how can you safely manage a tailgater

Handling a Tailgater Download Article

1. Remain calm and don’t allow your emotions to get the better of you. If you notice someone tailgating you, your first...
2. Pull over and allow the vehicle to pass. The easiest thing to do if you have someone tailgating you is to pull over...
3. Keep to the right. When driving on a multi-lane road, always keep to the right-most...

Full Answer

How do you deal with aggressive tailgaters?

And as different beasts, they require different approaches. This one’s simple: as soon as you can, and it’s safe to do so, let them pass. That’s it. Not everyone will agree, and aggressive tailgaters clearly press a lot of motorists’ buttons.

Where do you want a tailgater to be when driving?

The only place where you want a tailgater to be is in front of you. If you are on a two-lane road where passing is permissible and you're already going as fast as you are comfortable going, slow down and encourage the tailgater to pass. Waving someone forward to pass you is generally considered acceptable on country roads.

How do you manage a tailgater at a checkpoint?

Once vehicle ahead passes checkpoint, count to 3 seconds (one - thousand - one etc...) Check to see vehicle is still short of fixed checkpoint. Slow down if not How can you safely manage a tailgater? Increase following distance to 4 seconds. Move slightly to the right.

How can I avoid a tailgating accident?

One way to avoid accidents caused by tailgating is to signal with plenty of advance warning. If you tell a tailgater (by using your blinker) that you intend to change lanes, they will probably avoid zooming around you in the other lane. This will help protect you from tailgaters who may come up behind you very quickly.

What's the safest thing to do to deter a tailgater?

To stop tailgating, avoid cutting off other drivers in traffic. Leave enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to stop if necessary. Remember that the vehicle may not be able to stop as fast as you can stop with your vehicle.

What are the 4 steps you can take to deal with tailgaters?

To keep yourself and others on the road safe, here are four tips on dealing with tailgaters.Put some distance between you and other cars. Remember your first time on the road? ... Hit your brakes slowly. ... Keep calm and drive on. ... Don't be confrontational.

When you have a tailgater you should?

5 ways to deal with a tailgaterStay calm. It's natural to feel annoyed, frightened or angry when you realize someone is tailgating your vehicle. ... Brake slowly. If you need to slow down or stop because of traffic, do so as gently as you can. ... Get out of the way if you can. ... Don't speed up. ... Don't engage.

What to do to avoid tailgating?

4 Ways to Prevent TailgatingManaging Access Control. One of the most efficient ways of mitigating tailgating risks is to install appropriate access control systems and manage them methodically — a suitable solution as such is turnstiles. ... Video Surveillance. ... Visitor Credentials. ... Build a Culture for Security.

What is the best practice when someone is tailgating you?

The Rules of Dealing With a TailgaterStay Calm. The first thing you need to do when you look in your rearview mirror and see someone tailgating is to stay calm. ... When You Need to Brake, Take it Slow… ... Get Safely Out of the Way. ... Drive at a Comfortable Speed. ... Avoid Confrontation.

When you encounter an aggressive driver tailgating you should?

Tailgating–Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. If you are being tailgated, leave more space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Signal Lights–Always use your signals when changing lanes, and avoid changing lanes too close to the other vehicles.

When another vehicle is following closely behind you tailgating you should?

Explanation If you are being followed too closely, you should increase your following distance, avoid making quick moves, and avoid relying on tricks (such as flashing your lights) to help other drivers pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by causing the tailgater to continue tailgating you at a higher speed.

What should you do if another driver is tailgating you quizlet?

If another driver tailgates you, change lanes and let the driver pass. It's safer to have the tailgater in front of you than right behind you. Don't increase your speed in an attempt to appease or outdistance the tailgater.

What is the best safety rule when driving a motor vehicle?

let them have the right-of-way even if it belongs to you to prevent possible accidents, however, do not always insist on other going ahead of you, slowing and stopping may delay the flow of traffic.

What are common tailgating methods?

5 common tailgating tactics social engineers useWalk behind employees opening doors. ... Pose as a courier. ... Pretend their hands are too full to open doors. ... Claim to have 'forgotten their ID' ... Act as if they have been invited by someone.

How to deal with tailgaters?

The best way to deal with a tailgater is to stay away from them in the first place. Remain alert to other drivers' behaviors on the road. If you spot someone driving dangerously close to another car up ahead or in a lane beside yours, look for a clearing in traffic so you can stay as far away as possible.

What to do if you don't pass a tailgater?

If you're on a two-lane street that doesn't allow for passing (or the driver won't pass), watch for somewhere to pull off the road until the tailgater passes you—even if that's a parking lot. Avoid pulling over to the shoulder or into an emergency lane if possible, as this can create a roadway hazard.

What to do when someone is tailgating you?

No matter the other driver's reasons, the first thing you should do when someone is tailgating you is to calm your anger or annoyance —even if they're honking the horn, flashing their lights, yelling, or making gestures at you.

How far behind the car should you be to stop?

Always maintain at least 2-3 seconds of distance behind the car in front of you to ensure you'll be able to stop safely if necessary. 3. Don't try to police the roadway. If you're driving the speed limit but someone behind you clearly wants to go faster, remember that it's not your job to prevent them from doing so.

What lane should you always pull into when the road splits off?

On winding roads or state highways that fluctuate between one and two lanes in each direction, always pull into the right lane when the road splits off so that tailgaters can pass you on the left. Now that's a touchdown pass for everyone! 4. Maintain a consistent speed.

What to do when you see someone tailgating?

Stay Calm. The first thing you need to do when you look in your rearview mirror and see someone tailgating is to stay calm. That’s likely not your first reaction, but it’s the best one. Your first reaction is probably some combination of anger at the driver who is way too close.

Why is tailgating dangerous?

Tailgating is dangerous because it reduces the space between cars to an unsafe distance. If you suddenly hit the brakes, the tailgater may not have enough time to react and slow down before hitting your car. If you’re being tailgated, be extra cautious when you brake. Don’t slam on the brakes for no reason.

What to do when you react to a car accident?

If you react with anger or fear and start driving erratically, you’ll only make the situation worse. Continue driving the speed limit, stay calm and obey traffic signals. The goal here is to be safe and avoid an accident, not to make things worse.

Can you tailgate on a road?

There’s the chance you’ll be tailgated on a road where there’s no safe way to let the tailgater pass. If the road is clear in front of you, should you speed up to make the tailgater happy? It all depends on your situation. If you’re doing the speed limit, then don’t speed up.

Is it ok to taunt a tailgater?

Taunting a tailgater – including intentionally hitting the brakes hard while he’s still behind you to get him to back off – is not a good idea. The sooner the tailgater drives away, the better. Aggressive driving tactics like tailgating are nerve-wracking.

Is it easy to tailgate?

The Rules of Dealing With a Tailgater. Dealing with a tailgater is not easy. Keep your cool and we'll all be safer on the road. It’s frustrating when a slower driver keeps you from getting where you need to go, and it might be tempting to tailgate, but that’s never a good idea. To avoid being a tailgater all you need is an attitude adjustment ...

Can you get AAA insurance if you are tailgating?

The problem comes when someone is tailgating you, so close to your bumper you cringe every time you brake. AAA can protect you with car insurance if you are involved in a crash, but these tips from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety will help you deal with a tailgater and avoid getting into a crash.

How to control a tailgater?

Allowing yourself to feel anger is the first step in losing your control over the situation. A calm state of mind allows you to do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself. It also makes you less likely to engage in dangerous actions that only serve to anger the tailgater. These actions include rude gestures, hard braking, and deliberately slowing down to frustrate tailgaters.

When to pull over on a multilane highway?

If you are in a multi-lane highway, signal and then move to the lane on your right when it is safe. If there is only a single lane in your direction of travel, pull over when a safe opportunity presents itself.

How to avoid tailgaters?

Keep in the right lane unless you are actively passing. Position yourself in the left side of the lane to see further up the road, looking past the car you are following. You can see oncoming traffic, they can see you, and this position tends to discourage active tailgaters because you are effectively blocking the driver's view ahead. It should also give you more time to react to any hazards thus helping to avoid braking hard, which may lead to being rear-ended.

What to do if someone is following too close?

If you become aware that someone is following too close for your comfort, remain calm. Most tailgaters are probably not doing it intentionally. It's most likely not aggression; it's a space cushion problem to solve.

How to get out of a tailgate?

2. Make a turn to get away from the tailgater. If someone is really tailgating you and you feel unsafe, take the first right turn you can. Resume your route when the impatient motorist has passed. Getting out of the way may be the easiest way to get yourself out of the situation and back to safety.

How to avoid tailgating?

2. Be mindful of the speed limit. One way to drive defensively and avoid tailgating is to pay close attention to the posted speed limit. Make sure that you are driving with the flow of traffic, but also that you are not going too fast or too slow for the posted speed zone.

How to get a tailgater to pass you?

If you are travelling at the speed limit, or going with the flow, slow down slightly and look for the first opportunity to move out of the way of the tailgater so they can pass you safely. The only place where you want a tailgater to be is in front of you.

What happens if you slow down a tailgater?

This way if something unexpected happens in the road, and the tailgater hits you, the accident will be much less severe because the momentum will be lower and they will hit you with much less force. ...

What are the things that can cause tailgaters to follow you?

These things can be distracting and often cause accidents, or at least erratic driving, which can incite tailgaters to start following you more closely.

Can you tell if a tailgater is too close to you?

Even though it may seem logic al to you to make an attempt to tell the tailgater they are too close to you, don’t do this. The tailgater already knows they’re too close . They just don’t care. If you pump your brakes, the tailgater will become desensitized to your braking and might hit you if you suddenly had to stop.

Is tailgater dangerous?

Learn more... Tailgaters can be an annoying and dangerous hazard on the road. Sometimes they drive up behind you incredibly quickly and catch you off guard. They might honk their horn at you and, if you look in your rearview mirror, it may look as if the person is literally riding on your rear bumper.