I know this isn't only Springfield, but it's at least 30% of you all. Can you please stop tailgating

Submitted by PalPubPull t3_zb0t2h in springfieldMO

I drive to and from Aurora every day. I drive the same speed, know the road rules, and at least 30% of the time someone is less than 20 yards tailing me or closer.

Why? I drive 4mph over the limit with cruise control, not willing to get a ticket based on anyone else's impatience. My job depends on it. If I'm driving under the speed limit, it's because I'm following a safe distance behind the driver in front of me who is driving slower, not because I'm choosing to. Passing lanes are every few miles, but it feels like a thunderdome between them.

If 4mph over is unacceptable, I'm sorry. I know that traffic tickets are tier based, meaning 1-4mph is different from 5-9, 11-15 etc...so I'm sorry I'm not comfortable speeding more than you'd like. If I'm going slower, there is someone in front of me going slower, but I'm not tailgating them like an asshole. Just because I'm not riding their ass like you are to me, doesn't mean I'm not also frustrated.

I'm giving them and myself less anxiety until you come, and then it's only me that is uncomfortable as you are a few yards behind me while the person in front of me is clueless. I follow whoever on the highway at least 100 yards behind, because I don't trust reaction times of the car in front of or behind me. I don't know you or them. If they slam on their brakes, I can slow down at a controlled speed. If I followed them like you follow me, I would have to trust the person behind me has the same reaction time as myself, and I don't know you.

We are driving heavy machinery. A lot of people die every year for very preventable reasons.

Everyone relax.

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arbitrarytrombone t1_iyoqax7 wrote

I spend a decent amount of time on i44 and I see angry drivers swerving, honking, flashing lights, tailgating. I’ve passed so many lethal accidents on the road in the last few years and I can only hope it wasn’t because of someone’s mismanaged anger.

Getting there “quicker” is raising your chances of not making it at all. Hope your 3 minute earlier arrival time was worth risking your life and others.

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internationalkoala00 t1_iyr4zvk wrote

Everytime I get on I44 I remember that years ago I wanted to have a t-shirt made that says "I hate I44". Was almost in that 60+ pile up a few winters ago. Missed it by a few minutes. I don't drive that road if I can help it.

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iced-macchiato t1_iyomh1a wrote

People fly by me on National every day going at least 10-15 over after they aggressively tailgate me every day. It’s enraging.

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GinWithJennifer t1_iypu7o5 wrote

Yes. I have seen more accidents at the south Campbell light beneath the Jame River free way bridge than anywhere else in my life. It is at such frequency I am sure it is at least once a day.

I have witnessed these as they happen to.

I have pictures of one I watched happen. A few weeks ago at those lights. Right in front of me. I was at the light and watched it happen while waiting at the red.

Last year doing a door dash I saw a 3 car pile up and watch a man leave his vehicle then collapse. When ems showed up they just stood around and didn't help him. I'm convinced I watched that man die right in front of me and it bothers me a little knowing I might have been the last person he saw. And I was just stuck there at the left hand turn to beuna Vista.

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throwawayyyycuk t1_iyovig1 wrote

I love driving the speed limit

What are you gonna do, pull me over?

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DinoExMachina t1_iyp5mor wrote

If you are in the left lane not passing anyone then I would.

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CigarsandAdventures t1_iyqom33 wrote

I take it you’ve never lived in a place congested enough to warrant all lanes being used.

Sometimes staying in the right lane during rush hour isn’t possible.

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DinoExMachina t1_iyqpgvx wrote

I live in a city now. I know what rush hour traffic is like.

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CigarsandAdventures t1_iyqpizc wrote

It’s a different beast entirely in a metro area such as Chicago.

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knee-babies t1_iyrdr7n wrote

This isn’t Chicago. Stop comparing two unlike things.

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CigarsandAdventures t1_iyrexgm wrote

Quit universally assigning which lane to drive in under all circumstances.

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Always_0421 t1_iyrhotl wrote

Not driving in the left lane isn't the opinion of a random reddditor....it's the law in Missouri.

Rsmo 304.015. part 6.

  All vehicles in motion upon a highway having two or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction shall be driven in the right-hand lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when preparing to make a proper left turn or when otherwise directed by traffic markings, signs or signals.

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/PassingandLaneUsageStatutes070113.html

$83 min. fine

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jttIII t1_iyp4bid wrote

fkn right!? I leave like a 3 car distance at all times and most idiots think I'm leaving a space for their idiot asses to squeeze in... irritating.

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GMoore42 t1_iyozern wrote

If you are in the left lane and people are tailgating you, move. If you are in the right lane and they are tailgating, they can move to the passing lane. Simple.

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telxonhacker t1_iyp90ut wrote

The only exception is if you are in the left lane actively passing slower traffic on the right, and intend to get back in the right lane when it is safe.

Otherwise, 100% with you

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lukeman3000 t1_izh7nh2 wrote

Yes; it grinds my gears when I’m passing someone at a reasonable rate of speed and some dumb fuck gets right on my ass despite this. And not only that but I won’t immediately change lanes in front of someone when I’m done passing them; I’ll wait until I’m at least 3’ish car lengths ahead of them for safety’s sake, and so they won’t feel like I’m cutting them off. But people don’t even think about this shit; it doesn’t even cross their mind. It’s hard for me to believe the degree to which people don’t think, in general. But it is what it is so I can’t get too mad at someone who’s simply following their nature lol.

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telxonhacker t1_izh9ms5 wrote

Preach! They want to go 85-90 in a 60, and get mad when you are "only" doing 5-7 over.

Always funny to see them go flying past, only to get caught in a speed trap a mile ahead!

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GmanG64 t1_iyqql2c wrote

Have you ever thought that maybe it's a two lane road,?

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chunkmoneyy t1_iyqsui9 wrote

the problem I've noticed is that people will tailgate you in the right lane and not pass, which is generally what OP is talking about. also, of course they'll pass eventually, the problem is the tailgating in the first place, so being like

>they can move to the passing lane. Simple.

is a bit irrelevant in this case

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Nobodycaresgetalife1 t1_iyoz118 wrote

When this happens to me I just pull over a bit and let them by. If they’re in that big of a hurry just let them get around. They win by getting to move on past you, and you don’t have anyone tailgating.

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PalPubPull OP t1_iyp068q wrote

I feel that way at times too. Due to somewhat recent events I've been a bit more anxious from the tailgating, and remembered a question from my CDL driving test.

For fun, I'll give you the same multiple choices the test asked me for dealing with a tailgating driver.

Do you -

A.) Flash brakes and use turn signal indicating to let them pass

B.) Progressively slow down until they pass

C.) Pull over to the side of the road with hazards blinking to let them pass

D.) Point your finger out your window in the direction you want them to pass

I was kind of surprised at the correct answer

According to the test, the correct answer is >!B!<

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houseofwarwick t1_iyrt8p1 wrote

Oddly enough the slow down method is how I test if they are distracted. If they are tailgating I’ll cancel the cruise and stay off the gas. If they don’t pass (when safe to) I’ll pull over and let them past. On 4 lane roads I’ll just move into the empty lane. In most cases, tailgaters just move up to the next car to tailgate. 🤷‍♂️

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417sadboi t1_iyp1189 wrote

I used to commute to Monett every day and it does seem that everyone traveling on 60 west of Republic is racing to say goodbye to an actively dying relative or like someone on a suspended license driving 10 below the limit to be extra sure that they're not pulled over. Not a whole lot of drivers in between.

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ManlyVanLee t1_iyq90bk wrote

I don't know if it's the same anymore but I drove from Republic to Aurora for like 8 years and this was before they put those passing sections in. I would absolutely have loved to drive faster but the cops in every single little town from here to there LOVE to set up shop on 60 and pull people over. After I got a ticket doing like 6 over the limit (and yes, he enforced it and I had to go to court to plead and pay it) I resigned to my fate that even if there's no one out driving you have to be as slow as possible because those cops don't care

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robzilla71173 t1_iz9xxph wrote

I got to pay the municipality of Billings a solid $200 back in the nineties after being caught doing 53 in a 45 trying to get my girlfriend to her asthma medicine during a bad attack. She was quite literally turning blue in the lips from lack of oxygen in the car next to me while he was harassing me about making up stories. I honestly stopped hoping he could help us get to some help or a fire station or EMT. Nope, just nailed me with tickets. I got hassled by the prosecutor for pleading guilty to no license. I'd been given a ticket for not having my license with me. Apparently that's not illegal. My thought was, shouldn't the cop have known that? I'm just some 18 year old kid.

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name-isnt-important t1_iyome3y wrote

Seems to be an epidemic. So many people on phones and they just zone out while driving.

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nuts316 t1_iyp9tid wrote

They zoned way before phones. Phones just gave them an out

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oWatchdog t1_iyqcpyu wrote

My favorite is the aggressive speed demons creating a pocket of mobile madness who then pull into Walmart. Mother fucker you ain't in that much of a hurry if you're going to Walmart. Chill.

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DebbieDunnbbar t1_iypgrx0 wrote

Rather than brake check, hold down your windshield wiper fluid button and give their car a nice bath until they get the message.

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[deleted] t1_iyptg6m wrote

[deleted]

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moon_family t1_iyqlb7p wrote

If you're purposely blocking others from using the passing lane, then you too are a driver I'd rather not share the road with.

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Obsi-rain t1_iyq7jta wrote

People love to tailgate. Back in 2020, my partner and I were driving our newborn son (he was like a week old and 6 pounds) to his first doctors appointment and I was sitting in the back seat. We were going the speed limit on the road that takes us from ash grove to Willard when some assholes in a shitty ass truck suddenly speed up behind us. Mind you they could pass us at any time but they didn’t want to. They start tailgating us and swerving around frantically. I started freaking out but my partner remained calm and didn’t react to them.

They suddenly floored it past us while flipping us off and I figured we were in the clear, but no I was sadly mistaken. They stopped right in front of us and 2 men jumped out of the truck, I assume thinking my partner would pull over to confront them. There was no reaction time, if he had slammed his breaks we would of slammed into them, so he had to swerve into the ditch with our NEWBORN in the back seat to pass these guys. They hopped back in their truck and sped up to tailgate us again.

I wiped around with my “baby on board” sticker I had yet to put on and slammed it on the window.

They sped past us and left us alone.

I wish we had a dash cam because I called the police and since they had no tags there was nothing they could do to identify them as we were both pretty shaken up about the encounter and couldn’t really remember anything identifying about the vehicle type*.

Anytime I went to doctor appointments after that I packed my gun with me in the car just incase.

Freaking tweakers.

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Sally_twodicks t1_iyqutqh wrote

I agree on the tailgating but there is also an infuriating amount of people in this town who also are just going 15-20 in a 35 because they are taking their sweet time. I can follow traffic laws but if you are going this slow and we are legally able to pass you, I'm gonna pass you and if you honk, go fuck yourself and drive the speed limit.

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VictoryTheScreech t1_iyr56mj wrote

When someone tailgates me, I just slow down even more.

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Ravenq222 t1_iyr5b0m wrote

YEP and honking like a madman when I make a right turn into parking lot.

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sgf-guy t1_iypfkkq wrote

From an enforcement standpoint the town has too much traffic on many roads to easily and safely go after traffic offenders for a single officer in traffic. You can’t just turn a you-ey on Campbell for simple traffic stuff. For some reason the PD still hasn’t figured out that they could do one cop calls in a violation and another cop 2 blocks away pulls the offender over in a much safer manner. It’s not ideal nor efficient and doesn’t have to be done every day but even a few days a month could set a precedent that there is a risk…

For instance I used to go through Ks and Chestnut frequently…the number of people who trail after a red light on left turns is non-stop. But instead they sit on the north side of Mueller to catch speeders on a divided road with almost no crossroads along the way. ProTip: they love to run radar on 30mph streets.

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Wyldfire2112 t1_iyq5otj wrote

I have a newer car with adaptive cruise control. I set mine to a 3-second follow distance, which is the recommended standard for safety, and just chill.

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mysickfix t1_iyq6s0t wrote

I drove an 18 wheeler for years. Here is my trick, drive one mile under the speed limit. Cars from behind will pass and you have more control over your following distance.

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purple_yosher t1_iyrnq6c wrote

especially when it's raining. people are fucking idiotic.

I do my best to be a conscious and defensive as I can be while driving. idk why but the thought of getting into an easily avoidable accident isn't appealing.

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lifepuzzler t1_iz7irqf wrote

Nobody who needs to read this is on Reddit.

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robzilla71173 t1_iz9y459 wrote

I've gotten to where I will either speed up or slow down to avoid packs. If someone's tailgating me and I have the left lane open sometimes I'll swing into the passing lane and tap the brakes to send them by on the right. People are idiots, you have to move them around sometimes like you're moving cattle.

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foxydevil14 t1_iyq6duf wrote

If Springfield is anything like STL, Godspeed!!!

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fastcatzzzz t1_iyrgwsp wrote

Don’t complain, don’t explain.

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Always_0421 t1_iyrkvep wrote

I get the frustration of being tailgated, especially in the right lane....but I think this is a good opportunity to remind all those cruising in the left lane....

Rsmo 304.015. part 6.

  All vehicles in motion upon a highway having two or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction shall be driven in the right-hand lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when preparing to make a proper left turn or when otherwise directed by traffic markings, signs or signals.

https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/PassingandLaneUsageStatutes070113.html

$83 min. fine

0

youngpunk420 t1_iypuqb3 wrote

I try to get better about being impatient while driving. I thought the tiers were in 10 mph increments. Last time I got a speeding ticket it was, unless I'm remembering wrong. It was 10+ years ago. I always go about 9 over. Maybe 4 is better.

One thing I think about while driving is I want to minimize the amount of time I'm on the road. Most of the danger is because of other drivers. If I can just get to my destination and off the road it's safest. So I take that into mind while I'm driving. There's a balance and a trade off with driving speed. You want to get off the road as quick as you can, but not in a way that's dangerous.

When there's no body on the road it's a breeze driving. It's nice. Compared to driving with other people on the road it's terrible. It takes twice as long to get places. Stop and go. It sucks when there's someone in the passing lane and there's no one in front of them.

I'm pretty average but I've been trying to remember there's a lot of people who aren't as quick about making decisions and hand eye coordination with driving.

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Fun-Chicken-7191 t1_iyp2k5m wrote

I break check fuckers. I hate this town

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telxonhacker t1_iyp9dya wrote

Be warned, if they have a dashcam, and your brake checking causes a wreck, you could be liable.

I definitely get where you are coming from though.

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Golden3ye t1_iyr1qla wrote

Drive faster

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[deleted] t1_iyozq5h wrote

[deleted]

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kammyshep t1_iyp4ug9 wrote

I agree with what you were saying. If people are passing you by 10-15 mph, move.

−10

almostaarp t1_iypjcsp wrote

Hmmmm….I don’t worry about those behind me. Very interesting.

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FluidUnderstanding40 t1_iypbosq wrote

It is not my fault that this town is full of boomers going 35 on a 40 road. That is dangerous compared to going exactly 40.

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Shyde1991 t1_iypnm9f wrote

Cruising Kearney is the worst. All summer boomers and burnout Xers going 20 down Kearney dreaming of yesteryear, and making sure to hit every red light so they can make a drive across town and make it take 60 min for fun.

−9

[deleted] t1_iyp0shx wrote

[deleted]

−12

malevolentk t1_iyp552m wrote

  1. Republic to Aurora is Hwy 60 and not a four lane road

  2. Roads are rated in a way that means the speed limit is the speed at which the road should traveled in ideal driving conditions

  3. 10-15 miles an hour over the speed limit is unsafe - there are a lot more serious consequences than a $108 fine

  4. Going 10 miles over the limit between Republic and Aurora saves you a whopping 3 minutes. If you are willing to drive in an unsafe manner risking other drivers to save three minutes YOU are the asshole

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VEI8 t1_iyp98qp wrote

Says "think about other people" while spewing the most self-centered, entitled horseshit I've ever read in my life. Truly an Olympic level mental gymnastics routine. Bravo you Simone Biles of Reason, you Cerebral Mary Lou Rhetton! Bravo!

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PalPubPull OP t1_iyp2i1t wrote

Appreciate your insight.

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VEI8 t1_iyp8mq9 wrote

Clearly this daily commute has given you the patience of a saint.

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CaptainMagma48 t1_iyooh9e wrote

I'm not very familiar with the route from Aurora to Springfield, and I'm not sure what you're driving, but to make a few things clear for anyone:

  1. If someone is tailgating you in the left lane then you should not be in the left lane.

  2. A following distance of 100 yards is incredibly excessive. Not only is it overkill for braking distance, but there's no possible way you can be maintaining 4 MPH over the speed limit while keeping a following distance of 100 yards.

I'm sure there are people being assholes and driving in an unsafe way, but when there's a pattern of it then it usually means there's some other factor at fault.

−20

PalPubPull OP t1_iyopaun wrote

My car has what is called adaptive cruise control and it can also tell the distance between you and the driver in front of you. Adaptive cruise control is when it matches the cars speed in front of you. 120 yards is the limit. Even with 100 yards at 60-70mph, 100 yards is about a 3 second delay which is what's recommended, and not incredibly excessive.

Agree with the left lane opinion though. Unfortunately there's only a few opportunities between the three opportunities of passing where the left lane is even an option.

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ep1c_t4ble t1_iyoni20 wrote

Or how bout a new idea if you’re driving the limit or slower or slower than the flow of traffic try this epic new strat called the right lane

−29

PalPubPull OP t1_iyoo7ji wrote

Unfortunately the 20 mile drive between Springfield and Aurora only has about 3 miles of 4 lane highway, in which case I'm in the right lane.

Appreciate what you're saying though.

Edit: Republic and Aurora, not Springfield

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[deleted] t1_iyos219 wrote

Are you taking about 60 Hwy and the infrequent passing lanes or 44?

−1

PalPubPull OP t1_iyotoia wrote

Highway 60, not I44

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[deleted] t1_iyovvl3 wrote

I drove that many years to and from Monett. Other than Billings PD controlled areas, it's the wild west on that road. Do what you're doing. If someone is being dumb, back down to the exact speed limit. All you can do. Just don't speed up in the passing lane.

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PalPubPull OP t1_iyp7cxm wrote

Absolutely agree. The speed limits don't help my case though.

They always raise from 50 to 60 mph like two seconds before it turns to a passing lane, and I always feel like any driver who isn't aware of that just thinks I'm speeding up to prevent them from passing rather than matching the speed limit.

I almost feel like Republic to Aurora is some weird social experiment trying to make commuters angry. Billings is a wild horse. 60mph to 45 mph to 30mph to 45mph to 60mph in like a 1/2 mile. Never traveled a highway similar to it personally.

3