When someone is tailgating your vehicle, it can be fairly nerve-racking. You know that they are drastically increasing the odds that you will be involved in a rear-end accident in which you could be injured. They are driving negligently and putting you – not just themselves – at risk.
But how do you alleviate the situation? People sometimes make mistakes that escalate things, such as abruptly slamming on the brakes – often known as “brake checking.” This can just lead to road rage and could even cause a car accident, and drivers should never do it. So what should they do instead?
Letting the tailgater pass
The front driver should have one general goal, which is just to let the tailgater pass. This will reduce the risks they’re facing on the road, and safety should always be their priority.
Exactly how they get the tailgater to pass depends on the situation. For instance, maybe the tailgater is just impatient and looking for space to pass. The front driver may gradually reduce their speed by taking their foot off of the gas, giving that rear driver more space to make their passing maneuver.
In other situations, the front driver needs to find a safe place to pull over. This could be a parking lot or just a safe area on the side of the road. You often see pull-off areas on smaller gravel roads, for instance, so that slower traffic can pull to the side and let others pass easily.
Have you been injured?
Even if you try to deal with a tailgater appropriately, they could cause an accident that leads to serious injuries. If so, be sure you know how you can seek financial compensation.
