From a strategy, tactics, and training perspective…one does not get "run off the road" when they are fortunate enough to be in the following vehicle. The armed tailgater simply had to watch the OP's vehicle in front of him and be sufficiently cautious as to not crash into them. Very easy to achieve, just slow down and be cautious.
Tactics And A Perspective On OC
- Thread starter Good Ol' Boy
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"Pulling over" does not mean "pulling off the road".
The country lanes with which I am familiar are so tight that opposing drivers have to practically fold-in their mirrors to pass each other. If I am way out in the sticks on a rural road a quarter-mile from my home, a following driver would simply have to wait for me to complete my left turn. If they are hostile…all bets are off.
For a crazed tailgater…I will continue past my driveway (so as to not illustrate where I reside) and proceed in a safe manner to either city hall / police station / firehouse or similar and alert them of my arrival via 9-1-1 call. In no circumstances would I allow my vehicle to be at a dead halt. Motion and momentum are our friends.
This was not a tailgater who was tailgating "everyone" he encountered on a huge multi-lane interstate.
The OP made this clear it was an aggressive person, out in the boondocks, specifically near his home.
For a crazed tailgater…I will continue past my driveway (so as to not illustrate where I reside) and proceed in a safe manner to either city hall / police station / firehouse or similar and alert them of my arrival via 9-1-1 call. In no circumstances would I allow my vehicle to be at a dead halt. Motion and momentum are our friends.
This was not a tailgater who was tailgating "everyone" he encountered on a huge multi-lane interstate.
The OP made this clear it was an aggressive person, out in the boondocks, specifically near his home.
Bazoo
Member
Folks tailgate me, I often creep. Or merely do the speed limit. On my country road the limit is 35. Locals do 50, so 35 is creeping depending on who is behind you. I wonder if that is a similar situation to the OPs road.
bdickens
Member
Well tell me O Great Moderator, where are you going to "pull over" on a narrow two lane road with a ditch on either side of you?
What part of "there's no place to pull over" is so hard to understand?
I think he means pulling as far right as you can to give the other driver room to pass.
Pull as far as possible to the right when it is safe, and signal to the driver following to go around.
Won't work on a one lane road,
OP was a quarter-mile from his home. In his neighborhood. On his own street.
What's that, maybe 25 seconds of wait for the angry tailgater at typical country lane pace?
The tailgater already showed that he was unpredictable. Unsafe to halt vehicle near him.
What's that, maybe 25 seconds of wait for the angry tailgater at typical country lane pace?
The tailgater already showed that he was unpredictable. Unsafe to halt vehicle near him.
OP
OP
Good Ol' Boy
Member
Just a couple addendums...
I was literally an 1/8 to a 1/4 mile from my house. The tailgater showed up out of nowhere. Its not like I had been driving 10 below for 5 miles. I was slowing coming up on my drive.
That still does not absolve me of my indiscretions. I normally signal when coming upon my drive. However, its pretty common in the country for folks to not do that. We're not really in a hurry out here. I follow folks all the time that will indeed putt down the road for several miles to their home. I don't get bothered and no other local I know does either.
But thats beside the point.
As for pulling over and letting him around, yes there is room to pull over if you're willing to basically come to a stop but as I said I was coming up on my drive in a matter of seconds. Its not the same as being miles from home and running 10 under. And yes the roads are tight. Come harvest season theres nothing scarier than meeting a grain truck coming at you.
As for all the "OC saved the OP" God bless you. Having words with someone doesn't at all always escalate into more. Bad idea, yes. But its certainly possible for folks to have a verbal argument and that be that.
Also, as I mentioned in the OP, the guy was driving a jacked up truck. As close as he was riding my bumper I doubt he would've seen a signal if I had used it. Suppose I had used it in the same situation and things turned out the same, what would you say?
Like I said I don't feel any of what I'm saying absolves me of some fault. But there's certainly some fault on the tailgater.
I'm just glad it didn't escalate beyond what it did and I hope everyone reading is taking something away from some of these posts everyone's making.
I was literally an 1/8 to a 1/4 mile from my house. The tailgater showed up out of nowhere. Its not like I had been driving 10 below for 5 miles. I was slowing coming up on my drive.
That still does not absolve me of my indiscretions. I normally signal when coming upon my drive. However, its pretty common in the country for folks to not do that. We're not really in a hurry out here. I follow folks all the time that will indeed putt down the road for several miles to their home. I don't get bothered and no other local I know does either.
But thats beside the point.
As for pulling over and letting him around, yes there is room to pull over if you're willing to basically come to a stop but as I said I was coming up on my drive in a matter of seconds. Its not the same as being miles from home and running 10 under. And yes the roads are tight. Come harvest season theres nothing scarier than meeting a grain truck coming at you.
As for all the "OC saved the OP" God bless you. Having words with someone doesn't at all always escalate into more. Bad idea, yes. But its certainly possible for folks to have a verbal argument and that be that.
Also, as I mentioned in the OP, the guy was driving a jacked up truck. As close as he was riding my bumper I doubt he would've seen a signal if I had used it. Suppose I had used it in the same situation and things turned out the same, what would you say?
Like I said I don't feel any of what I'm saying absolves me of some fault. But there's certainly some fault on the tailgater.
I'm just glad it didn't escalate beyond what it did and I hope everyone reading is taking something away from some of these posts everyone's making.
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.38 Special
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I don't think anyone has said that. I certainly didn't.
OP
OP
Good Ol' Boy
Member
I think what was meant by the “OC might have saved you” comments was this; You did something out of character when you didn’t signal to turn into your driveway. You knew it was an A hole move (your words iirc). Ok so if the tailgater appeared to be unarmed, would you have continued to be out of character? And maybe talked some $h!*? Maybe you would have escalated things if you thought he was unarmed and harmless. When you saw he was armed you instantly became “ready” but at the same time it put you back into your normal character and nothing was escalated further. The conversation was short and you were ready for him to leave.
ps I’m against open carry.
Bazoo
Member
No a verbal confrontation doesn't always turn physical. But it sure sounds like it was a possibility if you hadn't deescalated. I know If I'm mad enough to jump out and exchange words I'm ready to fight.
Personally I think not using a turn signal is a non issue.
It certainly made me think and I thank you for sharing your experience. It could have been me in your shoes.
Being on this forum has made me think about self defense in a whole different light.
Personally I think not using a turn signal is a non issue.
It certainly made me think and I thank you for sharing your experience. It could have been me in your shoes.
Being on this forum has made me think about self defense in a whole different light.
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