Tailgating

When did tailgating become the default driving practice? I remember having to deal with the occasional panicked nitwit who just had to get past me. Maybe his wife was in labor. Maybe his business was being robbed. I'm willing to look the other way on occasion.

But tailgating happens much more frequently today. Every time I get into a car, I'm tailgated. If it doesn't happen within the first three minutes of my drive, it's unusual.

I'm not a slow driver. I tend to push the speed limit, sometimes excessively, and yes, I have received my share of speeding tickets and warnings over the years. Yet, apparently, I'm not driving fast enough to be socially acceptable.

Think about what the tailgater is saying with his or her actions:

"I am so disgusted by your blatant and selfish refusal to exceed the speed limit, that I am willing to put my life and yours at risk in an effort to convince you either to drive faster or to pull over and get out of my way."

That's pathetic. If you're running late, it's not my fault. It's yours. Perhaps you should have left a few minutes earlier instead of creating a public menace. Your lack of planning shows poor discipline, and your lack of regard for the welfare of others should disqualify you from driving altogether.

Maybe the penalties for tailgating should be raised. First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: loss of license for 30 days. Three plus: loss of license for a year. Blatant re-offenders get jail time. Maybe a schedule of harsh penalties would inspire more civility on our already too dangerous roadways.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved