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I wish I had read about the tailgating before~

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by EthelMertz, Apr 18, 2017.

  1. EthelMertz

    EthelMertz New Member

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    I see it has been discussed in the distant past.

    I am tailgated more in my Prius than I EVER have been in my other cars.

    I can even be going the speed limit OR ABOVE and sure enough, some guy in an F150 decides to get right on my tail and not get off.

    Honestly, I am not a hyper miler. I just drive. I am happy with my 50mpg average and drive freeways fairly often (to/from work).

    I had a guy come up to me and say, "I hate Prius drivers! They go 3mph to get 90mpg and make everyone wait on them."

    Yup, you guessed it, he drives some big truck.

    Seriously, I think maybe I SHOULD start slowing down just to give them something to continue to whine about.
     
  2. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Also keep in mind with a hatchback, you're looking directly behind your car versus a notchback with a trunk. The car behind you is following no closer but it appears closer.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wish someone had told me 12 years ago. oh well, i'd still be driving a prius, love to watch them suffer in my rear view.:p
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would just keep doin-what-yur-doing, ie: keep a steady speed, try not to get bugged. Do increase your following distance, if there's someone ahead of you. This'll help avoid the need to slow down suddenly, and has side benefit, they might notice the gap and pass you. There's no accounting for behaviour of others on the road; there's an obsessive compulsion to get "ahead", just keep your cool, that's all you can do. :)
     
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  5. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    Best...just move right (in USA) and let them pass.
    Avoid the road rage and potentially loss of concentration and raised blood pressure.
     
  6. GardenWeasel

    GardenWeasel Member

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    You may be slow...but you are ahead of those in your rear view mirror (I frequently say to myself)
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And if there's only one lane both ways, if they really persist, pull over where it's safe. It's sad that the mob rules on this one, but that's how it is.

    There's also the occasional complete idiot, who won't take the hint and pass, with 2 lanes. Again, only if it persists, carefully reverse pass them, ie: pull over to the left lane, then slow down enough for them to get by. Do this only it light traffic, and use common sense.
     
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  8. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    I no longer pay attention to someone in a car who's going out their way to get my attention. That alone makes me worry about their rational state of mind (if they even are rational to begin with).
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if i move any further right, i'll be driving in the breakdown lane.:unsure:
     
    #9 bisco, Apr 18, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2017
  10. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Just got honked by a tailgating Dodge Durango on my way home from work. Or in other words, just another day in my commute.
     
  11. Kramah313

    Kramah313 Active Member

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    I got honked at and tailgated the other day in a residential neighborhood...by a gen 2 Prius!:eek:
     
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  12. NavyLCDR

    NavyLCDR Active Member

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    And they make such a big show about how much you are "holding them up" and "slowing them down", then they roar past you like you are driving a horse and buggy - and then you get the pleasure of pulling up right behind them at the next stop light or sign.

    My next mod is going to be an air horn that I can honk at them the very second the light turns green.
     
  13. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    In addition to the tailgating, my other pet peeve is when someone cuts in front of you when there's plenty of room behind you.
     
  14. 4est

    4est Active Member

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    Speedometer în prius is really lying, about 10% in my car, so you might be going a lot slower than you think. Speed up or slow down so they can pass you. If they are still there and too close, break test them a bit
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Speedo over estimate is more like 2%. And brake testing: may be tempting, and I'll admit I've done it in past, but I wouldn't recommend it, very likely to escalate the problem.

    If you pretend to do something, for a while, say fake a smile or whatever, it can eventually become genuine. In this case, try pretending you don't notice them, atleast outwardly. Don't "react", just keep on keeping on. After a while it becomes more real, second nature. And the 'gaters will subconsciously pick up this vibe.

    Hopefully...
     
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  16. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I'm in my 4th Prius. Every one of them said most of the time that I was going 2 mph faster than the GPS said, regardless of whether I was going 25 or 65. Doesn't make sense, but that's what I keep seeing. As for tailgaters, they are idiots. I allow stopping distance for myself and them.

    One friend on a motorcycle had a great solution for one of them. He happened to have a 1/2" ball bearing in his shirt pocket. He discretely dropped it on the road at about 60 mph. Guess how high it was when the car caught up with it.
     
  17. kc5dlo

    kc5dlo Active Member

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    I usually hit the windshield washer when someone is being bothersome behind me.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the great thing about these threads is, no matter how many get started, there's always room for more.:cool:
     
  19. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Priuses aren't for wimps.

    Don't be one.

    +1 on the "tailgaters" not being as close as you may think that they are.
    Most cars have back.
    Priuses are shaped like a door-stop, which means that there isn't 2 more feet of car and another foot of bumper behind the rear glass.
     
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  20. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

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    Till you come on Red Neck and this could go very bad
    Best way is to not giving eye to eye contact with someone who is mad
    I have seen in my life people getting killed because of this or run out of the road.
    What even worse they will remember you and if they ever get the chance to find you or the car alone you will suffer damage on the car or getting beat up
    So if you are going to react on someone that is mad ...be ready to take consequence
    So for anyone thinking I'm afraid from road rage people
    No I'm not I'm just much smarter

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