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How to Handle Tailgaters on the Road

Simple, safe, and effective measures to get out of a potentially dangerous tailgating situation

You may have learned the value of driving your car at speeds you can handle but how do you deal with a

driver who offensively drives too close behind you? This article will give you some ways to practice

simple, safe, and effective measures to get out of a potentially dangerous tailgating situation.

1- Remain calm!

Losing your cool means losing control, and losing control of your vehicle is the last thing you want to do.

Deep breaths are a big help. Focus on your situation, and not on the radio or passengers or cell phones,

(which you might want to avoid using while driving, especially in a tense situation).

2- Consider your own judgment of what is too close.

Drivers who are accustomed to driving in urban areas tend to be more comfortable driving closer to

other cars that drivers from rural areas where traffic is generally less dense. It could be your judgement

of the situation that is causing you stress rather than the reality of distance between cars and the other

driver may not agree that they are tailgating. The important goal is to relief stress for both drivers since

either dri er is su je t to road rage eha ior ased o their i di idual per eptio of the situation.

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3- Always know your local driving laws.

Tailgating is generally against the law, as is ausi g a a ide t y dri i g i to so eo e s a k u per. While you do t a t to e i a a ide t, the aggressi e dri er ehi d you ill ost likely e at fault if he or she drives into you. Chances are they know the outcome if they hit you, and will want to avoid

doing so.

4- Pull over and allow the vehicle behind you to pass, if it is safe to do so.

This is al ays the ost rapid ay of getti g rid of a tailgater. If the ar ehi d you is at hi g up, there s a good chance the driver wants to go faster. If it s safe to do so, let hi /her.

- On narrower roads, use turnouts to allow others to pass when it is safe to do so. In many places, it is

required that slower traffic use turnouts. Elsewhere, it is simply polite.

- On a winding road, do not speed up so drastically at passing lanes that others cannot pass. Many

drivers go slowly and cautiously around curves and then get on a straightaway and feel that they have

the space or visibility to dart ahead. Have the patience to let others past.

5- If at all possible, slow slightly and move away from the center of the road; allowing the tailgater to

pass safely.

Normally a tailgater just wants to drive faster, so they will pass and leave you alone. If you know people

want to pass you, try to stay out of the high speed (passing) lane(s).

6- Maintain a constant speed.

This allows the tailgating driver to predict when he can pass you. Avoid speeding up and slowing down

to send him a message – this only increases his frustration level.

When in doubt, use your cruise control. This can help ensure that you remain at a constant speed of

your hoosi g, a d helps pre e t a elerati g he a agitati g dri er is tryi g to push you i to speeding up. Plus, you are likely in a tense situation already. Using cruise control ea s you do t ha e to concentrate on your speed as much, so you can concentrate more on removing yourself from this

situation.

7- Above all else, do not be a source of the problem.

If you cannot switch lanes for any reason, various laws of physics are going to prevent the tailgater from

dri i g through you. Ho e er, if you re at hi g speed ith a ehi le eside you, perhaps you should consider slowing down and switching lanes. Diffusing the dangerous situation is far more advantageous

than bickering over the speed limit.

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8- In multi-lane traffic, if you find yourself getting repeatedly tailgated, try driving a safe distance

behind a truck.

Drivers approaching from behind will see the truck and get into another lane before ever getting close.

9- Communicate.

If the dri er ehi d you flashes their high ea s o a d off, ha es are they re just aski g you to o e rather tha ei g a jerk. “ti kers or ag ets i di ati g thi gs like stude t dri er or sorry ut i o ly do the speed li it are ery effe tive at communicating your driving preference. Turning on your hazard

lights (flashers) lets other drivers know that you are experiencing technical difficulties which likely affect

your speed, (remember to move out of the way as soon as is safely possible.) Waving offensive hand

gestures on the other hand is most likely not going to be helpful, and will only elevate a bad situation.

‘aisi g your ha ds i a helpless shrug ight see to i di ate that you a t help the situatio , ut it may also come across as defia t. Plus you re taki g your ha ds off the heel!

10- If you cannot remove yourself from the situation, prepare for annoying behavior from aggressive

drivers.

They may turn on their high beams, blow their horn, shout insults and give unfriendly gestures. Flipping

your rear view mirror to nighttime position will help if they turn on the high beams, and preparing

yourself mentally for the possible onslaught of horns and cursing will help you deal with it.

11- If there are passengers in your car, try not to fluster them.

You may ask them to remain quiet while you deal with the offensive driver. They may try to offer advice,

but ultimately distractions should be kept to a minimum.

12- Do not ie the aggressor as an ad ersary , opponent or ignorant driver who needs taught a

lesson .

Avoid the urge to be a vigilante. This is not the place to teach lessons, and the tailgater will not learn by

having you frustrate them further. Just concentrate on diffusing the situation. Let law enforcement

handle the enforcement of laws.

13- Tap your brakes lightly a few times, so that he/she sees your brake lights, but not so hard that you

actually slow down.

This is a other sig al for the to a k off. (Do t rake hard to tea h the a lesso – this will only end

up causing an accident, which is worse for everybody.)

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