Drivers are the problem.
this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2025
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In my local experience, these are actually just profoundly incompetent. Hanlon's razor.
They tailgate because they are actually incapable of maintaining a following distance (you know the kind, when the road is empty they alternate between mashing the gas and driving well under the speed limit, and somehow if you're a passenger they're totally unaware that they are doing it even if they are not distracted, how it is possible to be this bad at gauging speed and distance I do not understand but these people do exist).
Then as their malfunctioning brain randomly processes that they want to go faster, they overtake, and since the lane is clear they mash the gas.
Then when they are done and they merge back, their brain performs a hard reset and they somehow drive slower than before they passed you. They do not notice. You pass them, and they are not looking distracted; the only explanation is that their brain is doing the simpsons-monkey-cymbals.gif.
I took an Uber a few months ago and the guy had apparently just learned to drive. The entire time he was always mashing either the gas pedal or the brake, so it was constant speeding up and slowing down. I tried to tell him that he could sometimes just have his foot on neither pedal to cruise and get a smoother ride, but he looked at me like I'd just grown another head.
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Love that gif:
I think this is also a psychological effect. Back in gym class, our teachers used to tell us that slower runners should pair up with fast runners for the 100m dash, because running behind someone pushes you to run faster. The same happens in traffic, where simply driving behind another car makes some drivers want to overtake it, even if they're not actually going faster. I also observe this effect when I cycle to work and feel the same urge when I'm behind someone else, until I remind myself that, sure I can push myself briefly to go faster, but do I actually want to maintain that speed afterwards? My usual answer is "no".
True, except it works both ways. The passed car also tends to speed up during/after being overtaken like it was some unforgivable insult.
I had a dude once tailgate me and honk at me for going 25 in a 35. I had just pulled out of a parking lot and was getting my bearings. It was a two-lane road. I was in the right lane. He finally went around me, and I gave him a dorky wave.
30 seconds later, he was in front of me at the next red light, so to be a dick, I honked at him.
Dude spent the next 10 minutes in front of me going like 10 miles per hour. I wasn't in a hurry, so I thought I'd just let that play out. Later, when I switched lanes to avoid a turn-only, he switched immediately after. I realized that he intended to stay in front of me driving slowly presumably until I got home.
So I eventually faked him out and lost him.
Dude wasted 10 minutes of his life proving some kind of insane point. He had a young daughter in the back seat. I feel bad for her.
When I see or meet anyone on the road that does anything stupid .... I avoid them like the plague.
I'm not sticking around to see if the other guy/gal is going to lose it and do something stupid that will either cause a minor accident ... or kill someone.
This is the smart move. Don't antagonize them, no matter how much they deserve it. It's not worth the risk.
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I agree why the heck are they in the middle lane when the slow lane is open, and yes I do like being angry so get the fuck over to the slow lane.
I’m convinced regular driving is not good for our brains. I am lucky to live without a car and I am a really relaxed person but it takes about a day driving before I start getting angry at other drivers again.
Switching to a walking commute is one of the best things I ever did in terms of stress reduction.
As it so happens walking at least half an hour a day is also good for your cardio-vascular system (according to a study that came out some years ago, it reduces the chance of cardio-vascular problems by 70%)
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Probably irritated that they're in the middle lane instead of keeping right expect to pass. (or left except to pass in countries that drive on the left).
One thing I don't like about NY, there isn't a stay-right law. It's actually a "use any open lane" law. Crazy.
Plus all the Stroads.
It's an indicator that the center lane driver is not paying attention. I want to be far away from drivers that are not paying attention.
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Yes I believe some people just want to always have something to be upset and angry about
A miserable existence ☹️
I used to have pretty bad road rage. Eventually decided I didn't want to be like that, and started driving the posted limit. Instant relief from stress and I enjoy driving now.
When driving is an activity to make up for constantly being late, you end up like the crazy tailgater. When you abide by limits, you end up like the person in front.
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