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Why would you tailgate a car?

sanjuro

sanjuro

Rider
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Location
Oaklamd
Moto(s)
GSX-R 1000
Name
Steve
I see this kind of driving behavior all the time, when traffic is going 65-75mph, cars get behind other cars with maybe a 1-2 car length gap.

They don't realize that as soon as the driver ahead taps his brakes, the driver behind him has to slow at least 10mph, then soon 5 miles behind them is stop-and-go.

But when I see tailgating from a motorcycle rider, I really shake my head.

I saw it last night on I580 at midnight. A rider was about 20 feet behind another car for at least a half mile.

If the driver had to stop, there was no way the rider could even swerve around the car. And if the car drove over debris, the rider couldn't see it.
 
I've actually noticed a lot of riders lately that can't turn the bike properly (most likely don't understand counter steering?) combined with no gear while tailgating. :( I mean riders who on the freeway can't stay in the lane on a mild turn. It's scary out there, I try to stay away from them.
 
The wr250 only has like 28 hp...... Need all the help I can get. Drafting for the win.:twofinger
 
have you thought about if you close that gap to the first vehicle in front of you, you will have better visibility in front of the car that is directly in front of you

when you have even more visibility, i get even more time to plan a evacuation.

for example, i will tailgate if i need to pass, simply put i need to make sure whatever is in front of the car directly in front of me will not cause an issue with my passing move.

im just saying sometimes tailgating has pros for a motorcyclists, SOMETIMES so dont get your panties in a bunch
 
FXCLM5 said:
have you thought about if you close that gap to the first vehicle in front of you, you will have better visibility in front of the car that is directly in front of you

when you have even more visibility, i get even more time to plan a evacuation.

for example, i will tailgate if i need to pass, simply put i need to make sure whatever is in front of the car directly in front of me will not cause an issue with my passing move.

im just saying sometimes tailgating has pros for a motorcyclists, SOMETIMES so dont get your panties in a bunch
Click to expand...

I used to tailgate, then when I was tailgating while moving to pass from #2 lane to the #1 lane, I did a quick headcheck and when I looked back the car I was tailgating had to emergency brake

I tried to swerve, almost made it, not enough room, ended up hitting the back bumper of the car

Dont get your panties in a bunch. What a confrontational antagonistic attitude to a simple question

If you really need that visibility, hang back and move to the sides of the lane, either in lane splitting position or on the edge of the emergency shoulder (still in your lane)

Its never safe to be that close to cars. Since that day I always maintain a minimum of one car length - preferably one and a half
 
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sanjuro said:
I see this kind of driving behavior all the time, when traffic is going 65-75mph, cars get behind other cars with maybe a 1-2 car length gap.

They don't realize that as soon as the driver ahead taps his brakes, the driver behind him has to slow at least 10mph, then soon 5 miles behind them is stop-and-go.

But when I see tailgating from a motorcycle rider, I really shake my head.

I saw it last night on I580 at midnight. A rider was about 20 feet behind another car for at least a half mile.

If the driver had to stop, there was no way the rider could even swerve around the car. And if the car drove over debris, the rider couldn't see it.
Click to expand...

is 20 feet considered tailgating? :dunno
 
Pick a point on the road, and notice when the car passes it. Count how many seconds until you pass it. If your result is less than 3, your too close.

Isnt this one way to go about it? If I remember correctly
 
I never tailgate, especially after I learned that even common family haulers can outbrake a motorcycle. I definitely know I can't slow down fast enough if the car ahead slams on its brakes so I make sure to leave enough room so I can easily go around the car or stop in time.

I especially hate other cars who tailgate me on a motorcycle. That's when I crouch down and take off to put some distance between me and said tailgater.
 
Guilty. However I stay to the left or right (depending)

Chess. Try and plan at least two moves ahead.

But rarely am I actually going slower than traffic. Split and don't look back.
 
I know this guy on a bike that was being tailgated by a guy on a Porsche. He claims the Porsche was so close he could feel the engine heat ... in spite of the engine being in the rear of the Porsche.

Does it count?
 
FXCLM5 said:
have you thought about if you close that gap to the first vehicle in front of you, you will have better visibility in front of the car that is directly in front of you

when you have even more visibility, i get even more time to plan a evacuation.

for example, i will tailgate if i need to pass, simply put i need to make sure whatever is in front of the car directly in front of me will not cause an issue with my passing move.

im just saying sometimes tailgating has pros for a motorcyclists, SOMETIMES so dont get your panties in a bunch
Click to expand...

You know as soon as you are tailgating, you can no longer react to any change in driving behavior.

If you are 12 feet away from a car and the driver slams on its brakes, you have a tenth of a second of reaction time. 2 seconds is considered minimum reaction time.

I don't get so close to any vehicle unless I know what is happening 200 yards ahead of it, in every lane.

Now the reality is that most drivers are going to react in a normal, predicable fashion. You can be a foot off a bumper and the driver will continue at the same pace almost all the time.

Even when I pass, something bad could happen. That's why I pass fast, so the time I am in danger is minimized.

If you want to hang around the back of a car to figure out your next move, good luck with that.
 
I learned my lesson about tailgating directly behind a car when I was too close to the car in front of me to see the huge rock on the freeway until I was running it over. Didn't crash, but it dented my front wheel and left me stranded on the freeway later on. Definitely could have gone a lot worse.

If I plan on being that close, it's always to the left or the right of the vehicle where I have visibility and an escape route.
 
Good comments on all views except the smart ass ones guys. Ya know who you are. :p
Tailgating in a car is a recipe for a rear end collision.
Creeping up on a car to pass on a bike is ok, but don't stay there too long.
Even if you give a few car lengths while on your bike you still have to be on your toes.
It doesn't take much for them to dart out in front of you, and there is absolutely no place to go.
Been there a few times.....pucker factor X10.
We cant stop or turn like a car, we can only brake, lean, turn slightly.
Sometimes its enough to avoid them sometimes its not.
When its not enough we pay for it.
Bottom line is do what you must to keep yourself safe out there at all times.
Distance is your friend, and sometimes getting there a little late is better than not getting there at all.
 
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