"well, if your husband has split-second reactions and your car is nimble, and FAST....(just trying to look on the bright side:)"

Oh, he does! However, the last time was during a long drive on the interstate. Problem is, IF we had an accident, it would've been HIS FAULT!

Wide space includes what I am sure had to be a line on say, "Friends" (tho I have never watched it)... line being "you're in my personal space".

Personal space.

Personal space.

Personal space.

Means a lot of things. Physically, mentally, intellectually (tho that usually means the opposite), spiritually. I have never actually said that because it sounds too cliche', but I project the hell out of that perimeter idea regardless which for me is pretty wide. I have all kinds of defensive techniques when driving too, some of which annoy the hell out of people, like, going the speed limit.

By the way, I support tailgating. Wha? Yes, if someone wants to get that close to my hydrocarbon emissions, I can only assume they are getting a higher concentration of really bad things. I say, go ahead. Thins the heard. Given a chance, I tell people that too. They don't like it when they hear "thins the herd" because it means them if they are or have been guilty of this. I like seeing their reaction though because it is usually really entertaining. And I then tell them that too. Then they get mad because they then don't like being the unwilling entertainer of my entertainee. It usually ends up in an endless cycle because no one will ever win in the off top of head spur of the moment tet to tet quips department.

Tailgating is also good because it gives me a chance to go the speed limit, and it drives people nuts. I act like I am oblivious, which I am not, and usually get some pretty bad stares. But I also know when to challenge people to a public race, when I know there is a high probability of police out patrolling. This has worked several times, to go the speed limit until the right moment when I 'wake up' and move out of the way, to have the aggravated party race past into a speed trap.

Having said that, I don't support tailgating because it is dangerous, and reminds me of how asleep and aggressive this place is and its people are. But if someone is going to do it.... thins the herd. As long as it doesn't include my herd.

Also also, I have several times ended up writing a ticket on someone. Yes, a citizen can write a ticket against another person, at least in these parts. One first has to demonstrate to a police officer that you have your story very straight, told with calm and not retribution. If one makes a correct case, I have had police offices hand me their 'book' and I write out the ticket with the assistance of the officer. The officer then goes and serves the person stipulated on the ticket. This thus makes the second point of aggravation for the commit-ter of an offense. The first being whatever they did. The third moment lasts several weeks, while the person has to stew about it because they are now ordered to appear in court. The fourth moment of aggravation for the sinner is court. I need to go too, and if I don't, it is dropped. If I do and they don't, a bench warrant is issued and their problems get worse. If they do and I can lay out my complaint, the judge has always sided with me, and levies some kind of fine, usually negotiated down. Knowing not to take most bad driving personally, or that I can pursue the person via a civilian ticket and court, creates a little measure of comfort. A little. Lots of b**eh**ds out there.

By the way, because of my actions a few years ago, where two of those b**eh**ds threatened me with their vehicle, instead of reacting in fear or anger, I recorded everything. They pulled into a supermarket parking lot, I had one of the first digital cameras and proceeded to photograph their entire vehicle, incl license plates, a police office happened by, I explained what happened, and presented the images, the office ran the plates which turned out to be stolen and the criminals apparently bad people, they circled the wagons, and got 'em. Don't get mad I say. Get aware. Like Wombat's husband.

Lots of useless summation and information above.

Wombat, I am glad you and the Mr. are ok.