hamiltok
Well-known member
I just do the look back and stare for 2-3 seconds at a time. Works like a charm.
How I got a stupid cager to stop following too closely
- Thread starter sundancekid
- Start date
Depending on the situation I do one or more of the followings:
- get out of the way immediately to let them pass
- stop at the curb and let them go
- slow down a bit and accelerate back to normal a few times to let them know they are too close
- gentle tap on the brake activates my P3 lights that is set to a strobing pattern, it usually wakes them up
- as a last resort I'd lane split and GTFO
I try not to infuriate them. Not easy.
- get out of the way immediately to let them pass
- stop at the curb and let them go
- slow down a bit and accelerate back to normal a few times to let them know they are too close
- gentle tap on the brake activates my P3 lights that is set to a strobing pattern, it usually wakes them up
- as a last resort I'd lane split and GTFO
I try not to infuriate them. Not easy.
Is that even legal to ride? Isn't that considered impersonating a police officer?
sundancekid
Banned
As far as I know its legal provided the lights are not a combination of red/blue or red/white. You are permitted to covert them to a different colour like white/amber which are general caution indications. http://www.swscanada.com/pages/BlueLightsOntario.html
I'm going to put lower fork lights on - apparently drivers really react to them, the triangular lighting is very unusual and often think it's a cop bike. Only thing on the list this year. I ride a lot late at night and even tho the high beams are good on the Burgman the lows suck.
Good halogens on the forks/discs will do double duty. Keep the cagers awake and lets me see my track with the low beams on.
Good halogens on the forks/discs will do double duty. Keep the cagers awake and lets me see my track with the low beams on.
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suprPHREAK
Well-known member
When I saw the title to this post, I was worried about what the content would be, but I should say gret job on doing the best possible thing!
The biggest thing lacking in traffic is clear, effective communication. You clearly communicated to the driver that they were too close, and they responded accordingly. Great job, and hopefully this kind of responsible attitude keeps you safe on the roads for years to come!
For those who said to speed up: there is a flaw in this methodology, even though it sometimes works. If you speed up and get out of the way, it sends the message to the tailgater that what they are doing works. They are the ones in the wrong, they are breaking the law, not you. Remember that if a cop catches up speeding as you "get out of the way", you still get the ticket. Safety, your own safety, is paramount when riding, but this does not mean you should be giving in to caged bullies. The other thing this speed up and out attitude will promote, is that some more aggressive tailgaters might start to follow you as close as possible, thinking that they can use you to open up traffic. This makes a situation far more dangerous than it was in the first place.
Of course, if you are in the left lane, move over as soon as safe, but in this situation, the most right thing was done.
sundancekid
Banned
Thanks suprPHREAK that means a lot to me! Your point about how speeding up would reward them for driving unsafely makes perfect sense.
black06r6
Well-known member
i was out riding today in downtown kitchener. I was at a red turning left and a guy in a van starts honking at me to go. He should have realized i was in the blocking position and waiting for the pedestrians to walk across the street. as he squeezed past me to my right i told him he was an ********* i was clearly waiting for the pedestrians.
alaywa
Banned
I use the "back off" hand signal often in the rain when drivers forget to extend their braking distances. I have also used it often in normal conditions. Never once met with a negative response. You did the right thing. The fast lane is for passing, and tolerating a "measure" of tailgating. You have every right in the slow lane to even be a little below the limt and there is every expectation you may stop or slow to make turns, etc.
Your gesture was polite and adaquate, and good on ya for keeping an eye on your vulnerable rear end.
MadPoet
Well-known member
Everyday going to work specially on mount pleasant south of Eglinton I have one or two tailgaters. I slow the hell down the closer they creep. The grandpa maneuver works every single time. Take your sweet time taking off from traffic lights. Make an eye contact in your mirror so they know you are looking right at them then do no more than 30-40 kph and wait, attitudes change quick.
IMO that seems flawed. being on the receiving end of it in my car(both in the left/right lane on different occasions) if you are going abnormally under the speed limit it could infact enrage the driver causing them to do something stupid like pass you recklessy, tailgate even closer, honk etc. or in a VERY VERY extreme case which I've never seen or heard happen to anyone(thank god) is to "kiss" the rear end of your vehicle to get you to go faster.
Good way to handle it.Anything agressive will result in nothing postive in the situation.The only thing i do different,is i flash em a peace or thumbs up (what's wrong with saying thank you?).No point in doing anything else.Bikes will always lose in a case of road rage.
+1, I also have an FLHTP and boy oh boy how everyone moves out of your way and cell phone comes down so fast once they spot me coming! I should buy a VEGA helmet to complete the look, mind you when I pass then and they hear metallica blaring I get the super dirty look LOL
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MadPoet
Well-known member
Most drivers get it and back off or not get it and pass you, to be slower than the rest of the traffic in the right lane would be a very unlikely cause of road rage.( I think)
Salos Dafee
Well-known member
I saw a video demonstrating a technique that I have not used ... yet.
If you wiggle your handlebars just a little bit, a couple of times to each side, your bike quickly jiggles in its course along the road. Anyone following too closely does two things: first the driver's attention is quickly directed to your bike, and second the driver wonders what the heck is going on -- are you about to fall under the car's wheels???
Most drivers seeing something startling, just in front of the windshield, will back off and give you the room you need. At least, that was the viewpoint of the gent making the video in which he demonstrated the wiggle.
As I say, I have not tried it.
This week, I rode from GTA back to Florida, and I was tailgated a few times. Mostly I slowed down just a little, not enough to rile the tailgater; then, when there was a significant gap ahead of me, I sped up and resumed the speed I had been going before the idiot showed up. Generally the tailgater got the idea: crowd the biker and I get delayed, so I won't do that. I find that women in little cars tend to be slower, sometimes a lot slower getting this clue.
I certainly agree that speeding up is a bad idea, sometimes a fatally bad idea. Being tailgated at 90 kph is bad, and being tailgated at 120 kph is a whole lot worse, and you invite such a situation by speeding up. I may die for this, but I will not yield to bullies.
If you wiggle your handlebars just a little bit, a couple of times to each side, your bike quickly jiggles in its course along the road. Anyone following too closely does two things: first the driver's attention is quickly directed to your bike, and second the driver wonders what the heck is going on -- are you about to fall under the car's wheels???
Most drivers seeing something startling, just in front of the windshield, will back off and give you the room you need. At least, that was the viewpoint of the gent making the video in which he demonstrated the wiggle.
As I say, I have not tried it.
This week, I rode from GTA back to Florida, and I was tailgated a few times. Mostly I slowed down just a little, not enough to rile the tailgater; then, when there was a significant gap ahead of me, I sped up and resumed the speed I had been going before the idiot showed up. Generally the tailgater got the idea: crowd the biker and I get delayed, so I won't do that. I find that women in little cars tend to be slower, sometimes a lot slower getting this clue.
I certainly agree that speeding up is a bad idea, sometimes a fatally bad idea. Being tailgated at 90 kph is bad, and being tailgated at 120 kph is a whole lot worse, and you invite such a situation by speeding up. I may die for this, but I will not yield to bullies.
AGS
Well-known member
what is a "sorry" signal? - how many fingers?
I got blown by in the fast lane of the 401 yesterday (the guy was in MY lane) just as I was finishing overtaking a car and was about to pull back into the right lane (as I had been doing all day)...blue mercedes with quebec plates. I beeped him and then pointed to my GoPro that got everything, if I get a decent plate read off it later I'll be making a little call to the OPP and sending them an e-mail with a nice attachment.
Also got stopped at a RIDE stop and was asked why I wasn't wearing a seatbelt on my bike...OPP guy was actually pretty funny and very polite.
Also got stopped at a RIDE stop and was asked why I wasn't wearing a seatbelt on my bike...OPP guy was actually pretty funny and very polite.
