Did you not notice the speed limit signs?

[Kogarashi]

Minor one from today, but it still irked me.

Had picked up Oldest from preschool and was heading through the various winding roads of our area to the post office to mail off a package. This particular area I was in was one lane each way, with a speed limit of 30. I'm coming up around a partially blind curve at the top of which is a left turn I need to make. It's tricky seeing oncoming traffic there, as a note.

I had only just barely started the curve when this other Jeep appears in my rearview mirror, gaining quickly. It came roaring up behind me, doing certainly more than 30 (I was driving the speed limit exactly), and starts tailgating me. Since I have to make a left at the top of the curve, can clearly see I don't currently have a green arrow (just a solid green, meaning oncoming traffic has a green too), and can't clearly see if there are cars coming, I decided to slightly brake-check the guy behind me. Essentially, it was a warning shot because I'd be slowing down soon anyway and would rather not have his vehicle crunching up my bumper on me.

As soon as I tap the breaks (dropping to about 28 instead of 30), I see one of his hands come up in a "WTF" gesture. Newsflash, dude: speed limit is a lot lower than what you're trying to drive, and I have to turn soon. Please don't tailgate me, kthxbye.

He did back off a little, though, enough that I didn't feel I'd get hit when I did signal and slow down for my turn not five seconds later, and then he roared on down the road once I was out of his way.

[blas]

Happens to me ALL the damn time. Especially on my own turf here, all the roads nearby where I live. The speed limit is generally 30, yet people have ripped and torn right up my ass trying to go 40 or better, even when I'm going 35 or better.

Although yesterday, I saw the most interesting frustrated tailgater face.

I was on the freeway coming home, and this complete fucking moron just comes roaring up my ass when I'm already going over 70 in the fast lane (I had a somewhat valid reason, the asshole I was trying to pass was trying to not let me pass as soon as I started beginning to crest the front end of their vehicle), and this dumb older woman's face looked like an evil angry statue.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

The throwing up the hands thing they all do pisses me off more than the actual aggressive driving. They so love to pretend they can't imagine why you are acting in such an unreasonable manner, don't they?

So fucking stupid! Really? They just know they couldn't possibly be doing something to cause you to do that? There's no way in hell or heaven they might be doing something to provoke you? Seriously?

Are they REALLY that deluded?

[blas]

I love the gestures and the nasty glares I get when I'm already technically speeding and this person wants me to go even faster.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I know. The road I live off of is a total speed trap. Nobody speeds on this road. Nobody that lives there, anyways.

You can always tell who is not local because they're the ones driving like tools.

Here I am going five over in a notorious speed trap, and some idiot is trying to tailgate me and everyone else.

If everyone is going a certain speed, and you're not from that area, wouldn't you eventually clue in that maybe they're going that speed for a very good reason?

But then, like I said, "Tailgaters are stupid. No exceptions."

[blas]

Knock wood, I haven't seen a speed trap on either roads that run parrallel to mine in a while, but that makes me think it's just a matter of time before it happens again.

A few years ago, I was passed by someone going practically 50 on this road. It's a 30 mph residential road.

Most people who live around here will go 35, and really, that doesn't bother me. But the clowns who think that this is some service road or 40+ mph zone just piss me the hell off. There is hardly ever a day that I go to the gym (on one road) or to the bf's place (the other road) where someone is not on my ass. And they go so fast, one second there is no one behind me, the next, there they are.

[Teskeria]

If you know a decent cop, you may want to suggest to him that those roads would be a nice place to catch a few speeders. Since you know it's been suggested, you can be more careful (and tell those who matter you heard rumors) and watch a few idiots get caught. The good cops like to catch speeders when they can, as it lessens the chance they will be pulling a body from that car later that day.

[blas]

Up until this past winter, it was not unusual on Friday and Saturday afternoons to see a cop just sitting around these two streets, although one street belongs to county and one to city (I live in a funky type of area). I mean, all that cop had to do was sit and wait, and he'd just scoot a little further up after every catch.

They quit doing that for some reason late last fall. I haven't come across a speed trap here in a long time, although the county cops are always sitting at the bank or at Subway waiting for someone to screw up.

[Kogarashi]

Unfortuantely, I don't know any cops, period, to suggest this to. Though I can think of a few intersections that could use babysitting at times. At one, people on the main drag tend to run the red light even after the cross street has gotten its green, and at the other, which I know I've posted about several times before, is notorious for gridlock during peak traffic hours despite being maintained by a traffic light.

Fortunately for me, back road tailgaters seem to be few and far between here. Most of my tailgating incidents were on the highway.

[Primer]

I saw a bumper sticker on a truck a few days ago that I need: It's got a picture of a snarling dog, and says, "I'm not in heat, so get off my ass!"

[Stormraven]

One I keep wanting to make will read 'The closer you get, the slower I'll go.'

[protege]

They drive like tools where I live too. Bonus, since there's an elementary school around the corner. My street, and the entire borough (less the state routes) are posted at 25mph. Yet, most days, I see people flying around the 'circle.' In fact, the weekday morning routine seems to be drop the kids off at school, and then haul ass to work. I can't count the number of times I've been backing out of my driveway...and seeing some dipshit in an SUV slam on the brakes to avoid hitting me. More bonus points if they hit the horn and/or flip me off. Sorry bitch, when I backed out, you weren't anywhere near me. Slow the fuck down--quite a few kids walk along the street to school. If you can't handle getting your Starbucks a second late, either leave earlier, or adjust your fucking priorities!

Oh, and most of us have complained to the local police department. They've told us that they "can't do anything." Yet, they have other well-known speed traps all over the borough, and have a well-deserved reputation for busting people for 1 or 2 miles over the posted limit They won't do a damn thing...until someone gets seriously hurt. Then you can bet their ass that they'll step up.

[Crossbow]

One I keep wanting to make will read 'The closer you get, the slower I'll go.'

CafePress is your friend.

Now I'm going to have to get one of those....

[Ironclad Alibi]

One I keep wanting to make will read 'The closer you get, the slower I'll go.'

Then there is the classic bumper sticker that reads: "I might be slow, but I'm ahead of you."

[Stormraven]

Cool, I did not know they already existed.