A few years ago there was a guy in a delivery van right on my **** at a stoplight. He had been close back there while traveling down the road too. Problem was that the instersection was also on a hill, but not steep enough to need the emergency brake to start off with. Well, the car rolled back a few inches when starting off and "BOOM!" it got a little love tap from that nit-wit. Called the cops and filled out an accident report. He got a ticket and went to court to complain. The judge told him that he was "following too close" at 6 inches regardless of whether I technically backed into him. GUILTY: $75 plus costs. It was sweet! All that over a dime-sized spot on my bumper that you really can't see.

 

Re: following distance. Here in the land of rude and drunk drivers, anything more than 3/4 carlength will get you another car in your lap, quickly. It is an inferiority/ superiority thing. There can't be that many mental defectives with drivers licenses, can there?

 

Wanna bet?

 

But you're in Moo Nexico! Try NJ or DC!

 

What really honks me off is the tailgater inches from your back bumper at a stoplight and his windows are open with the sound system on bass and turned up to infinity!!! My car sits there and shakes. Grrrr.


06MCS/DS/B/Bbonnetstripes/Whalen8ballshiftmachine

 

You need a little James Bond button to eject a fart smell back at the person!

 

Maybe someone should talk to Moss MINI about such an accessory. I would get it.

 

The rear foglight switch can sometimes be helpful when someone chooses to follow too close.

 

Theres an idea!!

 

They aren't THAT bright.

 

One story-probably urban legend-was mounting aircraft landing lights facing backwards. I'm sure in court that would turn out to be a bad idea. It's fun to imagine things, though. Meteorites, giant pterodactyls carrying cars away, push bars.

 

seriously, by being an inch away from the next bumper doesnt save any more time as at a safe and courtous distance. Also those people who roll towards you even though the light is still red. and then they stop abruptly because it didnt turn green and they are about to run into you.

 

My concern is retribution for reporting the dude. Let the a**hole go by. (Then turn on the brights and driving lights)

 

What, the rear fog, or the following drivers?

 

Yes

 

They're pretty bright; they're brighter than the tail lights.

 

Your story of getting justice from the police made me smile. I wish police were a little more proactive as far as tail gaters go.

 

I'll figure something out. That's why I love riding in my husband's police car. No one tail gates him, everyone lets him in, and we get such a laugh out of seeing people quickly hang up their cell phones and/or buckle their seatbelts. They don't even notice that he's an animal cop!

 

This is great! A ticket, that rocks. In Miami the cops wouldn't bother. They're all too busy guzzling Cuban coffee.

I too see people speeding past cops on the highway, and they do nothing!

Ken

 

I've been known to run my windshield squirters/wipers for an extended time to splash the tailgater behind me on the freeway. It's sort of funny to see some one react to that in their shiney clean car. Of course, it is a waste of the fluid, but a little laugh on my part is better than getting my blood pressure up!

 

Just thought of something. When I first got my car it occurred to me that the big pickups (there are lots here in New Mexico) tended to want to intimidate (drive too close etc.).

When switching my insurance from my Prius to my MCS the agent asked if the car had daytime running lights (it does if you program it in). Choosing to get the lowest rate possible on my insurance I said yes then promptly went out and programmed it in. I was going to do it anyway since my car is so small I want to maximize the probability of bigger vehicles seeing me.

It occurs to me that since I've been driving with the daytime running lights I've had no sense at all of the big guys trying to intimidate.

.. Food for thought ..

 

So DRL in front stops tailgaters? How?

 

I don't think the DRL in front does anything at all to stop tailgaters.

But the tail lights are also on when DRL is programmed in. 'nuf said.

 

Are you sure? I know of no other car that has it's tail lights on with DRL. In fact, I would find that more dangerous as it cuts down contrast in daylight with the brake lights.

 

I've had some very scary experiences with tailgaters (not in the MINI), so I love the fact that one actually got what was coming to him/her. It does seem like people like to get really close to the MINI, though - I tell myself that they are just trying to get a closer look to admire it to keep myself from getting agitated. I then find the best chance to let the b*stard pass me!

Nope, I had DRL's on my old vehicle and on my MINI and the tail lights definitely do not run unless they are turned on with the regular lights. I think it might even say somewhere in the owner's manual that the DRL's are the high beams at a lower intensity.