CHP Q&A

I was driving down the 330 yesterday when a beat up looking blue compact car came up behind me and started tailgating me. The woman driving the car was gesturing with her hands for me to go faster the entire time. She got so close that I could only see her windshield in my rear view mirror. When we came to the passing lane I slowed down to let her pass, but her junky car couldn't get up enough speed to get around me even though I had dropped down to 30 mph. The bizarre thing about this whole experience is that entire time this woman was tailgating me I had a slow car in front of me that prevented me from going any faster.

The tailgater's car was so close that trying to slow down and use a turnout wasn't an option either because she would have plowed right into the back of me when I slowed down to enter the turnoff. The only reason she hadn't hit me when I slowed in the passing lane is that she had already swung out in attempt to pass me. Even if I had been able to use a turnout she would still be trapped behind the car in front of me and having an accident in front of me was a whole lot less desirable than behind me.

My question is what do you do when you have someone like this riding your tail? How do you get them to back off when you are trapped between cars like I was? I had 2 kids in the car with me and I was a nervous wreck all the way down the mountain.

The other question I have is at the opposite side of the spectrum. The car that was in front of me going down the mountain was going way too slow and refused to use any turnouts. When this car got on the freeway their speed max'd out at 45 mph and they created an entirely different hazard for me as I merged onto the 210. So question number 2 is how do you safely get someone to speed up when they are driving at a speed which is causing a hazard?

Any input you can give me would be appreciated!

It sounds like the beater car had a brake problem. I would slow down and make space between me and the front car, at least making that an out for me and my kids.

I think you're a bit naive.

Yes, don't let them push you to tailgating the car ahead of you. Leave enough room that the rear-ending accident doesn't become a pileup with you in the middle.

I was thinking about this yesterday when I was being tailgated on Lake, like I am every morning. I'm not going to exceed 25 while I'm driving past kids to school just because mine are in the car with me. What occurred to me is this...how can you live like that? Spending all of your life frustrated? Must be very miserable. All of you aggressive drivers ask yourself why you are making yourself so upset.

OK, this is really a question for CHP, so I'll shut up now.

If it were me, I would start slowing way down, making sure my foot was on the brakes,( so the brake lights are on). First sight of a turn out I would put on my turn signal, and pull over.

I know it seems wimpy, but better than having my day ruined by some jerk.

(Plus, you make a better witness from behind.)

Yes, good suggestions imo.

This happens all day long on HWY 330. When in my own vehicle, I just pull aside and let them go by. If you were going that slow, you could have swung into a turnout without slowing down.

How do you get someone to speed up while getting on the freeway? You don’t. I just get around them when it’s clear.

That has to be so hard when you are a CHP driving your own car. Seeing all the idiots out there and not being able to "light them up".

I agree though that the excuse "they are too close to use a turn out" shouldnt fly. Either get out of the way or dont complain that they are tailgating you. Flash the brake lights on them a few times, they will back off so you can use a turn out.

Scaryfast-

Between the two offenses, speeding and impeding traffic, what is the percentage of cites issued for impeding traffic? If word got around that drivers who refuse to use turnouts are being cited maybe they would show a little more courtesy.

I have to admit, when someone tailgates me going up or down, my heart rate goes up. What I found works is adjusting all the mirrors to point downward. At the same time, turn on your favorite music. Then, AND ONLY THEN, do I use the turnout

After browsing some of the threads on this website alone, I'd be worried to have some of the mountain freak's behind me too!!!

I was driving down the 330 one day and there was a car driving slowly. He was about seven cars ahead of me. He was driving slow all the way from the upper passing lanes down to the middle passing lane refusing to use the turnouts the whole time. When he got to the middle passing lane and the cars behind him tried to pass, he sped up making it hard to get past him. But there is justice on the mountain; a CHP unit was the third car that was behind him and promptly lit up his flashing lights and pulled the "turnout abstaining driver" over.

Yep, moutainmark I see the same thing. I try to leave the mountain mid morning on a Sunday (when I have to go down the hill) And, there they are. Some slow moving individual in a very small slow moving vehicle slowing about a dozen cars (or more) behind them (in the Narrows). Won't look at anyone...gets below the Crestine Bridge and still stays in the number one lane.....poking along. And along....and along. Then everyone behind goes balistic..and then stuff happens.