Tailgating--Highway Safety

Aclone

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2007
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Des Moines, Ia.
Watching a program on the History Channel about the Autobahn a couple of weeks ago, I learned that the Germans consider tailgating to be a serious traffic crime, with a variable fine scale depending on your income. Indeed, apparently one wealthy German businessman was handed a 20K fine not long ago.

Well, I hopped onto I-80 this morning, and it wasn't long before I noticed that the wealthy German had an American soulmate--guy in a white sedan was riding about a car length from my back bumper. I was in the middle lane (heading into Des Moines), and going about 67, so I let off the gas so he would get the hint and back off or go on past--the right lane was occupied, but the left was open.

Well, after about a mile of this, with me getting more and more annoyed, finally the guy slid over in the left hand lane to go past. And as he did, I noticed on his front license plate that little Sherriff's symbol--sure enough, when he went on past, I saw it clearly on the back plate. Dunno if he was Polk County, but someone from the Sherriff's department in an unmarked car was tailgating me on the Interstate. That just pleased me to no end, I can tell ya.
 

michaelrr1

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2006
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WDM
Cops will do that on purpose, hoping you get annoyed and speed up. Then they pull you over.
 

keepngoal

OKA: keepingoal
Staff member
Bookie
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 20, 2006
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he was tailgating to read your plate, type and make of car.
 

Flag Guy

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2007
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Yeah drives me nuts when people do that

Even more so when it's a cop