When you can’t rely on courtesy on the road, you can always take advantage of fear instead.

In general, the courteousness of Japanese society extends to the country’s roads as well. Drivers partake in all sorts of small acts of kindness, such as turning off their headlights when stopped at an intersection so as not to blind the cars on the opposite side and flashing their hazards to say thank you when someone lets them into their lane.

Still, not everyone who’s behind the wheel has a kind heart. Japanese Twitter user @IwaizurmiN knows this only too well, as he’s repeatedly found other drivers tailgating him. But rather than be bullied or retaliating with angry words or gestures, he thought up a way to silently but sternly tell them to back off.

“Since I stuck a mask in the back of my car, people have stopped tailgating me!” he triumphantly trumpeted. The effect is actually pretty chilling, with a ghostly glow coming from an LED that @IwaizurmiN has piggybacked onto the wiring for his car’s right taillight.

While authentic Noh drama masks can cost several thousands of dollars, the one in @IwaizurmiN’s is an expensive plastic version from Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Not only has it been effective in keeping other drivers off his back bumper, it’s left a lasting impression on those who’ve seen the automotive apparition first-hand. “I saw this a while back in Morioka [Iwate’s Prefectural capital]. It was scary” remarked one commenter, to which @IwaizurmiN replied “I’m thinking of adding more masks, so look forward to it.”

We’re not sure if we want to actually see that or not, but we’re pretty sure @IwaizurmiN is going to have a lot of the road to himself once his project is complete.

Follow Casey on Twitter, and he promises to leave at least one car length between your vehicles if he’s driving behind you.

Source: Twitter/@IwaizurmiN