I actually hit my brakes one time to get a guy off my bumper. But when I do it, I slam ‘em on for just the briefest instant. The idea is to get my nose to dive and the tail to lift way up so the guy is absolutely certain he’s gonna hit me. The guy almost went ff the road.
Most of the time I just let them pass or get out of their way.
BTW, in the case above, the tailgating was the last part of some ongoing harassment he was doing. If someone starts shooting at me, I don’t pull off. I ram their car.
I don’t do road rage at all anymore. I spent a few years commuting on the 495 Belway in DC. It cures you. Also, I carry concealed. So if a situation starts to evolve, I make sure to be the first to give a wide birth, pull off, let them pass or get away. I don’t want to have to shoot someone because they got upset with my passing them on the right after politely waiting fro them to move out of the left lane.
That area outside of Chicago where Chicago drivers and Indiana drivers have to share the same road is dangerous in all sorts of ways. I avoid it all together.
“....... If someone starts shooting at me, I don’t pull off, I ram their car.”......
Not a good idea there, Sparky. The shooter may have more bullets and can hit you many more times that your car can hit him. Best reconsider you potential response. (Just saying......Your life is worth a lot more than “momentary revenge”
I like my car too much to risk it. My preferred method is to just take my foot off the gas and coast, to a stop if need be, till they go around me. Pisses em’ off just as much but doesn’t put my bumper at risk. Plus it’s not an incitement if you wind up needing to talk to the cops, you were just slowing down to let them around you.
If he hits me, it is his fault and then we can play the game.