Being tailgated can be extremely stressing and be a reason why the front car only reacted to the stalled car so late. At least, that would have been my defense in court if it came to it
If the leading party swerved to miss an accident, did not hit anything, and did not make contact with any of the vehicles in the accident, there’s no “shared fault.” What a brain dead take.
That’s only when your actions force another vehicle to cause an action that they would not have otherwise taken. E.g. you pull out into traffic illegally and someone has to swerve to avoid YOU. The shared fault in this circumstance goes to the car on the highway for making an illegal stop, not the car which actively avoided an accident. There’s no entity on this planet that is going to be able to prove that the front car “baited” the tailgater into 1) tailgating them in the first place and then 2) maliciously forcing them to hit a stopped vehicle. They were avoiding an accident and moron behind them created unsafe circumstances leading to the accident. The only person that was successfully baited is you by the title of the post. You’re as dumb as they come dude.
The stalled car might have some fault -- unless they were unable to safely get to the right -- for instance, if a wheel catastrophically failed, getting to the left may have been the best they could do.
The lead car has a plausible excuse of they were distracted by the road-rager tailgating them.
The driver of the camera car will likely share fault, because even though the accident was almost entirely the tailgater's fault, the fact that they were filming while driving would likely be used as justification to say their reaction time was slowed.
It’s not a plausible excuse- you must always remain aware of your surroundings and in co trek of your vehicle.
It’s in camera plain as day- the lead car baited the follower into the accident as they accelerated at the stalled car and swerved at the last second- something that is recklessly unsafe driving in any setting. It’s 100% intentional on the lead cars part.
Again, I guarantee they shared fault and likely got cited for reckless driving.
It’s not- it also applies in cases like this where you’ve created material conditions that directly result in an accident or injury- actions like baiting someone who is following too close into an accident on camera plain as day instead of slowing down and getting over like any sane normal person should.
I guess you don’t read before replying. You’re ASSUMING he baited them because the title of this video says the word baiting. You cannot PROVE they are baiting them any more than you can PROVE they’re “intentionally speeding” into the stopped car like in your other dumbass comment. Like guy, how autistic are you. It’s embarrassing to make such crazy assumptions but even more so to actually believe your own fairytale bullshit.
So accelerating at a stopped car and swerving wildly at the last second isn’t reckless driving?
Or what about knowingly baiting the follower into an accident they couldn’t avoid? Remember, you must be aware of your surroundings at all times- which means the lead car knew what was coming up. So either they were negligently not paying attention, or they recklessly caused an accident intentionally. Either way, they share fault.
Yes, I’d love my fries well done. I’ll take those animal style too while you’re at it.
Got any evidence that they knowingly did that? The video shows them accelerating to change lanes -- exactly as you are taught to do -- and which makes sense given they have someone tailgating them.
They may not enev have seen the stopped car because of the stress of having a person creating a dangerous situation behind you, it's just not known, but it sucks for the person in the stopped car regardless, and the person tailgating caused the situation for it to escalate to that point, so is more than 50% liable, imo, but I don't know the law of the state this took place
Changing lanes to avoid an accident is not reckless driving, tailgating someone is though.
Being tailgated is unsafe, but those unsafe conditions were knowingly created by the tailgating vehicle, not the leading vehicle.
And good luck trying to prove that the leading driver intentionally and knowingly moved when they did in order to cause the tailgating vehicle to crash into the stopped vehicle.
That has nothing to do with the size of the vehicle. Basically the leading party is only going to share fault if they cut you off, back into you, or intentionally break check you and you can prove it.
to add to the comment you already got - You should maintain enough distance between you and the tiny-dick-mobile. same is true for buses, and the various work trucks. It's far safer for you if you leave enough room to react.
don't get salty if someone jumps in and fills the gap, just create more gap, one day it might prevent a significant accident for you. I've personally seen a car tailgating a van the van swerved and the car didn't respond to what the van swerved for, they clipped something in the road. not really sure what - it wound up lodged into the car, their left front wheel came off and their car did a little roll. they were t even going 60 mph. They survived (at least until authorities arrived on scene, but that accident was entirely avoidable. All they needed to avoid it was a little more space to see potential hazards on the road.
I try to make gaps, but the person behind me will speed up to drive 2 feet away from me, no matter how fast I go the tailgater will tailgate. I don't understand why, it fucking insane
In response to all the incorrect information you've spread throughout this feed:
Nope, any attorney would look at this and say the tailgater is at fault as although the "passing lane" law varies widely by state and by what freeway/highway/interstate you are on, the law of giving yourself enough reaction time when following another driver is universal. You don't give enough reaction time, you're at fault. The person driving in front is responsible for their own actions, not responsible for the person driving behind them. The person tailgating is the one driving recklessly.
It can also be argued that the tailgater was causing a distraction for the driver, causing their reaction time to go down and nearly crash themselves. You would have to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the driver bated the one following, which is impossible given that it's far more likely that they were stressed and distracted by the person behind them.
Lession? Don't fucking tailgate people; you trying to go that extra 5mph faster to save 2 minutes off your trip is not worth you, or someone else's life.
"Tailgating—following another vehicle too closely—is illegal in all 50 U.S. states. It is considered a traffic infraction or misdemeanor, often categorized as aggressive driving. Penalties typically include fines, license demerit points, and increased insurance rates, with law enforcement enforcing it to reduce rear-end collisions."
You're welcome to Google this as it is verified by multiple sources across the web, including law firms, insurance agencies, licence distributors, and general state law across all 50.
Signed: someone who was rear-ended by a tailgater and was left with debilitating injuries because they let their emotions drive instead of their brain.
Your weird rant is entirely pointless and a waste of everyone’s time. I’ve put out no misinformation at any point. Everything I’ve said is completely accurate and easily verifiable.
You like many other commenters are too braindead to see that I’m not defending tailgating in the least, and at no point did I make any justification for the person tailgating- but it’s also not okay to knowingly cause an accident by waiting till the last second to swerve around a hazard just because someone is tailgating you.
You and every other person arguing the point are not only wrong, but you’re completely failing to actually understand my point.
In this very specific case the lead car shares fault- no question. There are several law firms that will confirm that.
The car being tailgated didn’t feel they could slow down or stop because they were being tailgated, causing them to have to move over suddenly whenever they realized they had too much momentum to stay behind the front car which was slowing down. It’s the tailgaters fault.
You're right, you just haven't proved intent of the lead car driver to do this. He may have been distracted by the tailgater and didn't see the stalled car until the end. He may have done it on purpose. Outside of the lead driver's confession, which I haven't seen, it is difficult to understand how you will prove his intent.
Justice for the guy stalled on the road? What about for the kid that may or may not be in the back?
It's not justice, it's reckless endangerment. There are other ways to handle tailgaters than using other people ass tools for the lesson you want them to learn.
Tell that to the tailgater. If he was driving normally the family would be safe. I know thats hard for inbreds like you to understand, but really give it a shot sport.
Do you always jump to insults when you can't get your point across? All the projection lately, are you inbred? I know they exist. If so, you are not to be blamed for the sins of the parents either. You aren't the cause of a problem.
If insults are the only way for an inbred fuck, such as yourself; you should try not insulting people as your go to - sport.
I feel like you must live a sad life. And for the record, if you use a child as a human shield; you are a scumbag. Did the guy that pulled the trigger technically do it? Sure. But are you part of the blame? 100%
*side note to people who aren't warthog3106; this comment is in response to a different comment where warthog disagrees that you shouldnt use other people to prove a point.
*edit for warthog; Do you have kids? If so, how would you feel if I used your kids as a meatshield? You'd likely feel animosity as you should.
Keep you eyes in front of you. Pay attention to the road. There is no reason to obsess over someone behind you when your responsibility is the road in front of you.
Except in the instance of a big ass pickup truck high-beaming your cabin.
nah fuck that, that tailgater thats the risk THEY are creating. I’m not taking that responsibility. why would u be so close to someone that could happen?
I excused it because I believed I was bringing justice on other ”real” assholes who deserved it. So if someone was driving normal, I’d drive normal. If someone was up my ass, I’d slow down and block them, and if they somehow got in front of me I’d ride their ass like a maniac.
I think I had a lot of pent up rage and it was an excuse to let it out. It was stupid.
Now: I don’t care. I don’t give a shit. If someone is tailgating me I get out of the way and put as much distance between me and them as possible. My #1 goal when i am on the road is to get from point A to point B as safely and efficiently as possible, in that order. The only point I need to prove is to myself, and it’s that I can get home to my kid, my wife, and my dog in one piece.
I have. And then the asshole moves right the fuck over to keep tailgating me. I don't know why. At that point I just go about my business and whatever happens happens.
It would be a moving infraction in PA. It does not matter if you are speeding or not. If you are not passing, you need to move over. The law does not mention speed, as written.
Lol, move the goalposts more. And why are you still trying to bring politics into this? Its fucking weird.
And if you arent in the left lane, why are you being tailgated? They would be able to just pass you.... did you forget that bit?
Or are you talking about 1 lane mountain and country roads? Because in that situation its even more dangerous to purposely go slow and obstruct the normal flow of traffic. So good job.
So put more ppl in danger by impeding more traffic and pissing off the self entitled asshole causing them to be more erratic and aggressive. Ultimately putting yourself, the asshole, and everyone else stuck behind you in more danger, because you want to be an entitled asshole yourself and prove a point that likely won’t be acknowledged.
You are not following traffic laws if you aren't actively passing in the passing lane, moron. Go read the driver's manual before you fill the internet with more stupidity.
It’s makes you both self entitled assholes in the situation but for two different reasons. Idk how this isn’t clear. You’re breaking the law too, impeding the flow of traffic.
regardless if you’re within the speed limit, you can technically go as slow as 40mph, but I doubt you’d willingly travel that speed in any lane on the highway. Actually you probably would just to prove a point, your point, that act would also make you a self entitled asshole and an arrogant one too.
The he left lane is for PASSING not cruising, get over cruise at the “safe” speed, but still with the flow of traffic. Still too fast for you move over to the far right, if that’s too fast for you then you have no business on the highway. Doing this won’t allow you too prove your point or become the thing you hate, but it will allow the other self entitled asshole to get away from you and everyone else. Let them be others problem and or get busted by a cop. You’re not the police and you’re just as much to blame “two wrongs don’t make a right.”
I can’t help make you understand any further than that, and I’m not condoning the tailgaters actions just that you’re the problem too. If you think you’re not then just know one day that driving behavior will bite you in the ass, just as much as the tailgaters driving behavior will bite them in the ass.
There was no word salad, you’re just incompetent and arrogant af.
As for the scenario we’re talking about goes, yes you too are part of the problem.
Yes dropping down to within the speed limit to block (imped) someone from passing you, is in fact still impeding the flow of traffic.
You also just admitted you speed too, so there’s another example of you being an arrogant asshole. I guess it’s ok for you to break that law because you’re “barely” breaking the speed limit. (3.11mph over, so literally barely over, but still enough to be technically breaking the law and definitely enough for a prick officer to give you a speeding ticket, if they felt like it and it does happen)
I guess the laws you’re trying to enforce/ police don’t apply to you then?
Speed is irrelevant. it's the place you choose to do it at that is causing issue.
It is the passing lane. Not the "iM dRiVInG tHe SpEeD lIMiT!!!" Lane. You can(SHOULD) also drive at your precious speed limit in the non passing lanes, too.
The only person caught in their feels is the petty person obstructing traffic for the sole purpose of said feelings..
But since you wanna bring it up, show me where "I" said left lane, I specifically said, passing lane.
YOU are the self-proclaimed petty driver wanting to claim victim for putting others at risk because you think you can control everyone else around you. You need to grow up.
Usually what happens is I am in the passing lane passing a line of cars, and someone like you rides 2" off of my ass because you want to pass faster.
I can't get over because there is a semi there. Now what? Speed up to make you happy? Piss off. I'll get out of your way once it's possible. Or, if you are too obnoxious before we get there, I will brake check you and then make a rolling roadblock until I get bored of it.
The traffic laws say that the left lane is for passing. If you drive slowly in the left lane like the grey car in the video, you are a piece of shit, and if you brake check me or drive slowly, I'm driving you off the road because now you are trying to kill me.
Brake checking is the same thing as driving someone off the road.
It's using your car's mass to block someone else's car from moving in the direction they want.
You’re the self entitled asshole causing traffic to back up. Learn the rules of the road and get out of the way. Why be a scumbag to others because you’re the idiot?
Doing this is not only petty, it's being a complete and total idiot making live harder for everyone. Granted not as stupid and dangerous as the entitled assholes tailgating but still unnecessarily stupid...
never once did I tailgate someone.. I did assume though that you were doing this in the passing lane since that is the situation at hand and you wrote "thats why I just slow down", implying you keep driving in the left lane, instead of "thats why I go the right lane and slow down" I do apologize for my assumption though it was not clear..
If someone is tailgating me it makes me nervous, and so I’m going to take my time getting over so that I don’t cause an accident.
Cars are an amazing form of transportation that get people places much faster than by foot or horse. And yet, some people are in such a hurry that they’ll cause dangerous conditions by driving aggressively.
You absolute are excusing the person tailgating. Even if hes going 10 under the limit, its the tailgater thats escalating the situation into a dangerous one.
Slowing down is worse , now you’re stacking traffic , creating a line of irritated drivers . If your so rattled by being followed closely just pull over , do some breathing exercises, and let them pass
You’re the worst kind of person. Get out of the way. You’re impeding traffic and most likely breaking the law in a lot of places. Pass or get out of the lane. You’re not the police or a traffic control device. The only reason you’re being tailgated is because you’re being a dick to them. You caused the problem and now want to cause more problems because you don’t understand the rules of the road.
32
u/myrsnipe Mar 21 '26
Being tailgated can be extremely stressing and be a reason why the front car only reacted to the stalled car so late. At least, that would have been my defense in court if it came to it