New Way to Deal With Tailgaters

If the driver in front of you does something they shouldn’t — or doesn’t do something they should (like move when the light turns green) — you honk.

hornEventually (it IS Minnesota).   🙂

But, what if the offending driver is behind you?

Then, it often seems like Driver #1 has no really good choices.

Make that, “me, last week.”

Sending a Signal (Literally) to the Other Driver

Being tailgated very closely on a single lane road by an especially obnoxious driver (late for an appointment?  Constitutionally impatient?  Trying to read the expiration date on my license plate??), my son and I realized that we had three options:

One. Speed up. Not a choice in this case, or at least a smart one — we were already going the speed limit (if not slightly over).

Two. Slow down/tap on the brakes (which would have activated our red brake lights).  However, given the already minuscule < 2′(?) gap between their front bumper and our rear bumper, that also seemed unwise.

Three. Encourage/allow them to pass.  In fact, that’s what we did, as soon as it was safe to pull over onto the shoulder.

Avoidance vs. Escalation

Processing all this immediately after, my creative son #2 came up with another idea:  why not a rear horn, to essentially tell such tailgating drivers to back off?

Given proliferating road rage, rampant guns, etc., I can certainly see a downside.

But, at least conceptually, that’s a PERFECT solution.

Way to go, Gabriel!!

P.S.:  Not all horn-honking is obnoxious.  I’d much rather someone honk at me if I make a mistake than “politely” refrain — and risk an accident.

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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