What To Do When An Aggressive Driver Is Tailgating You?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,
  1. Keep your distance. The best way to deal with a tailgater is to stay away from them in the first place. …
  2. Stay calm. …
  3. Get out of the way. …
  4. Maintain a consistent speed. …
  5. Don’t overuse your brakes. …
  6. Don’t become a tailgater yourself. …
  7. Don’t try to police the roadway.
Contents hide

When you encounter an aggressive driver tailgating you the first thing you should do is?


Immediately change lanes

. Slam on your brakes. Slow down and allow them to pass.

How do you handle an aggressive driver who is following you?

If you are dealing with an aggressive driver, make sure your doors are locked. If you’re stopped in traffic, leave enough room to pull out from behind the car you’re following. If an aggressive driver confronts you,

dial 911 or go to the nearest police station

.

How do you stop aggressive driving?

  1. Allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
  2. Do not “cut off” other drivers.
  3. Do not drive slowly in the left (fast) lane.
  4. Do not tailgate.
  5. Do not gesture to other drivers.
  6. Use your horn for emergencies only.
  7. Let aggressive drivers pass you.

Is brake checking a tailgater illegal?


Yes it is illegal to brake check a tailgater

. Causing an accident on purpose is illegal. Others have said that you can claim to have seen something dart into the road, but you have still caused an accident.

Should you confront an aggressive driver?

Explanation If confronted by an aggressive driver, the most important thing to do is

try to get out of their way

. Avoid making eye contact with the driver and do not let yourself be provoked by gestures. Do not try to challenge aggressive drivers by speeding up.

What are the 4 ways to avoid an aggressive driver?

  • Signal, Move to the Right, and Decrease Your Speed. …
  • Apologetically Wave and Nod at the Aggressive Driver. …
  • Avoid Eye Contact and Drive Defensively.
  • Do What You Can to Temper Your Own Reactions.

What are 3 types of aggressive driving behaviors?

  • Speeding in heavy traffic.
  • Tailgating.
  • Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down.
  • Running red lights.
  • Weaving in and out of traffic.
  • Changing lanes without signaling.
  • Blocking cars attempting to pass or change lanes.

What is the root of aggressive driving?

Some

drivers may be predisposed to behave aggressively when driving at night

. Others may succumb to aggressive tendencies more easily in hot weather, or tightly packed traffic. Of course, some situations – such as stress, tiredness or the bad behavior of other drivers – could lead any motorist to drive aggressively.

What happens if you hit someone who brake checks you?

Brake checking in this scenario would act

as a warning or threat to the following driver

. It may force the driver to hit the brakes, increase following distance or go around Driver A. Brake checking may also be a way for a driver to commit insurance fraud.

Should you make eye contact with an aggressive driver?

Don’t show a physical reaction to an aggressive driver’s behavior. In particular,

you should avoid eye contact

, as this is often seen as a sign of mutual aggression. Advice like this might give you the impression that drivers experiencing road rage are similar to aggressive animals in the wild.

What should you do when confronted with an aggressive?

  1. Do not make eye contact.
  2. Remain calm and relaxed.
  3. Try to move away safely.
  4. Do not challenge an aggressive driver with increased speed or try to hold your position in your travel lane.
  5. Wear a seat belt and encourage your passengers to do the same.

Who is at fault for brake check?

Determining Fault for a brake checking accident

Now, you may wonder who is at fault in an accident caused by brake checking? In most cases, the is fault placed on

the person that rear-ended the other driver

. Because as a driver you have the responsibility to drive a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.

When should you be tailgated?

  1. Move over to the right, if there is an open lane to your right.
  2. If there is not an open lane to your right, wait until the way is clear ahead and reduce your speed slowly to encourage the tailgater to drive around you.
  3. Never slow down abruptly.

Is tailgating considered aggressive driving?

The term “aggressive driving” covers a range of unsafe driving behavior. Speeding,

tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic

, running red lights, or any combination of these activities generally are considered aggressive driving.

What are signs of an aggressive driver?

  • SPEEDING. Constantly. …
  • NEVER YIELDING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. It’s always your turn. …
  • WEAVING. Frequent and unsafe lane changes are a part of everyday life. …
  • FAILING TO SIGNAL. …
  • TAILGATING. …
  • THE HORN is not an anger management tool. …
  • LANE BLOCKING.

Is road rage a criminal offense?

Road rage is

considered a criminal offense

, because the driver engaging in it has the intent to cause harm. You can go to jail. … An unlawful attempt to commit a violent injury on another person. Any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon another person.

Am I at fault if I hit a car in front of me because he slammed on his brakes very suddenly?

While you may think the accident should be the lead driver’s fault for irresponsibly slamming on their brakes, in nearly 100% of cases the rear driver is determined to be at fault. … Regardless of how unexpectedly the driver in front of you slams on their brakes,

it is your responsibility to not hit them

.

What is the most common aggressive driving behavior?

  • Erratic or reckless driving.
  • Failure to obey traffic signals or signs.
  • Illegal turns.
  • Speeding.
  • Failure to yield the right of way.
  • Illegal passing.
  • Tailgating.

How common is aggressive driving?

The following data points are taken from the aforementioned survey.

82% of drivers in the U.S. admit to having road rage or driving

aggressively at least once in the past year. 59% of drivers reported showing anger by honking. 45% of drivers report changing lanes without signaling.

Can you slam on the brakes if someone is tailgating?

If you’re being tailgated, be extra cautious when you brake.

Don’t slam on the brakes for no reason

. Unless it’s an emergency braking situation, brake gently. You want the tailgater to see you slowing down in plenty of time for him or her to slow down, too.

Is cutting someone off illegal?

Cutting someone off in traffic is — at worst — a minor offense. In California,

it’d be an infraction

. Misdemeanors are more serious and felonies yet more serious. Unless a cop witnesses it, you can’t be cited or punished for a misdemeanor.

How do you deal with road rage drivers?

  1. Do not react to insults, gestures, or other rude behavior.
  2. Do not respond in any way, either verbally or behaviorally, other than to back off and give the aggressive driver room to “leave.”
  3. Stay away from drivers who are speeding or exhibiting another form of anxiety.

How do you punish a tailgater?

For someone aggressively tailgating, they generally want to pass, so you

can slow down and pull to the side

, or change lanes if possible, so they can pass you. You don’t want to have them around you so letting them pass is your best option. Unless you did something to anger them, like cutting them off.

Why do people tailgate other drivers?

Typically, someone is tailgating you

because they want you to drive faster

. … In more severe cases, tailgating may be an expression of road rage. If you feel someone is endangering you or others on the road, call the police and ask for help. They’ll know exactly what to do.

Is brake testing illegal?

Is Brake Checking Illegal?

Brake checking is highly illegal

, it’s classed as dangerous driving which can carry up to a two year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. The consequences are (rightly) even more severe if a collision is caused resulting in a death.

How do you avoid becoming a contributor to road rage?

  1. Don’t agitate the driver. Try not to do things that are known to irritate other drivers, such as driving slowly in the left lane, cutting a driver off or tailgating.
  2. Don’t engage the driver. …
  3. Keep calm. …
  4. Get help.

When you have the right of way when you are?

You have the right-of-way when you are:


Already within a traffic circle

. Explanation A driver who enters a traffic circle or rotary must yield the right-of-way to drivers already in the circle. Vehicles entering a roadway from a driveway must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and to vehicles already in the road.

When should you use the four second plus rule?

When should you use the “four-second plus rule”?

When you have two or more passengers riding with you

. When driving on a slippery road. When you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

How do you extinguish a brake fire?

ARFF Extinguishing Agents

For small wheel and brake fires that have minimal exposure hazards, your first option should be a

potassium-based, Purple-K dry chemical extinguisher

. This agent of choice provides rapid knock down and extinguishment.

What does brake checking someone mean?

What is Brake Checking? A brake check occurs

when a driver deliberately applies their brakes to get another driver

, who they often believe is tailgating them, to back off.

What are the 4 ways to avoid an aggressive driver quizlet?

  • Avoid moment of engagement – Don’t make eye contact.
  • Don’t reciprocate other drivers’ actions.
  • Leave yourself an out of the situation (ex: the shoulder lane)
  • Be a conscious driver (avoid activities that can be perceived as aggressive driving)

What are the differences between road rage and aggressive driving?

There is a difference. Aggressive driving is

a traffic offense

; road rage is a criminal offense. Road rage is defined as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or an assault precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

What should you do when confronted with an aggressive driver quizlet?

Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by

providing a vehicle description, license number, location

and, if possible, direction of travel. If you have a cell phone, and can do it safely, call the police.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.