People have many different reactions when they’re being tailgated. Some people are very nervous and almost panicked, worried that they’re going to get into an accident. Others are aggressive and angry, perhaps even brake-checking the tailgater – hitting the brakes suddenly and aggressively – to get them to back off.
These feelings of frustration are understandable. If you’re in this position, you know that the tailgater is putting you and everyone in your car in danger with their negligent behaviors. But what should you really do in this scenario?
Get the tailgater to pass
The best reaction you can have isn’t to brake-check the other car or to act aggressively toward the tailgater to get them to stop. Instead, just try to get them to pass. Remember that your goal is to force them to go around you so that you are not in danger. You can often do this by switching lanes, gradually slowing down, or even finding a safe place to pull over to the side of the road.
This sounds easy, so why doesn’t everyone do it? Often, it’s just an emotional reaction to feeling frustrated or nervous, as noted above. Tailgaters are a well-established risk on the road, and yet some people do it consistently. The key is to try to put these emotions aside and focus on resolving the situation without an accident. Getting the tailgate to pass is the best way to do so.
Unfortunately, you could still be injured in an accident caused by a tailgating driver. If you are, then you need to know how to seek financial compensation.