How do I deal with being tailgated?

Answer 1

Everyone gets tailgated: it's very dangerous and annoying.

I've done some of the things suggested above to combat it, flashing my brakelights, foglight etc., but think carefully before doing this. If the tailgater is an aggressive person as opposed to plain stupid, this sort of response will make them MORE aggressive - your response could escalate the situation from an annoyance to getting attacked. So, pull over at the first safe place to do so (leaving a safe exit route for yourself in case you're being followed) and let the tailgater past. Problem solved.

Don't even think about slamming the brakes on. If your tailgater is stupid they'll run into you. If they are aggressive, it'll infuriate them into doing something drastic.

Also remember to drive up to the speed limit where the road conditions allow (this is what the Highway Code advises). You might be going too slowly and making tailgating situations more likely.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Give them the opportunity to pass by slowing down and pulling nearer the side of the road, they will take this opportunity and probably thank you if they're just in a hurry, if they're fools just doing it to frighten you though, slow down further, then speed up agressively, then so long as they're a reasonable distance behind you, jab on the brakes again. this should frighten them into backing off with no real danger. Don't pull over and let them pass as if they are fools that wanna frighten you your opening yourself right up if they want to be really intimidating. If they continue to drive up you *** just make a call to the police and advise them of you location and situation. they normally will have a patrol car around a minute or two away.

If you are a distance from a city and therefore the police, your best bet would be to continually slow down, then if they try to overtake you accelerate hard. Defensive driving courses will tell you not to do this as its provoking problems but if you already have invited them to overtake and they refused in order to make your life miserable they probably have agressive intents in mind, SO DO NOT STOP!!! You need to put fear back into them as they will not want an accident into the rear of you. They will almost certainly be held responsible for this and are far more likely to be injured as a result of this than you are. If you really can't get them off your tail without serious risk of danger then just cover your rear view mirror up, they aren't a threat if you can't see them.

Answer 3

depends where you are, In the area I live in (East Anglia UK) there is a gang going round tailgating, and the 1st person who retaliates either by slowing down or putting lights on become the victims of a sick game called cat and mouse, They will eventually run you off the road and drive off.

Incredibly dangerous, immature and pathetic I know but it happens all the same!

Answer 4

Keep slowing down, eventually the tailgater will get fed up and back off

Answer 5

Leave plenty of room between your car and the car in front of you. That will give you plenty of room to stop if needed, and enough warning for the car tailgating you. As far as getting them of your rear end, that probably wont happen. But that doesn't stop you from being safe.

Answer 6

defensive driving courses tell you to slow down so they will eventually pass you. You can give them the message by tapping your brake just enough to turn on the brake lights but not enough to slow you down.

If your brave hit the brakes hard and cause a collision. You may get lucky and earn yourself a weekly paycheck for life. If your rear ended it's the other guys fault 99.99% of the time. Just tell them you seen a squirrel. That SHOULD teach them a lesson.

Answer 7

the best advice i ever recieved was from a policeman ,,dont try and drive two cars at once ,,,so forget the advice about brake lights ect ,,just drive your own car,,,
I worked in pc world on customer service for a few years ,,and would have loved a sign to go up which said no
*** holes not allowed in here !,,but you cant say that ,,its the same with poxy drivers ,,just pull over ,, they might be the most effin people in the world ,but hey,, look after yourself ,,no point in being in hospital ,,,telling everyone how clever you were ..

Answer 8

tailgating annoys us all... most especially at night...but you never know whats going on with other drivers...it may be a true emergency so always give them the benefit of the doubt...if you slow down that's only going to make matters worse...if your traveling at the speed limit move to the right most lane if possible..if it is a two lane road move to the right as far as possible...above all avoid confrontation with another driver, you don't want to make the 6 o'clock news...

Answer 9

Have someone ( or yourself if you know what you're doing ) fit a switch that allows you to turn on the brake lights.
A push switch that doesn't latch in the on position is best, so you don't forget to turn them off!

Or a nice halogen spot fitted to shine out of the rear window, but this is only good in the dark.

Very effective....

Answer 10

Get your speedo calibrated and stop annoying everyone by driving at 62 in 70 zones.
You could alos get one of those programable red LED Dsplays for the back window to say Drop Back and Polite alternately