Up My Rear
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
September 17, 2017 4:57pm CST
Most everyone has heard the expression, shove it up you rear, meaning they don’t like something you said or want them to do.
This is not about that. I suppose it more of a rant than anything. What I’m talking about is people following up your rear or up your tailpipe or on your bumper. In other words following you too closely.
I was taught in driver’s ed to tap my brakes to get people to back off. However, this does not seem to work now days. People get up to the tail end of your car and just stay there no matter what you do.
Sometimes I feel like just dynamiting my brakes and letting the car behind me smash into me. ?But then I’d have a crumpled up car.
I can’t really understand people following so close. Sure they are in a hurry but they aren’t going to get where they are going any faster by driving up my tailpipe.
It might be a bit of intimidation. The person is hoping to get me to speed up even if I’m going the speed limit or even faster. Or I will pull over and let them by. But it irritates me so much that I’m not going to do either one. I might even slow down (but most likely I won’t because I drive a lot of the time with my cruise control on).
If you are the type of person who likes to tailgate I suggest you stop because one of these days the person you are tailgating is going to dynamite their brakes. A good rule to follow is for every ten miles an hour you are going you should be at least one car length behind the car you are following. If you are doing thirty, then you should be three car lengths behind the car you are following. Sixty at least six car lengths. Eighty at least eight car lengths.
Rant over.
6 people like this
6 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
17 Sep 17
Maybe they just like you so much they cant help themselves but get near you lol
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
17 Sep 17
@RichardMeister Even if they did, I know the feeling of wanting to do damage to them.
There was a time when I would get out of the car and rant, not anymore.
There was a time when I would get out of the car and rant, not anymore.1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
17 Sep 17
@TiarasOceanView Now days you could get shot by getting out of the car and ranting.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
17 Sep 17
That's a nice compliment but highly unlikely.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Sep 17
I hate people who tailgate 
. Surely they are trying to intimidate the car in front of them . . . and if it happens to me, I won't go any faster either - in fact I will slow down on purpose 
. But what's scary is people will tailgate even at high speeds - this can mean a rear end accident at any moment - why do stupid people pull this stuff?
. Surely they are trying to intimidate the car in front of them . . . and if it happens to me, I won't go any faster either - in fact I will slow down on purpose . But what's scary is people will tailgate even at high speeds - this can mean a rear end accident at any moment - why do stupid people pull this stuff?1 person likes this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Sep 17
@RichardMeister People are in such a gd hurry these days - so much that they are willing to do anything to make the next person get out of their way. Form of bullying - on the road?
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
23 Sep 17
I have no answer to your question other than because they are stupid.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
25 Sep 17
@much2say I think it is a form of bullying. Every time I go out on the freeway (which isn't very often) I do the speed limit 70 mph. Cars fly by me like I'm standing still.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
17 Sep 17
It is a well stated rant and I could not have said it better. Hubby actually got rear ended at a stop sign once. Jerks out there.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
17 Sep 17
I learned my lesson when I was young and stupid. I was touring up and down the main drag when I saw a cute girl. The light had turned green but I didn't realize the car ahead of me stopped to make a lefthand turn. I was more interested in looking at the cute girl than what was happening on the street in front of me. Yes, I was going so slow I barely touch the guy but before I hit him I glance ahead and saw his trunk was dented. I had no proof that the trunk was dented beforehand so I had to pay for that dent as well as a bumper.
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
17 Sep 17
I usually slowly slow down to a crawl (if I can afford the time). This, at least, irritates them. I don't know what they think they will accomplish by staying on your rear end like that. Bullies.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
17 Sep 17
I don't know what they think they will accomplish either. I bet you have seen the finger a time or two.
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
18 Sep 17
@RichardMeister - Yup both seen and given :))
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13152)
• Ireland
17 Sep 17
@richardmeister The temptation to slam on the brakes is indeed hard to resist.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
17 Sep 17
The foot is just itching to slam down on that brake pedal.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (61627)
• Centralia, Washington
18 Sep 17
@RichardMeister Then there was the jerk with the double cab pickup. I was doing 55 to 60 and he tailed me on the right side, super close. Next thing I know he goes around me, ON the shoulder side. He had to have been doing over 70 miles an hour on that little narrow shoulder. I shook for quite some time after that incident.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
19 Sep 17
@sallypup Been there, seen that too. It's those idiots that causes wrecks.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
18 Sep 17
I've had both as well.
1 person likes this
