If I'm in a mood, I slow down a bit until they get ticked off enough to pass me. Otherwise, who cares? They're the ones with the corn-cob up the *** because I drive 5 MPH above the speed limit. And if they bump me, good! My rear bumper is faded to heck and I'd love a brand new one. I hit a deer a few years ago. Did $1400 damage to the driver's side. I ended up with a new paint job, replaced rusted body panels...all for free. That's the nice thing about having full insurance protection on an 18-year-old car.
--
Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 215,000 miles (give or take)

I am not too surprised at one persons response of "Stay out of the so-called "fast lane"!--I think many do not realize that the so called "fast lane" is NOT to be able to go faster than the posted speed limit in that lane---the maximum speed limit is the same in ALL lanes--if a you or a bunch of traffic is unable to keep moving at the maximum posted limit, then those peeps should endeavor to move to their right lanes-but if the speed limit is say 65mph-then doing 65 mph in the "fast lane" is correct-any faster--you can get ticketed---the one who honks his horn at you to move over when you are doing the speed limit is the one who is violating the law--HOWEVER--there is also the reality that regardless of "The Law" -there are so many jerks on the road who think they should write the rules-it really is best to just move over when you can---"road rage" is no joke. I do the typical things when I cannot move over--flash the brakes --I also turn on my bright rear red "fog tail lights"-- that seems to have an effect also--(I know not all bricks have that rear bright red fog light)--I also have a bumper sticker that says "I BRAKE FOR TAIL-GATERS!"--of course, in my area, I would need that printed in 3 or 4 different languages. Any of these little tricks will not work on the raging ass that is intent on making his statement---it ain't worth it to fight them--just try to get out of their way--if you are REAL lucky, maybe you will see a cop on their tail-(surrre- you will!! NOT!)---BTW--the ol' "Stay with the flow of traffic" thing--that won't get you out of a ticket--I was doing about 75 on a posted 65mph freeway--one lone CHP in a Mustang stopped a "group" of about 7 of us--"going with the flow"--we ALL were ticketed--:o(--at least I was not tailgaiting anyone)--we were all speeding-we got what we deserved---

Windshield washers (actually recommended by a professor at the Skip Barber Performance driving School).

This presumes that you have not appointed yourself "speed police" and are not blocking traffic at 63mph in the left lane where the speed limit is 65. In which case you should be publicly hanged, drawn and quartered yourself. And then punished severely.

Considering that the newest 240s are now almost 10 years old, and considering the number that are seen spewing all kinds of liquids and gases and even body parts onto the roadway, following an old rustbucket 240 would be deterrent to many tailgaters all by itself.

Years ago I had a winter beater that used ALOT of oil and it'd smoke alot if I feathered the gas and noticed that no one would then tailgate me.
I had another car which was pre-cat convertor and had true dual exhaust straight back so I made a "smoke machine" for those special occasions when you're already going faster than all other traffic, plenty of passing room, etc YET some jerk still wants to ride your tail.
I used a spare WW resevoir, filled with ATF, an old electric fuel pump and a momentary on switch. On demand, I'd hit the switch and it'd pump ATF into the intake manifold and the smoke was incredible, like an instant cloud blowing out two tailpipes. Trust me, the times I used it the tailgators dissappeared probably thinking that my engine blew.
I later tryed the device on a newer car but those with cat. convertors burn the oil too efficiently and one could damage the cat too so such a device only works well with older, pre-cat cars (pre-'75 in the US).
One can always slam on the brakes but with road-ragers or family members inside, that might not be a good idea.

Like JohnB@Mac, I'm wondering what YOU'RE doing that attracts tailgaters. From my experience (like, EVERY day), it's usually slow traffic that won't get over to the slow lane that attracts tailgaters

Where I live, we're almost outnumbered by immigrants who all seem to have gotten their drivers licenses in raffles. Confession time, guys. My daily commute is lengthy; when I get stuck behind some diminuitive driver who doesn't understand or speak English and is in a car far too big for him/her to manage, and s/he thinks everyone has to drive in the passing lane regardless of speed (or lack of it), I confess I get up close, flash the overtaking indicators, flash the headlights . . . and then usually have to undertake. What else can you do? So may drivers are oblivious to other people on the road - and they get up my nose!

Now I'm off to say three "Hail Mary's" as part of my self-absolution
--
JD - '91 940 turbo wagon on 89k and 225/50/R16's (plus some Honda-land stuff)

My experience has been that those who complain the most are the law abiding upstanding anal retentive dog in the manger self righteous self åbsorbed drivers who think that whatever speed they're going is good enough for everyone. Notwithstanding the right hand lane is empty and that people are passing on the right to get around the boulder in the stream.

That being said, it sounds like you're part of the problem. Get with the program, drive with the flow of traffic, and quit drawing attention to yourself with whatever antics you engage in that people tailgate you.

Besides, any deterrent you come up with will be met by my rocket launcher retaliation.

Wasn't there a thread about this a while back? :) Someone threw a gallon of water out the sunroof and other things like eggs and leaking cans of various fluids were suggested. I liked the idea to move the stick to the reverse light zone. My 700 reverse lights come on if you just move the stick over there, not when it's in reverse.
--
'90 744 tic

This thread should go into the FAQ!!!

When the oil seals on my 245T started failing, flooring the accellerator would produce a fine mist of oil out the tailpipe that was just the trick.

Do you have rear fog lights that you can flash? That, or a short tap on the brakes, hard enough to lift the rear end a bit (warn any passengers first).

What Volvo do you have? The older stick 240's have a nifty feature, too.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Spring loaded bumper? How about a row of those deer shinin' lights facing the back. I was actually thinking it would be handy to have a message that lights up on demand. Water balloons? Oil slick, like in that eighties video game?