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.
Eventually (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? Â Constitutionally impatient? Â 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). Â 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. Â 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: Â 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.: Â Not all horn-honking is obnoxious. Â I’d much rather someone honk at me if I make a mistake than “politely” refrain — and risk an accident.