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. If you slow down gradually, the tailgater will respond by slowing down as well. 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.
However, if you pull off the road and the tailgater does the same, pull back on the road and find a populated area (like a shopping mall or a rest area) to pull off at. People have been robbed because they were hit by a tailgater and pulled off in the middle of nowhere. Always be cautious and safe when pulling off of the roadway.
Try taking city streets instead of congested highways when possible. Tailgating is more common on busy highway roads and interstates where people can drive at faster speeds.
Pumping your brakes at a tailgater may also make them angry and cause them to react in a negative or violent way toward you.
If you are being followed closely by a vehicle and, when you turn off the road the car still follows you, never drive to your home or any personally identifiable location. Continue onward and drive around the block. Odds are good that it was a mere coincidence, but if the vehicle continues to follow you after several random turns, drive to the nearest police station or contact the police with a cellular phone if you have one available.
Only use the left lane for passing. Get around the car you’re passing and get back over into the right lane as quickly and safely as possible.
Pay attention to the items in your car to reduce distractions while driving. If you are distracted by what’s happening inside your car rather than focusing on the road, you will be a less safe driver to those around you. Pulling out in front of someone else (especially if they happen to be a habitual tailgater) can be a dangerous mistake. It may upset a tailgater and cause them to act irrationally.
Tailgating accidents often happen when people are driving too slow for the situation (significantly under the posted speed limit or going slower than the flow of traffic).
This will help protect you from tailgaters who may come up behind you very quickly.
Also consider avoiding using highways, interstates, or other high-speed thoroughfares for short trips. Tailgating often happens on roads with high speed limits.
Tailgaters are particularly hazardous at night because of the bright headlights and what a distraction this can be while driving at night. If you have a tailgater following too closely at night, try to get away from them and out of their headlights.
If you are driving on icy or slick roads, breaking quickly could cause you to slip and slide and lose control of your vehicle. If a tailgater does this, they probably won’t have enough time to react before hitting you with their car.
