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by J.P. Watson
In Washington, D.C., my home for forty years, traffic was a fact of life, terrible and unavoidable. Much of the traffic was bumper-to-bumper. You couldn’t drive down the street without finding yourself stuck behind a long line of cars—people going who knows where and at all hours of the day and night. The traffic was worse at rush hour, of course, when long lines of unmoving cars were the norm. But it was increasingly the case that every hour was rush hour. You had to figure traffic delays into every decision to drive anywhere. Consequently, there was nothing unusual about being stuck behind someone else, often within a few feet and not moving at all, and it was equally normal to have another car close on your tail sniffing your exhaust.
My wife and I moved to the Upper Valley five years ago. For the most part, traffic up here is refreshingly light, even on the interstate, where you can drive for miles without seeing another vehicle. Traffic is particularly light in areas like our lonely country road in West Fairlee. It’s rare to see more than three vehicles pass by our house within a 15-minute period. Most of the vehicles are pickup trucks, but there also are big rigs with rattling trailers carrying heavy machinery, logging trucks, and farm trucks hauling hay or cows. Occasionally, a car packed with humans whizzes by.
Now, I am not complaining. Three cars every 15 minutes is a delightful departure from the thick lines of cars clogging the streets of Washington, D.C.
But while tailgating goes with the territory in Washington, I have been surprised—shocked, even—that the practice is also common in our new home. Just last night, for example, we were rolling down the mountain on Rte. 113 in Thetford, my wife at the wheel. She kept the car in 3rd gear and stubbornly, defiantly, refused to speed up or apply the brakes. The idea, in fact, was to continue the descent using engine power alone and without using the brakes. It was a matter of pride for her.
The driver of the pickup truck behind us was not impressed. Headlights flashing, he got within about 10 feet of our car. We could almost hear his shouts of anger and disgust as he approached, backed off slightly, then approached again, as if hoping to push us out of the way. My wire was unfazed. At the bottom of the hill, she shifted into 4thand the truck retreated, as if surrendering. The mad chase was over.
This was the latest but certainly not an isolated occurrence. Even on Vermont’s lonely two-lane byways, driver impatience is rampant. If the “prey” car is traveling at or slightly below the posted speed limit, invariably another “predator” vehicle will be hard on its tail, breathing down its rear fender. Oddly enough, I’ve noticed, the aggressive vehicle is often a pickup truck. This is not a criticism of pickup drivers, and in fact most of the vehicles on Vermont’s roads are pickups or Subarus. Don’t get me wrong. I have the greatest respect for truck drivers of all kinds. They are, for the most part, hard-working, law-abiding men with beards and baseball caps who expertly handle heavy machinery, earn an honest living, work long hours, and know how to get things done. It’s a rare breed seldom seen in Washington.
However, it seems that in their effort to get things done and go where they’re going, they become a bit overzealous behind the wheel and behind another vehicle going too slow. This is especially true around quitting time, when dinner and a beer await them at home. When they get behind some slowpoke in an old Outback going the speed limit or less, the slowpoke needs to be encouraged to hurry along. If you are that slowpoke, steadfastly refusing to brake or speed up to accommodate the *&^%#! riding on your tail, it can be an irritating, even frightening, experience. What to do? Speed up? Pull over? Slow down to prove you won’t be bullied? Flip a middle finger (never a good idea)?
In most cases that I have observed, this cat-and-mouse game continues until one of the players pulls into a driveway or side road, no harm done. But let us now consider the situation from the point-of-view of the pursuing vehicle. You are in your pickup, hurrying home, to the job site, or to dinner with your sweetheart. The road ahead is invitingly wide open …. except for that one dusty old Volvo that suddenly pulls out in front of you from a side road, ignoring the obvious fact there’s no one behind you and that he could have waited four seconds to let you go by!
The tide has turned. You are now the predator, prevented by ONE slow-moving prey vehicle from getting quickly to your destination. Peering ahead of the Volvo, you see there are no cars in front of it. Irritated, you speed up behind the laggard in hopes of hurrying it along, coming as close to its rear as possible without actually making contact, which you would like very much to do were it not for insurance complications and laws against that sort of thing. You switch on the brights. You lean on your horn. You approach within inches, then pull back, then approach again. Surely the driver will get the message and either speed up or move over. And yet the guy either can’t or won’t respond, ignoring your advances and defiantly creeping along at the same sluggish rate. Road crews have thoughtlessly painted double-yellow lines the entire length of the way, so passing would be foolish or illegal, and even if you did pass, you know that the driver up ahead surely would report you.
Suddenly, as your better nature takes over, you are overcome by comforting waves of compassion as kinder thoughts enter your mind. It dawns on you that the other driver may be elderly and nervous, or young and overly cautious. Maybe his reflexes are slowed by age or disability, physical or mental. Maybe he’s terrified by the hazards of driving. He sees no need to go faster. Speed kills, they say. Gunning it to satisfy the guy behind him might get him to his destination a few minutes sooner—or not at all.
The driver being chased is fully aware that the fellow breathing down his tailpipe is angry and impatient. So be it. He’s probably a good chap, a hard-working farmer or mechanic simply frustrated and anxious to move along. Let him fume for a few more minutes. Road rage is for fools. The whole thing will soon be forgotten, no harm done, and when predator and prey arrive at their destinations, chances are they’ll both be alive.
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Categories: Commentary
Unbeknownst to most citizens, including the author, is that it is LEGAL to pass on a double-yellow line in Vermont, as long as the pass can be made safely.
I’ve heard that many times over the years…
Actually holds true in most states, to be enforceable needs to be posted on each end as ‘No Passing Zone’
My biggest problem with other drivers lies with the drivers that after they pass, immediately jam back in front of you when there is not another car in sight ! I 89, and I 91 are not exactly I 4 around Orlando, probably the craziest place to drive I’ve ever driven ! Maneuvers like that are not necessary on I 89, or I 91. And it doesn’t seem to matter to these same folks that when the road is snow covered, or wet from rain, that when they perform ths maneuver, it temporarily covers your windshield, leaving you momentarily blinded . After all is said and done, give me the Tin Shack Road in Lewis, or the Velco Line road from Luenenberg to the Canadian border over any of the aforementioned roads any day !
One of Vermont’s worst? VT Rte.114, located in the beautiful NEK. If the unexpected deer, moose or turkey doesn’t get you, now it’s crazed druggies passing 3 people on a blind curve. Oh, yeah, not to mention the one lane train underpass. Someone on your @$$?, I pull over. And say, have at it… YOU run blocker 😆
Many years ago, as a delivery person, I asked someone that moved here from Connecticut, how they liked it here. She said “ fine except for the horrible drivers”. I told her that it might have been someone that just moved here from Connecticut. She shut the door and went inside.
😂🤣
LOL ! They do seem to bring their driving attitudes along with the rest of their baggage .
I’m sorry but if you don’t like to be tailgated then stop playing cop to mange other’s speed and pull over. There is nothing that says you can’t just pull over and get out of their way to get a ticket. Oh that’s right the cops don’t write tickets unless your doing 100mph…..
Always let them get around me particularly if I am out in front, calling them a ‘decoy’, they can get stopped or it a deer
Ron, I agree. If I see I am the lead float in a parade, I pull over at my next safe, place to conviently do so. Other than that, given road conditions, I”m almost allways within a couple of MPH of the posted speed limit, so I’m sorry, you are waiting for the next passing zone, get over it .
AMEN! That is what I do, I just pull over when someone is tail gaiting me. Let them go – what is the big deal? Too many control freaks trying to control everyone at their too-slow speed. In VT it is either a curve, a hill, or a chance to pass but traffic coming the other way so you can’t. So the chance to pass could go on for miles. All I get for comments are “Why do VTers drive so damned slow!” Maybe the author’s wife should set aside her “pride” which is not a good thing, and think that maybe someone needs to get somewhere. This is what the roads are for, just pull over – then drive any slow speed you want. And yes – in Vermont it is legal to pass on a double line if it is safe (obviously not a turn or getting to crest of a hill).
On many roads, you can’t pull over due to the hurricane ditches that have been dug and filled with rocks. Many of them are deep enough to put your car onto its side or frig up your undercarriage. You have to be particular where you can pull over.
I totally agree with Dan Alar “Many years ago, as a delivery person”. MA drivers are the worse, they like driving in the left lane, and are ignorant of others. In a few states as I was in Alaska, if there”s seven vehicles behind you, it’s required you pull over and let them pass. Believe AR & MO they have similar laws. Often I’ll pull over and let people by if a line is behind me on smaller roads, just being respectful. On interstates when a trailer truck passes me, I’ll flick my lights to let them know they are clear to re-enter the right lane. They will flash their tail lights thanking me. I find truck drivers are the best, courteous, safety wise, helpful, friendly (at truck stops). The worse drivers are MA, CT, RI, NJ, NY. Being a pilot (instrument rated) I’ve developed an acute awareness of my surroundings while driving, front, rear, distances and an escape mode if a sudden problem arises. I don’t fall asleep. I’ve driven over 2 million miles since 1956 without any major problem, 49 continental states, nine Canadian Provence’s, and England. I’ve encountered people texting, on drugs people that shouldn’t be driving (some in the wrong direction on interstates).
Be safe and think.
Sorry somehow describing the Canadian Providences “4” got entered. The 9 are from the Yukon to New Brunswick and all those along the US border. To Ron “Always let them get around me”, we call them “Bear bait” watch them go and feel safe that the cop is occupied.
Have you ever encountered someone brushing their teeth while driving? Or maybe she was driving while brushing her teeth ? (:
So childlike and unsympathetic
What if the tailgater had an emergency? No one knows, it could be! But the A hole in front wont move over or wave on the other. What a POS! Without knowing their issue, they assume its nothing and inpede the driver behind. Perhaps theres an emergency at home? Doesnt matter. Perhaps an elderly person has incontinence…doesnt matter. MAYBE they are rushing to the ER, doesnt matter! The Ahole in front doesnt care. Is that you?
Sometimes people are unaware that someone is behind them as they look at the 17” computer on the dash and are trying to figure out how to turn the heater up another four degrees.
There’s also an insider Vermonter response to anyone tailgating… To slow down 5 mph per minute they do it… And finally pull over and give’em the two fingered wave as they roar by, kinda old school like, friendly, unfazed… And wish ’em a good day in their rush.
I’ve experienced only one road rage incident where the guy actually got out and came up to me… And I disarmed him with a smile, a laugh, and a shrug. I was lucky, but more that was God protecting me as I had no anger inside me to trigger. The big tuff drugged crazy guy was taken off guard… Unmanned. Smiles work if they are from the heart.
Oh and PS… The patronizing of trades people is beneath you urbanites come to live a life we were born into. We don’t understand you either. But we’ll wisely avoid road rage by letting Gary’s son Tim go buy as we understand he’s off work and his buddies are waiting… Or his girl is. Or lunch break is only half an hour and the boss is strict. He’s the only one working right now so his paycheck counts.
Pull over and let them pass with a friendly wave. It’s not road rage… It’s needing to get somewhere with a slowpoke in front of you. Been there, both sides.
Vermont roads all have pull over spots just for that purpose.
“Energy drinks” + Obliviousness = Conflict
Common sense is to get out of the situation by pulling over and relieve your own agitation. These days, there is no telling the mindset of people pulling stunts or looking to take someone out just for the fun of it. I see manuvers now that are absolutely crazy dangerous and I always remark – must be jabbed.
Must be jabbed is a good assumption. When i see a fool move in traffic I usually remark “Kamala voter”…
A good gripe session article except for the targeting of pickup trucks as culprits. I have been tailgated equally by pickups, Audis, Volkswagens and Kias. Everyone should maintain a safe following distance, and that is typically up to the car following. Safe following distance is determined by 2 factors, distance and speed. At higher speeds, there should be more distance to accommodate the reaction time. If you are the car being followed, you can’t adjust the following distance, but you CAN adjust the speed. If someone rides my ass, I slow down to the speed limit. If they persist, then I play games with the brakelights by lightly touching the brake while accelerating. That usually lets them know they are dealing with a crazy person.
Please don’t stereotype pickup drivers. You think we’re all stinky, dirty, greasy, deplorables? Pick up drivers come from all walks of life. And far too many talk smack about the hillbillies until they brake down or get stuck.
Break down
This was meant to be a lighthearted, whimsical observation about tailgating, which happens all over the world. I chose a pickup only as an example of a vehicle stuck behind a slowpoke, which I described randomly as a Volvo. They are cartoon characters and not intended to be taken literally, as so many commenters seem to have done.
Perhaps you missed this part of the article:
“I have the greatest respect for truck drivers of all kinds. They are, for the most part, hard-working, law-abiding men with beards and baseball caps who expertly handle heavy machinery, earn an honest living, work long hours, and know how to get things done. It’s a rare breed seldom seen in Washington.”
In NO WAY did I suggest or do I think pickup drivers are stinky, dirty, greasy deplorables.” That’s your characterization. I sincerely like and admire pickup drivers. In fact, I am currently shopping for a pickup truck!
Vermont state vehicle: 4×4 pickup truck! 😀 (wouldn’t think of living here without one)
Or need to get their driveways plowed .
To those who drive slowly, I know you can’t pull over due to the hurricane ditches filled with rocks on dirt roads and secondary roads. These were put in for flood concerns. If you drive into one, you are on your side or you have no undercarriage left. This society has to learn some patience.