If someone is tailgating you, your inclination may be to be angry. After all, you know that they’re putting you in danger. You don’t like it and it feels like they are not prioritizing your safety at all.
But responding with anger – such as brake checking the other car – is dangerous and often illegal. What should you actually do when someone tailgates you?
Influence them to pass
Your best bet is to try to influence that driver’s behavior by getting them to pass your car. You may be able to do this just by slowing down, for example, if you do so gradually and allow them to find a safe space to pass. You may also do it by pulling over to the side of the road or pulling into a parking lot. If you’re on the interstate, you may be able to get them to pass just by switching to a different lane.
But if it’s so easy, why doesn’t everyone do this? Often, the issue is that it feels unfair. The other person is driving unsafely, and they want to pass, so why do they get what they want? Are they being rewarded for breaking the law?
But this asks the wrong question. It’s not about being fair, but about being safe. And the best thing you can do to keep yourself and those in your car safe is to let the tailgater pass so that they are not driving anywhere near you.
Have you already been injured?
Maybe you’ve already been involved in an accident caused by a tailgater, and now you’re facing high medical bills and lost wages, among other costs. You may be able to seek financial compensation from the responsible party.