How to control the actions of a tailgater
There’s a saying that states “To every action there’s a reaction.” That’s normally a saying that relates to science, but it sounds like it can also fit with driving. Each time a driver does something that can put you at risk, there should always be a proactive reaction to their action.
As many people may already realize, tailgating is a huge problem on our roads. This act of selfishness leads to many collisions each and every day. Although there are solutions for those who tend to tailgate, they haven’t exactly embraced those ideas and changed their ways. So now it’s up to us to change our ways so as to protect ourselves from these types of drivers. Let’s get started.
Let’s begin with the risks of being tailgated. While you’re driving in traffic, the moment you need to brake remotely hard, the driver behind doesn’t have enough time to see your brake lights, move their foot from the gas to the brake and then stop. This lack of time means you get struck from behind. Any rear seat passengers in your vehicle have a high percentage of being injured – or worse – because of the actions of the tailgater. So here’s what you need to do.
Once you notice through your mirrors that you’re being tailgated, ease off the gas to increase your following distance. Once you’ve done that, ensure you match the speed of the traffic ahead of you. You’re not driving any slower than the vehicle ahead of you. You just have a larger following distance. Why does this help? If the driver ahead of you brakes hard, because you have a larger gap between your vehicle and their vehicle you would not have to brake as hard to stop. If you don’t have to brake as hard, the driver behind you doesn’t have to either. This gives them more time to stop.
Look ahead and anticipate what the traffic may be doing. If you see brake lights on a 
few vehicles ahead, begin slowing down gradually. No reason to wait for the driver directly in front of you to begin slowing. You already know you’ll need to brake, so why not do it early? It helps control the driver who is tailgating you because you’ll be braking gradual. The brake lights of your vehicle can help to wake up the driver behind you.
Other options would be to change lanes and let them tailgate someone else. Yes, that may sound cruel toward the driver ahead of you, but no need to put you, your passengers or your vehicle at risk just to protect someone else. If the driver ahead of you was proactive, they would also do something to avoid the risk of being tailgated. If you can’t change lanes because there are no other lanes to use or if you’re in the lane you need to be in to get where you want to go, you could always slow down and pull to the side of the road with your hazard lights on. This would generally force the driver behind to go around you. Now the problem is gone as well.
We all know tailgating will happen. If you get rear ended, it’s not necessarily you’re fault. However, fault doesn’t matter if you or your passengers are injured…or worse. However, rear crashes don’t have to happen if you’re a smart driver. It’s more about surviving on the road that counts. It’s time to take matters into your own hands…in a smart way.
**Have a quick listen to this short episode of the “Speed Bumps” podcast as it discusses how you can determine if you’re a good driver!
Our rear window mounted safety cling is specifically designed to help PREVENT rear-enders. It alerts the person following too closely from behind that a ‘new driver’ is at the wheel ahead, and to give them some extra space. There are over 250,000 rear end crashed involving teens annually in the U.S. Let’s work together to mutually promote this important safety issue. Crashes are preventable.
What about when you are driving on a two lane highway. And you have someone that is tailgating you when you are going 80-90 kms per hour on a very hilly highway..
seems to happen a lot in the area that I live in on some of our hilly and winding roads.
When I can pull over to the shoulder and let them pass I do. But sometimes I can’t safely do that for a few Kms. Thanks.
I think I would keep a little of distance and honk the horn for Telling him to move
I think I would keep my distance
These days, I do what my elderly mom who is still driving practices: Depress the emergency flasher button, and maintain the speed limit.
Invariably aggressive tailgaters put more distance between your bumper and theirs. In some cases they will pass, illegally or not. Either way, you get these jerks off your bumper.
I marvel that motorists seeking a safe driving experience for their young drivers in their family or otherwise, or who are new drivers themselves, take to putting bumper stickers on that say “new driver, please be patient.” My organization, SafeRoadsMD, will be producing bumper stickers that say “experienced driver, please be patient anyway!”
When I’m being followed to closely, I will slow down slowly until the following driver backs off. It doesn’t always work but most of the time it does. If they keep tailgating me I will put my 4 way blinkers on and that usually works.
Changing lanes may not be a safe option. Most times, tailgaters are usually in a hurry, cant wait to overtake at the earliest opportunity, meaning they are probably itching to change to the other lane as soon as it is clear.