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Tailgating warning

 Let them slow down
  (+9, -1)(+9, -1)
(+9, -1) 		  [vote for,
against]

A thing that automatically warns the car driver behind you that he's an idiot for tailgating as he gets too close. Because it's automatic the tailgating driver does not feel he is being judged by a peer, he must just appreciate he has crossed a line of safety, measured by a machine that treats everyone the same and ought to slow down. I know it's the same technology as other ideas but this one is not violent and may work. I'm too serious sometimes.
—spider, Sep 18 2001

Baked, for buses http://www.halfbake...tailgating_20device
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/27/technology/circuits/27BUSS.html [DrCurry, Jun 28 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Honda's "Collision Mitigation Brake System" http://economictime...icleshow?msid=29017
[krelnik, Oct 04 2004]

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       Make it even more automatic and entirely non-judgmental - link it to the electronic fuel injection so it slows them down no matter how hard they press the gas pedal.
—Canuck, Sep 19 2001
   

       Canuck - this thing is fitted in the back of YOUR car to warn the tailgating driver that s/he is too close. PeterSealy - please explain why...
—spider, Nov 21 2001
   

       Cast your eyes at the top of this screen, where the shaded area is. When an idea is beaten to a pulp, our Halfbakesperson will create its own category. Things to do with tailgating or retribution for stupid driving are halfbaked.
—StarChaser, Nov 22 2001
   

       As soon as someone drives over the chains, you're going to have an accident.   

       The long rear end is halfbaked as well, see 'fake rear end' above.
—StarChaser, Nov 24 2001
   

       a couple of switches and a relay: take a car equipped with rear amber (or yellow) turn signal lamps. Install the switches such that switch "A" closes when the foot is lifted off the accelerator. Switch "B" opens when the foot is applied to the brake pedal. the turn signal lamps are wired to the relay and the switches (which are connected in series) thus turning on the turn signal (or "hazard") lamps when the foot is lifted off the accelerator and before the foot is applied to the brake. The result is a momentary flash of the lamps an instant before the brakes are applied. The tailgator thus reacts that much quicker, thereby preventing a number of rear-end accidents.   

       Or install mine-laying apparatus that destroys any vehicle following too closely...
—whlanteigne, Sep 27 2002
   

       I thought this would be a warning light in *your* car that would warn you when someone is tailgating you, so you wouldn't have to keep glancing in the mirror to see if he is still there.
—phundug, Apr 08 2003
   

       I'd like a scrolling marquee as taillights, with a computer keyboard on the dash. We could type messages like "Back off!"
—effervescent, Apr 09 2003
   

       How about an articulated robotic hand affixed to the rear windshield? It would give the tailgater the finger, of course.
—Madcat, Apr 10 2003
   

       Baked!!! Check out StreetTags.com. Scrolling LED License Plate Frame.
—StreetTags, Jun 19 2003
   

       [Streettags] = Troll Alert.
—Cedar Park, Jun 19 2003
   

       Folks, I don't know if this variant has already been posted elsewhere, but here goes...   

       You may be aware that radar devices are now being built into single silicon chips, and can therefore be quite cheap. Every car should get one of these installed in the rear bumper. Every car's computer should get a little extra software, to compare the car's speed with the distance to the following car. Whenever the computer decides that the following car is tailgating, the computer turns on the car's brake lights -- nothing else! That car's driver doesn't have to be informed of a thing! But the tailgating driver will think that the car in front has slammed on the brakes, and so also hit the brakes. This opens up a gap between the two cars, until the front car's computer decides that the tailgater is far enough back, after which the brake lights are turned off again. (heh, heh, heh....EVIL GRIN)
—Vernon, Jun 19 2003
   

       Honda has just introduced something akin to that, called the "Collision Mitigation Braking System". In their design it is part of the tailing driver's car, and it actually applies the brakes as opposed to just turning on the brake lights. See link.
—krelnik, Jun 19 2003
   

       Just keep a nasty looking long pipe on your roof carrier. Let it sticks out several feet and put on a big red flag for warning. Tailgaters respect that. If that's not enough let it drip some ominous fluid.   

       You still have to invent an automatic retracting mechanism to make it short when you get into a tight spot like your garage.
—kbecker, Jun 19 2003
   

       //Collision Mitigation Braking System//   

       I'll build a chaff dispenser that fools the car behind into thinking I've come to a screeching halt.
—FloridaManatee, Jun 20 2003
   

       <non apologetic inciteful remark> Every time I take a load of debris to the dump, people tend to stay well back, as I am always hasty with the tarp, it being 10 minutes till dump closing time; I get a lot of nasty looks, honking as people pass, fingers, the pull over gesture, but so far, no tickets. <non apologetic inciteful remark>
—oxen crossing, Jul 14 2003
   

       Pull over gesture? what's that?
—ye_river_xiv, Oct 01 2006
   


 

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