Why do some cars follow you?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Canadianhauler21, Oct 24, 2018.

  1. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    The Sticks, Idaho
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    How about that one and only car on the interstate at 3 a.m. that blows your doors off doing 90 mph and disappears down the road in front of you... Then 30 mins later yo come upon him going 5 under the limit, so you pass him... But about the time your tandems are beside his car he all of a sudden decides he wants to do the same speed as you, and wont let you back over. This happens to me at least once a month... Drives me nuts!!!!
     
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  3. Stinky Dairy Air

    Stinky Dairy Air Light Load Member

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    I had the same thing happen to me last me last week and after all that the mother F'r got off on the first exit. At the time I was thinking "what the hell? Did I land in Indiana somehow? ". lol
     
  4. Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    Top ten reasons why a 4 wheeler hides
    Behind a truck.
    #1. What's the safest place on the American highways.
    Answer, 50 yards behind a 18 wheeler.

    #2. If there speeding the truck will get pulled
    over first.

    #3. There drinking and driving and don't
    want to be noticed by cops.

    #4. Ther smoking a joint and don't want
    To be noticed by cops.

    #5. There moving drugs and don't want to
    Be noticed by cops.

    #6. There talking and texting and don't
    Want to be noticed by cops.

    #7. They have a hard time seeing at night
    And it's east to follow a truck.

    #8. There drivers license is suspended or
    They have no insurance and don't want to
    be noticed by cops.

    #9. If there's anything to be hit,the truck is
    going to plow right thru it,saving their ###.

    #10. They just don't want to be bothered
    and don't feel like fighting the traffic.
    They know every one will go around them
    and the truck.
    (I do this one myself all the time in my car).
     
  5. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    Charlotte, N.Carolina
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    some people are pack drivers. must be among others or they can't maintain speed.
    they just can't drive without someone in front to lead.
     
  6. John A.

    John A. Light Load Member

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    Montgomery, MI
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    My pos car doesn't like driving 80, and I'm not in any kind of hurry. I'm always hanging out in the right lane if I have to take the highway. Not tailgating though, I like lots of room.
     
  7. RustyBolt

    RustyBolt Road Train Member

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    Bement, IL
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    Before I started driving a truck, if I came up on a truck at night that was running close to my speed, I would stay behind it. And I will even do the same in my truck now. Especially if it's a company truck. It's one reason I've only ever hit one deer in my 30+ years of driving. Got to watch 6 or 7 get blasted by vehicals in front of me though.
     
  8. thelushlarry

    thelushlarry Road Train Member

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    glasgow ky
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    I always thought the cars that followed me was women. They saw how handsome I was and wishing to meet me.
     
  9. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    Nov 23, 2012
    Yukon, OK
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    To differentiate human beings from all other biological life forms it's said we are tool makers or that we have language. Turns out we may not be unique in those respects. There's something else we have in common with other animals. By definition we are competitive pack animals.

    This explains a lot about driving behavior. Notice how frequently in moderate or even light traffic everyone bunches up. It's the pack instinct. Nobody wants to run alone. It's the fear of predators. In the case of drivers that would be the police.

    Once folks get bunched up in a pack, then the competitive side comes out. Pack leaders don't want to get passed. So they initiate a pass and slow down to match speed with whoever they are passing, in order to block anyone from "taking their space". Once they ease forward enough for another competitive pack animal to squeeze through they accelerate hard to block that pass on the right until they overtake another slower vehicle, another blocking opportunity. Big rigs are THE favorite blocking opportunity.

    Obviously the behavior of a competitive pack animal is the OPPOSITE of safe driving. This is why you should be aware of your OWN tendency to do these behaviors and avoid them. It's also why as a professional driver you must be aware of these unchecked instincts around you and take counter measures to avoid getting stuck in a pack with rising road rage and other idiocy.
     
  10. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Michigan
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    Had one pass me this morning, he has his phone on windshield mount watching a movie. He passed me and I could see he was watching Stripes. I wish a cop was around.

    I had them follow me into a weigh station before.

    I have a driver who does escorted loads, very high value stuff. His escort hangs back about a truck length or two. Recently he was on one load just moving along at a good clip just leaving the shipper. Some clown flew up in the next lane, passed the escort and parked his ***** right behind the truck, another one flew by him and got in front of him. They tried to hijack the truck, the escort acted quickly by stopping it.
     
    Jaebo74, James j and Lepton1 Thank this.
  11. WildTiger1990

    WildTiger1990 Heavy Load Member

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    Apr 21, 2015
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    Right now it's cause most new cars have more advanced cruise control where car will simply follow another vehicle ahead at certain distance, people so lazy now to change lane so they just prefer to stay behind some slow truck and let cruise control do it's job
     
    magoo68 and Lepton1 Thank this.
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