How I got a stupid cager to stop following too closely

[sundancekid]

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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.

Hope you got some good evidence against that unsafe driver. Most riders don't have the option to call in an unsafe driver the way drivers can with their hands free. If you or anyone else here need to report someone you can do so by using Road Watch http://www.roadwatch.ca/ReportSearchForm.aspx

 

[knowledge]

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???

^ this works like a charm. They they back off 'cause they think you're gonna lose control.

What I do (in this order):
- Flash the brakes a couple of times
- Keep looking behind [I rarely have to do more than this]
- Wiggle side to side within my lane
- Turn around and put one hand out telling them to stop (I find that this works even better when I'm rocking the tinted visor)
- Change lanes, speed up, put another car between us

Of course there are ways to avoid this - don't put yourself in a situation that you don't want to be in. This is why I accelerate quickly to the speed limit when the light turns green and stay in the right lane. The only people who will catch up are the speeders, and they'll pass by while I keep the pocket of distance from other cars.

In highway situations, there are ALWAYS pockets if it isn't bumper-to-bumper traffic. I only cruise constant speeds in those. And don't forget to keep checking your mirrors even if you're in an empty pocket!

 

[Spawn]

I was on a little ride this morning from Georgetown back to Brampton. Maybe 10-15 minutes. I'm a new rider (although 37 years old), and under the M1 restrictions for the next few weeks, so I'm keeping to the speed limit. Leaving Georgetown along 10 Side Road, kid in a hyundai accent starts riding my tail. I gave him the "back off" signal, no joy. He even rolls right through the stop sign at Winston Churchill making the same left I just did and resumes bumper-humping me. At the stop light at 7 and Winston Churchill, I turn around and glare at him hoping he'll get the message. Little bastard just looks away. Light turns green, i start making the right and he is sticking so close I can see him on the side. I had to pull over and just wave him past when he tried to shoot past me anyway, probably coming within inches of the bags.

I wait a minute or two, and resume. Just before Heritage Road after the passing lane, some hick in an econoline van with a cig dangling from his face starts riding me now. I'm doing the 70 km/h max, point to the speed limit sign as we pass it, and motion to back off. He revs and comes closer. I slowed down, sped up, all with him not getting the message. He turned right at Mississauga road, and yelled "speed the **** up" while driving past, I invited him to Eat Me in response.

I wish I had known about that website to report them. Next time, I'm getting plate numbers!

 

[sundancekid]

I was on a little ride this morning from Georgetown back to Brampton. Maybe 10-15 minutes. I'm a new rider (although 37 years old), and under the M1 restrictions for the next few weeks, so I'm keeping to the speed limit. Leaving Georgetown along 10 Side Road, kid in a hyundai accent starts riding my tail. I gave him the "back off" signal, no joy. He even rolls right through the stop sign at Winston Churchill making the same left I just did and resumes bumper-humping me. At the stop light at 7 and Winston Churchill, I turn around and glare at him hoping he'll get the message. Little bastard just looks away. Light turns green, i start making the right and he is sticking so close I can see him on the side. I had to pull over and just wave him past when he tried to shoot past me anyway, probably coming within inches of the bags.

I wait a minute or two, and resume. Just before Heritage Road after the passing lane, some hick in an econoline van with a cig dangling from his face starts riding me now. I'm doing the 70 km/h max, point to the speed limit sign as we pass it, and motion to back off. He revs and comes closer. I slowed down, sped up, all with him not getting the message. He turned right at Mississauga road, and yelled "speed the **** up" while driving past, I invited him to Eat Me in response.

I wish I had known about that website to report them. Next time, I'm getting plate numbers!

Wow sorry to hear about those idiots driving unsafely around you.

Just today I was driving in my cage and I saw a guy in a white contractor van slam into the curb and bounce off back into his lane. I thought to myself WTF man? first day with your new eyes and hands?! I rolled up beside him and saw that he was STILL texting and driving. At that point it was ON! I memorized his plate and called (via Bluetooth) York Police, they put out a an APB / BOLO for his vehicle and asked that I file a complaint through Road Watch. I really hope they nailed the guy, he obviously had zero control over his vehicle and it could have been considerably worse than just hitting the curb. When I see morons like that I fear for my own safety and those of pedestrians and other riders.

 

[Prince]

@sundancekid What are the consequences of these citizen reports?

@jc100 You really want to use your GoPro to help the OPP? They'll turn around and burn you.

@spawn Speed is your friend on a motorcycle. I would hate to hear of you finding this out the wrong way. Speed up and always go with the flow, or slightly ahead of traffic. Find your own piece of real-estate clear of any vehicles and maintain it.

 

[kiwi]

@sundancekid What are the consequences of these citizen reports?

They are sent a warning letter that someone had complained about their driving. If they get a few warnings, the police pay a visit for a chat. Also in future if they have any driving incidents, these complaints can be pulled up.

Several forum members have mentioned they have received letters from police agencies.

This has been my course of action too - When in the car I usually take a photo of the cars plate at the next light, and make note of the driver. On the bike, I call my self via bluetooth headset, and record a message in my voice mail of the vehicle description and plate number.

 

[Nwhiteside]

An approach they taught in m2 class was to slowly drift and align yourself directly in front of the driver.

Tailgaters like to shift to your left or right a little to see around you while tailgating -- to see whats ahead of you; if you keep slowly sliding over to match them and keep yourself directly in front of the driver so they can't see through you -- they tire and pass/slow down. Works.

 

[outkastland]

Break tap and then I look around at them. They ALWAYS back off or switch lanes after I look at them.

 

[promac]

I heard of a guy who carried small pebbles in his pocket and would flick them back one by one until the car backed off.

 

[Skatergirl]

I haven't tried it yet, cause I was too worried of making them mad, and them doing something stupid.

 

[regder]

Interesting you mentioned that. Just tonight I saw some old broad in a Camry talking on her phone, traffic was stop and go in a 50 zone, so I turned around and made eye contact with her. I wagged my finger at her and then she hung up a few seconds later. People know it's illegal, but it seems like they think its OK if nobody knows they're doing it. I guess a little shame on you can go a long way.

I'm sorry, but do you really feel talking on a cell in stop and go traffic is really a hazard? Really? It doesn't take much attention to crawl five feet forward every twenty seconds. hell you could be playing Angry Birds for all I care

As for tailgaters, I've always found flashing the brake light for a few seconds does the job

 

[sundancekid]

@sundancekid What are the consequences of these citizen reports?...

As Kiwi mentioned the RO (registered owner) gets a written warning in the mail.

This is effective in a few ways:
- Creates a history whereby the target of frequent complaints can be tracked and penalized where possible
- In the case of a company vehicle the employee could be terminated or reprimanded, since the warning goes to the RO not the driver.
- Negative social consequences if and when a family member/spouse or friend finds out you've been warned by the cops for being an unsafe idiot.

Plus of the cops aren't overly busy or if the behaviour is extremely dangerous they put out a broadcast for the vehicle in question; if the police catch up to that vehicle they could issue a ticket and or offer up a road side lecture regarding their stupidity.

I'm sorry, but do you really feel talking on a cell in stop and go traffic is really a hazard? Really? It doesn't take much attention to crawl five feet forward every twenty seconds. hell you could be playing Angry Birds for all I care

As for tailgaters, I've always found flashing the brake light for a few seconds does the job

In any situation where there is a distraction (doesn't have to be a cell phone) the focus of the driver is shifted away from operating the vehicle. That lack of focus impairs their judgement which in turn compromises the safety of everyone sharing the road. Despite what many people think we, humans, are not capable of multi-tasking. What most people think is multi-tasking is switching focus between multiple focal points which creates the false perception of multi-tasking.

If you still don't believe me then perhaps you will find this to be informative: http://brainrules.blogspot.com/2008/03/brain-cannot-multitask_16.html
Yet another independent vantage point stating the perils of multi-tasking: http://ros.alexisleon.com/2010/07/12/multitasking%E2%80%94dont-do-it.html

 

[dollardan]

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.

Almost exactly the same thing happened to me. Except it was an SUV. He managed to squeeze in on my right because there was one of those painted off (with chevrons) spare left turn lanes on my right. So I continued making the left when it was clear, then do what I think is best to do in all these types of situations. I slowed down and slalomed the bike as if to warm up the tires.

I feel it does a few things. It reminds the other drivers that:
- You are not like the other vehicles they are a custom to seeing on the road.
- A bike has ownership of the entire lane width.
- Exposes more surface area from their direction, making them reconsider their assumptions of your size.
- Its more difficult to tailgate some that you can't keep in the same spot on your windshield.
- You're enjoying your time on the road, they are not affecting you, and they should try to do the same.

It also wakes them up and makes them more caution to see moving objects so close to them. Remember that they get close because they feel its safe for them. This just reminds them that its not.

In general, I only stop at the side of the road for emergencies and emergency vehicles, not for impatient cagers. Would you do that in a car? Some might. Pointing - never, staring - never, horn - occasionally, waving - a lot, shake my head in disapproval - almost every day (but usually with other cagers that witnessed the same idiotic thing)

Also, I keep adequate space in front of me at all times to demonstrate to other road users my appreciation for space.

 

[RedDogDarren]

As Kiwi mentioned the RO (registered owner) gets a written warning in the mail.

This is effective in a few ways:
- Creates a history whereby the target of frequent complaints can be tracked and penalized where possible
- In the case of a company vehicle the employee could be terminated or reprimanded, since the warning goes to the RO not the driver.
- Negative social consequences if and when a family member/spouse or friend finds out you've been warned by the cops for being an unsafe idiot.

So basically nothing happens. People cannot be charged and this is not evidence in any way. Correct about the drivers for a company though, so if you are one of those doing stupid things you should lose your job.

Other than that you may get a letter. Scary stuff.

Social consequences? Really? Who is going to be affected by this? This isn't like being charged as a pedophile people.

PS. To anyone tossing objects at a car behind you it will usually incite them to run your *** over if given the chance.

 

[psycho44]

+1 would have done that... just pass the damn van next to me and ride a bit faster then traffic ... don't need to do super speed... just 10kph faster then come back down to the speed limit and voila your out of the situation and you didn't need to do anything like give hand signals...

+1 ditto what I would have done. I would never ride beside another vehicle unless traffic is backed up. Left turners can't see you and he might lose sight of you in his blind spot and change into your lane. Exit route is also drastically diminished to just going straight or bounce off the curb.

 

[nesobriquet]

There is a lot to be said for a sharpened scratch awl held out just so, for anyone who manages to squeeze past your blocking position. Even if THEY get by, the idiot following them too close all of a sudden sees you and then maybe hits you, knocking you into oncoming.
I take ******** who blow by me when I am trying to turn and have already slowed them down with a major block position, very seriously. It is ok with me if they learn the hard way, as long as they learn. And you can't seem to get a way from it, be it in the GTA or some little hick town in the boon docks, there is always some ******** who drive like you don't deserve to be on the road and that you are an inconvenience to them.

I blame the media like Global etc for always depicting the rider as being guilty, no matter what the circumstances. This type of ******** is more prevalent here in ON than basically anywhere else in the world. BC might be a close 2nd.

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