You have to hold a license (take a test) for automatic and/or manual shift? Wow! I'd never considered that. When we get a license here (in the US), we are entitled to drive either type, and switch back and forth (if the situation arises) with no need to be tested for the other.

As to the topic, I get angry at folks who think they are "king of the road", or the only person on said road. I DON'T tailgate...EVER! I bide my time and pass the ass safely. If I've passed several speed limit signs and notice that the person in front of me hasn't noticed them and is obviously scared of something or has nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there...I'll pass him. Ironically, this procedure seems to awaken them or make them fearless and they usually speed up to a more tolerable speed before anyone else can flip them off and pass them. It's miraculous, I tell you!

On the other hand...if I am being tailgated, I brake a bit and hope they back off. Especially if the weather conditions are causing me to go slower than the speed limit and they don't care if they get there in one piece...or if I do, for that matter. I'll usually do the limit (at least), and 5-10 mph over if I "feel" I can get away with it. But, I never purposely drive slower than the limit if I have no good reason to (ie:rain, dark and rain, snow...etc.), and I resent another driver assuming his/her life is more important than mine and I should know this and get out of the way! I won't ever pull aside and let them pass just to get rid of them...if I am driving the limit and there is no reason that they should be tailgating. I'll make them wait, just as I would have to do, to pass me in a passing zone with a safe distance from oncoming cars. That's about when I mouth "fuck you asshole" (slow and overexaggerated) and flip them off! If they start doing shit to me to make sure I know how angry they are...then I did my job well and I smile!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~