What should you do if you are being tailgated?

What should you do if you are being tailgated?

• A. Slam on the brakes to deter the tailgater.
• B. Increase following distance, avoid sudden moves, and change lanes when safe to let the tailgater pass.
• C. Speed up to create space behind you.
• D. Pull over to the shoulder immediately.

Answer: (B)

When someone is tailgating, the main idea is to reduce risk by creating more space and letting the tailgater pass safely. Increasing the distance from the vehicle in front gives you more time to react if traffic slows, so you’re not forced into abrupt braking. Staying smooth and avoiding sudden moves helps prevent the tailgater from misjudging your actions. If it’s safe to do so, signaling and changing lanes to let the tailgater pass reduces pressure and removes the immediate tailgating risk for everyone on the road. Implementation should be calm and controlled: ease off the accelerator gradually to increase the gap, avoid hard braking or swerving, and only change lanes when there’s a safe gap and you can see the lane is clear. If there’s no safe lane to move into, maintain a steady speed and give yourself more room behind the vehicle ahead rather than trying to outrun or confront the tailgater. Slamming on the brakes, speeding up, or pulling over onto the shoulder immediately can create new hazards for you and others.

When someone is tailgating, the main idea is to reduce risk by creating more space and letting the tailgater pass safely. Increasing the distance from the vehicle in front gives you more time to react if traffic slows, so you’re not forced into abrupt braking. Staying smooth and avoiding sudden moves helps prevent the tailgater from misjudging your actions. If it’s safe to do so, signaling and changing lanes to let the tailgater pass reduces pressure and removes the immediate tailgating risk for everyone on the road.

Implementation should be calm and controlled: ease off the accelerator gradually to increase the gap, avoid hard braking or swerving, and only change lanes when there’s a safe gap and you can see the lane is clear. If there’s no safe lane to move into, maintain a steady speed and give yourself more room behind the vehicle ahead rather than trying to outrun or confront the tailgater. Slamming on the brakes, speeding up, or pulling over onto the shoulder immediately can create new hazards for you and others.