Tailgating is aggressive behavior.
I watch these tailgaters in the passing lane, tailgating someone 9 cars from the front. What good does that do? At best, the jerk could only hope to get the driver he is tailgating to tailgate, too.
So, now the onus for road rage is on the driver who has crossed paths with a person who can’t control him/herself? Um, yeah.
I agree.
I especially hate being the one in the passing lane, not blocking it but in the process of passing someone, but I'm not going quite fast enough for Aggressive Alfred (or Alfreda) there behind me.
If no one is in front of me, then I'm going as fast as I feel is safe (and that is usually at least a bit above the posted speed limit). If there are vehicles in front of me, then I am most definitely going as fast as I feel is safe. I am not going to tailgate the person in front of me. That is definitely not safe.
This is most especially annoying when the vehicle we are all trying to pass is an 18-wheeler. Believe me, I am getting around that vehicle as quickly as I can. I am not going to speed up because Aggressive A behind me is riding my back bumper!!
>>So, now the onus for road rage is on the driver who has crossed paths with a person who can’t control him/herself? Um, yeah.<<
In a very real way, yes. I believe the legal term is “mitigating circumstances”.
>>Tailgating is aggressive behavior.<<
Yes, and like all aggressive behavior, it has its place. Even on the road. I’m a huge fan of Louie L’Amour novels about the old west. He writes them from the perspective of historical accuracy. Real men really do get aggressive when it is called for. They are willing to risk pissing off another man when the other man is infringing on his territory. Those are the “mens men” and the ones that get the girl. And this is actually true in real life today.
One place it is most definitely called for is on freeways with road hogs in the passing lane. I’m not talking about the guy that is passing another car, even relatively slowly, but the real road blockers, whether they are doing it intentionally or they are oblivious. And if flashing your lights at them doesn’t do the job, it is time to up the stakes. Is it risky? You bet. Life is risk.