One of the more common driving mistakes that people make consistently is tailgating. Some people do this because they’re in a hurry or they’re feeling aggressive, but others just do it because they’re not paying attention or they don’t understand the three-second rule.
But if this happens to you, you certainly understand just how much danger it puts you in. It feels very unnerving when you see that car so close to you in the mirror. So what should you do?
Never brake check them
One thing that people often do is hit their brakes sharply. They called his “brake checking,” and they’re trying to tell the other driver to back up. But it’s very dangerous and you could even be responsible if you cause an accident by doing this intentionally.
Slow down gradually
One tactic is to slow down even more. If they’re tailgating you because they want to get around, this gives them a chance to make the pass. In some cases, this will also get an oblivious driver to realize that they are tailgating, and they may then initiate a pass that they wouldn’t have tried to make otherwise.
Pull off to the side of the road
Finally, if there’s no other option, it may be wise to find a safe place to pull over. Pulling off to the side of the road is possible, but you may also want to pull into a parking lot or a side street. Essentially, it’s just much safer to allow the tailgater to go around than to continue to drive with someone this dangerous behind you.
That being said, if someone is tailgating you and causes a car accident, you need to know how to seek compensation for your medical bills and other costs.
