN OCCASIONAL bad apple. We ALL do. What you don't notice are the THOUSANDS of professional drivers around you all the time that are doing their jobs properly, carefully and politely. They are the ones that let you in, slow down gently and carefully, stay in the right lane, use signals and courtesy when they change lanes, drive the speed limit and basically aren't noticeable BECAUSE THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS!
More times than i care to mention a 4-wheeler (As they are referred to) will cut in front of me for reasons that are often difficult to understand. They will scream up the left lane, cut me off to get to an exit ramp, only to slow to a stop at the bottom of the ramp as i go by on the highway. They apparently do this because they are too fucking stupid to read highway signs so they know their exit is coming up. Or in heavy traffic, when there is a space in front of me THAT I PUT THERE FOR MY AND YOUR SAFETY they will pull into that space and slow down, forcing me to re-create that space by slowing and therefore slowing everyone else behind me.

I could go on and on but i wont, suffice to say that when a trucker is tailgating you, PLEASE DON'T SLAM ON THE BRAKES!!! He is being an asshole, no doubt. Doing that might make you feel better but it wont help the folks behind the truck. If he happens to lock them up, all hell can break loose and that hell will be BEHIND YOU!

The poster above that said "The left lane isn't the Autobahn" is correct but if you are in the left lane of the freeway and there is no traffic in the right lane and traffic behind you, YOU ARE IN THE WRONG FUCKING LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[barb162]

52. I worked for a national moving company for a while and I agree

most of you are great drivers. The last thing you want to do is play games with a tail-gating semi driver...like playing games with speeding trains. I would just get out of the person's way. Practice defensive driver techniques

[MidwestMomma]

59. I always remember the 'no zones' when driving around semis

That was something they really drilled into my daughter's head during drivers ed and she passed it onto me. I had never heard of it before. But it makes sense.

That's why if a semi is REALLY close to me, I start to worry if they can even see me.

And I agree with you about good truck drivers vs bad. We do of course always remember the bad ones. But I have to say that I've traveled many a long mile in my '4 wheeler' following a trucker or two to avoid the speed traps on the highway and I do appreciate all the good drivers out there.

ps Have you ever seen a big purple rig with ELVIS in lights on the front? My daughter and I saw this semi one time I think in Illinois or Ohio and I always think one day we'll see him again. Maybe it really was Elvis :)

[A HERETIC I AM]

65. LOL @ the "Elvis in lights on the front"

No, i cant say i have ever seen that one but there are something like 4 million 18 wheel trucks out there so perhaps i'll see this guy sometime. Some of them go a bit overboard in decorating their trucks in my opinion but hey, to each his own!

[barb162]

50. switch lanes, usually

[melv]

51. I take my foot off the gas.

Put more distance between me and the car in front of me, then hope they pass.

Edit to add today's experience:

A driver pulled up right behind me (1/2 car length) and stayed that way until I came to my turn. There was no way for me to get out of his way, go any faster, or otherwise. It scared the crap out of my kids.

[bertha katzenengel]

53. You forgot "get the fuck out of the way."

A semi- is the wrong vehicle to play "get off my ass" with.

[HEyHEY]

56. Just move over get a plate... don't hit the brakes... someone could die

[salin]

57. had this situation once with a road ragin' semi driver

car in front of me passed him on the right and honked and flipped while doing it... driver transfers rage to me - just as construction narrows the road to a two lane. A car is between us... and when there was a small extended shoulder (for a turn/road) - idiot accelerates and thinks he can haul *ss and pass on the right .. and jack knives instead instantly creating a traffic jam as he got himself stuck. By this time I had my finger to hit send on 911 on the cell.

[bigwillq]

58. I usually go slower

when someone tailgates me just to piss them off.

[HEyHEY]

60. Hey you! Where ya been?

[bigwillq]

61. Real busy with work.

Been out of the office, where I usually do most of my posting, and been out on assignments.

Hope your well!:hi:

[Seabiscuit]

62. Thelma and Louise had the best solution. Blow the mf'er up!

[jmowreader]

64. Three things

First, pull over and let him go by. As soon as he has, get on his ass.

Now pick up your phone and dial the 1-800 number on the back of his trailer. It'll be either DriverCheck or the trucking company's own line. They will be very happy to hear the driver's a jerk.

And finally, call the cops and turn in his plate number.

[XemaSab]

66. I don't hit the brakes

I just stop hitting the gas, and see how long it takes them to get the message.

I don't care if I'm soon going 40 MPH in the fast lane on I-5. Serves the jackass right for tailgating.