TAILGATING – HOW TO DEAL WITH TAILGATERS
What is it with tailgaters? Especially those that will tailgate
a motorcycle. You have probably been there, most of
us have; riding on a fine (or not so fine) sunny afternoon
minding your own business--when the SUV behind you
decides you aren’t going fast enough. They ride up on
what feels like your back tire and stay there. It is an event
that is dangerous and can be frightening. Unfortunately,
it is one that most of us will probably experience several
times during the upcoming riding season. One of the first
reactions that I have is to get angry. I want to try to bully
the driver into backing off. I have just as much right to the
road as he does! Unfortunately, this is absolutely the worst
possible reaction. In the equation of bike vs. car, truck or
SUV—the motorcyclist always loses.
I have watched several of the helmet camera videos of
motorcycles being rear-ended by car, truck or SUV being
passed around on Facebook. It is terrifying to see the lurch
of the camera and the motorcyclist flying through the air- off of the motorcycle and on to the pavement. You will
never win if that car hits you.
There are many reasons why having a tailgating vehicle
behind you is not safe, motorcycles can stop much faster
than cars trucks or SUVs, motorcyclists have more things
to watch for and more reasons to slow down or stop when
a car or truck may not need to slow or stop. Road hazards,
mechanical troubles, tire problems, are just a few things
that come to mind. If the person behind the wheel in that
tailgating car has never ridden a motorcycle, they will not be
aware of any of these facts. The person in the car behind
you either does not know he/she is driving dangerously—or
does not care that they are driving dangerously. Definitely
someone to avoid!
There are several things you can do to keep yourself safe
from a tailgating car or truck.
• Tap your brake lights; there is nothing wrong with
using your brake lights to show that the driver is not
leaving a comfortable safety cushion between you
and them.
•
If they do not back off, then turn on your blinker
signal and use your hand signals to move to
another lane or pull off the road. Wait for the driver
to pass (get their plate number if possible to report
them as an aggressive driver) and merge back into
traffic. It is much better to “waste” a few minutes of
your time rather than have someone rear end you
on your motorcycle.
•
Use your “Rider Radar” to always have a logical
escape route (both left and right if possible) so you
can maneuver to safety if the car does not stop in
time. This may place you in an awkward place on
the road, but again, you and your bike are still in
one piece.
Whether it is someone texting on their cell phone, in a hurry
to get somewhere, road rage or simply, someone that just
is not paying attention—since the motorcyclist always loses
to the car or truck in a collision, do the smart thing and get
your bike to a safer place in a different lane or a different
road. Release the anger of the moment and get yourself
safely away from the tailgater. Let them court danger
somewhere you aren’t and without involving you and your
bike!
Ride safe out there!
– Carrie McCauley
BRITISH MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
OF COLORADO
Meets 1 st Saturday of
every month, 10 am
South Side Johnny’s
528 S. Tejon
Colorado Springs, CO
www.bmacinc.com
All makes and models of bikes welcome! Contact
John @719-213-3239 or [email protected]
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
May 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 13