why do some drivers tailgate?

Hey there everyone. My husband of almost 36 years will NOT stop drafting big rigs. He says drafting saves gas. He’s not 50 feet away. He now drives a Prius which shows his average miles per gallon while he drives. Drafting does indeed give him more miles per gallon. The problem is me. I’m terrified about the possibility of slamming into the back of an 18 wheeler while going 75 miles per hour or any miles per hour. He will turn 70 years old in 2020. He learned drafting driving when he was in his 20s. He asked me to go online to find out why truckers don’t like tailgating. He is playing games with words like what’s the difference between tailgating and drafting. There will be an entire highway free to drive and he will still get behind a big rig. Do truckers care if it’s a tailgater or a drafter? He knows the tricks truckers use to get him to stop his driving behavior like pulling over to the side of the road a little to throw up rocks and debris. He doesn’t care how much truckers slow down below the speed limit. I hate the tailgating because I miss seeing the beautiful landscapes ahead. Do truckers know that he is drafting? Do they care if he is drafting. He does not care that his tailgating in order to draft is unsafe. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the message across using polite English?

 

Some guys used to mash the pedal while yanking the trolley on & off quick. After the smoke cleared the tailgater was usually back where he should be....

 

It is simple as this, drafting is not a motor vehicle term, it is a racing term. So if your husband joins NASCAR, he can say he is drafting. As far as any law enforcement officer he will be considered tailgating and/or reckless driving. Both are moving violations. But let's also forget about the legal aspects. At 70 his reflexes are extremely slow compared to when he was 20. I'd ask him this question. "Honey, is that few miles per gallon worth my life?" Because as was pointed out, if there is an accident with that truck, or he has to slam on his breaks, you are most likely going to be in a fatal accident as the trailer takes off your car's roof and your heads.

 

I had some bonehead in a POS "Tavern Car" follow me for 45 miles the other day.Several opportunities to pass me.

 

I saw a car tailgating a powder train southbound 15 coming into Bake, CA. The B trailer lost a left inside rear axle tire. The gator went across the hood of the car cut thru the windshield post like butter, 3 fatalities followed, the driver, and both passengers were decapitated from th gator also.

The way I got my other half to stop is I simply tell pull over let me I'll walk. Then I drive after that if were together,

 

They watch too much NASCAR

 

There is no difference.

Most know but some aren't paying enough attention to know you are there. That in itself should scare you.
I one thing I might say to him is that anything that goes wrong with that truck or trailer and it is a good possibility you will become part of the problem. For example: what if the trailer blows a tire and it hits your windshield? Please don't think the mudflap will stop it. In fact it's a good chance you could get hit by the flying mudflap.

 

Bet you buy a ton of windshields instead of gas.

 

Just idiots who are trying to save fuel, think they will make you go faster, or just too stupid to move over and pass.
I'll wait until passing an exit or two to see if they are getting off and if not, I just turn off the cruise and start slowing down. They usually end up passing by the time I get down to 50mph. Sad thing is nowadays most people don't actually see it as tailgating, they just see it as 'normal driving'. Pretty rare to see cars or trucks leaving an actually safe following distance on highways unless there is very little traffic. At 70mph, 3 seconds is about a football field.

Thinking of putting a sign on the back of my trailer with a switch to make it light up.
"Did you forget how to pass?"