Freaking Out

Some tailgaters to are just harried, running late for work, not thinking. It's not all intentional.

As Dylan said: "I wouldn't pay him any mind".

 

Big Cars, big trucks, and computers. The 3 things that "tough guys" and bullies can hide behind.

I thought this was funny....

And look at these CRAZY guys!! They call it... "Prius Repellant." It's terrible, but I had to laugh. Some people must be bored to death!!

 

You sound truly uncomfortable in your new car. So can we have an update? What might (or have) you decided on?

 

Are you from a soccer mom van?

No matter what kind of car you're driving you still get those road bullied. When driving my other cars like Mercedes-Benz E350, CLA250 or even Metris Van I'm getting those idiots on my tail every time.

About blinding from behind is the same with ALL passenger cars with the regular high seating position (need to bend over to get in). It's better with higher seating positions (need to climb in) from van, suv, truck, ... Even with my Mercedes-Benz Metris I still sometimes got blinded from those monster trucks way, way, way off the ground.

 

I use to say, and think the Prius road bullying phenomena was overblown and overstated.
But after 3 years of Prius ownership and now a change back to a Honda Fit, I have to say it does exist to varying degree.

As far as problem number 2?
Well if you correctly adjust your side mirrors...SEE YOUTUBE would be the easiest way, and make use of the tilt rear view mirror..then the lights from vehicles at night shouldn't be a big issue.

I would also add this.
I don't know what you drove before The Prius C, but there is a bit of adjustment and "illusion" when you go from a sedan or regular vehicle with a trunk to a hatchback.

I think because a hatchback simply has the window...and no gap or space created from the presence of a trunk to the rear bumper...vehicles at first just appear to be closer to you than they did if you drove a sedan.

In 2010 I went from a Honda Accord to a Honda Fit..and at first I thought everyone was tailgating me. But I think it was just the difference between looking out a rear window with a trunk buffer zone, vs looking out a hatch window with nearly no distance behind it.

As far as people bullying you on the road?
Well idiots will be idiots. Don't know what you do about that, except learn to ignore them.

I hope you can learn to enjoy your Prius C, I think it's a great vehicle. It would be a shame if you felt forced to change because of "idiots" and an issue that should be addressable.

 

While everyone definitely isn't intentionally tailgating, following too close is way too prevalent. In rush hour I'd speculate the majority of drivers have compromised the "2 second" rule. This increase accidents, the number of vehicles involved in the accidents, and the severity.

I can recall an experience of severe, protracted tailgated one time, and finally the car happened to pull up beside me at a light. It was a middle aged woman driver, with a harried, I'm-late-for-work look. From her demeanor, her eyes, I'm sure she had no idea what had been going on; she was just (irrationally) trying to get herself somewhere, faster.

Another incident, I was in the right lane, but need to turn left soon. Check my left side mirror, there was a good space in the left lane, one car, but way back. I signaled a left and started a lane change, gradually. The car at the back of that left lane space practically squatted under hard acceleration, trying to close the gap. I continued moving into the lane, they slammed on the brakes and leaned on the horn. It was another middle aged woman driver, btw.

There seems to be a lot of misplace frustration and desperation, boiling over on our roads. We need some Zen or something, lol.

 

I'm NOT saying people don't tailgate....in fact I was rear ended in my 2010 Honda Fit...at a complete stop, the girl behind me just didn't see the light.
All I'm saying if if you are use to the view out of the back of sedan, with a trunk?

There is an perspective adjustment to driving a hatchback, where the rear window isn't buffered by the distance to the end of the car being extended by a trunk.
Took me a while to realize everyone wasn't tailgating me.

I would agree, that in the driving world far too many people do not follow the rules and drive too close.

 

Yeah I like the 3 or 4 second rule; it has a lot of benefits. First, obviously: your chances of plowing into someone are greatly reduced. Second, it's friendlier: anyone needing to change lanes has an opportunity. Third, it allows you to stay off the brakes a lot more, one of the cornerstones of better mpg.

 

in california the 3-4 second rule is enough space for someone to cut in front of you. it sucks. You're luck if you get 1 car length

 

Not really. That's actually my intention.

 

1. If someone tailgates me and I get fed up with it, I put my high intensity rear fog lights on. That usually works to get them to back off or overtake.
2. I am hoping that as DRCC becomes more common, the tailgating will reduce, as a car will keep a safe distance automatically when using DRCC.
3. I think cars should be fitted by law with a device that warns the driver if he it's driving to close to the vehicle in front. Maybe the device should also keep a log of driving too close for insurance purposes too. We have the technology and it could save lives as well as making driving less stressful for the sensible folk.
(I know the technology isn't foolproof and there would be a few false positives but most of the time it would be correct.)

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I have yet to figure it out. Have psychologists figured it out? Why do some people get so angry and frustrated when they get behind the steering wheel of car?

Cars, trucks, and computers. The bully's hiding place.

 

If the OP is still reading, one thing a new "I wanted a Prius" driver faces is the misgiving about how the car must be driven because many people do not open up the throttle. Treating this car like every other combustion beast is not antithetical to the benefits of having excellent mileage. Rather it does take learning when the gas burn is avoided on the car and driving for that.

I have phrases I use while driving. "Innappropriate level of light" for brights burnishers, and I flip down the rear view mirror. I have moves I use for habitual tailgaters (I do not feel picked on because they are speeders who are also lazy to change lanes). I either take the lane they refuse to take and watch them speed past, or I simply pull over (so what?) and after they pass they arent my priblem anymore. Doubling one's mileage per tank is an incentive to keep a car. Just drive normally. You probably did not notice the reckless driving offenders until now. And if you drive slow, you will have problems. There are many Prius cars on the road.

 

I have decades of experience driving the speed limit. Some folks get irritated, but they usually just pass me. Some ALWAYS follow closely, regardless of how fast they are driving. I think they are unaware of what they are doing.

 

I miss my old hatchback, and want another one, but the comments in this thread are warning me that I will have to readjust--I've been driving a sedan for a long time. But I am still curious about the OP's eye pain--does flipping to the night setting on the mirrors not work? Is the glare coming from somewhere else? I have the beginnings of cataracts, so glare control is important for me.

As for dealing with tailgaters: I drive on a lot of two lane roads, and I do pull over and let them pass. (Sometimes, at night, after they've passed, I immediately turn my brights on, but it's probably not waking them up to what they're doing, just giving me a moment of revenge.) However, if they get too close, or are too big, I slow down, and put on my emergency flashers. From my perspective, that *is* an emergency. I will slow to a full stop, if there's no way to pull over.

 

I'm not sure how these threads get started. I'm used to extremely high hp cars and driving in the DC Metro area is definitely a challenge. How do you have trouble keeping up with traffic? I've never had this issue in either of my priui or my underpowered ae86 and have never been road bullied. Are you guys driving in some ignorant manner that is pissing people off? I just don't get it.

 

The house has been broken into 3 times over the years.... and 3 or 4 incidents of attempt vehicle burgs/vandalism. And this is the nice part of town. I've chased a few thugs when I was younger (and stupider.)

Now that I'm older, and can't run or defend myself as well, I will definitely have some protection at home. (Cops take too long to get here.) I was laughing the other day, the Sheriff's helicopter was circling over the neighborhood and announcing: "Come out! Surrender yourself to the nearest deputy! If we send in the dog, it WILL bite you!" Just another average fun day in So Cal.

Lock & Load.

 

I think that would really make them mad. Intentionally stopping and blocking traffic?

 

You haven't seen bullies until one of them sees a woman riding a motorcycle that is not a harley davidson. That'd be me. Those pickup trucks will just about run you off the road and it is very scary.

 

Here's an example that happened just yesterday. In the parking lot of a Mall for crying out loud. I turned left into the mall parking lot. As soon as I get into the lot another car from way over comes zooming over to get in front of me to search for a place to park. He had no reason to do this, as I wasn't even going near the area he wanted to park. I was going to use the Mall parking lot to make my way to the other side of the Mall. Yeah, I know, how can I be sure it was because I'm driving a prius? Dont' know for sure, but it was at least the 5th time that day that someone chose to get "in front of me" no matter how fast I was driving. And earlier that same day, on the freeway, another nut ball was upset that a Prius was in front of him...............and I was driving faster than him!! So I finally moved over (after exceeding the speed limit over 15mph). Funny thing though, he had to really floor it to pass me, only to have to abruptly slow down for a traffic jam up ahead. Guess what kind of cars were in all 3 lanes ahead.........Prius'!!! Sweet justice!!