Glad to hear everything was fine for you.
Don't know why an inanimate unrelated object that never left the vehicle that you remained in control of would be an issue.
I must comment on this bit of information though:
Do NOT slow down to get someone off your ass. Speed up, even if ya have to do 100mph to get out of their way. If they are stupid enough to tailgate you, they are stupid enough to take out you and several others as well.
You are far more likely to survive a rear end impact, especialy at slow or moderate speeds than to survive an impact going at much higher speeds.
The only person on the road you have control over is you. If someone else wishes to be stupid putting yourself and family in even greater danger to appease them is not the best course of action.
People that tailgate are fools. It takes a couple of seconds to stop a vehicle, and at least a fraction of a second to react to changes. If they wish to remove that option form themselves they are foolish.
In fact even a car length or two is not even enough space to avoid impact (though it can be enough to slow to a lower speed before impact) at freeway speeds. It takes several car lengths to stop.
Many drivers are on autopilot in thier own little world as well, meaning half of that time they would have to react will probably be spent just noticing what is going on and not actualy reacting and slowing down.
All you can do is choose whether you tailgate too. If you are not then you will be able to more gradualy stop should something happen ahead of you so the person tailgating you has more time to react as well.
It is tough in aggressive traffic when giving adequate space just means someone from another lane will merge in front of you constantly becuase they can fit thier vehicle in there.
Yeah, yeah. I know. Trust me, in the next 48 to 72 hours, as the stiffness sets-in, you'll need a good laugh.
).
