The slow-down method seems the most gentle way to deal with a chronic tailgater, and I agree — those who only do it for a few seconds and then pass are not the problem.

On to the next annoying habit!

Likewise I don’t bother if all lanes are moving slowly.

How can I make someone tailgate? I don’t have control over their following distance. By slowing down, I give them the encouragement to pass.

Sometimes this even happens on suburban streets, where I will pull over to the curb to allow someone passing space.

I understand what you mean about people who seem to do the “give me a push” deceleration deliberately. But likewise, there needs to be some way to get rid of tailgaters (my biggest driving pet peeve). While some are not paying attention, others obviously do this as their normal driving style since you can see them do it to the next car.

Also I don’t speed up as they pass to race them, as I said I do so after they have moved on to the next victim, often the car ahead of mine.

Actually this is something I do (please don’t hurt me) as a technique. In the right lane, drivers are welcome to pass me. I do not chew tobacco, nor do I have a bumber sticker stating same. Some drivers, however, have a magnetic attraction to my bumper.

So I slow down, to encourage them to pass me if they are in so much of a hurry. If they don’t get the hint, I put on my hazard lights.

To me, a pusher is a tailgater, the driver in the rear who insists on “pushing” whatever car s/he is behind. While I realize any resuling accident is the fault of the rear driver, I’m not interested in car repairs and insurance claims.

So, Brett, if that annoying slow car is a teal Honda, then please wave when you go past!

And yes, once the tailgater has moved on to another victim, I will accelerate to normal speed.