There are many things that can go wrong on the roads, and it only takes a brief second for a serious collision to occur. One of the more intimidating feelings, when you’re driving, occurs when someone follows too close behind you, is also one of the more dangerous ones.
This can happen by accident, the driver may have simply taken their eyes off of the road for a second. Nonetheless, it is often the result of aggressive driving. Tailgating has the potential to cause serious crashes. How can you protect yourself when this happens to you?
Don’t respond
Your first instinct may be to speed up and get away from the driver who is tailing you. However, this is a bad idea. If you’re following the law and driving conscientiously, then you are not in the wrong. You may also feel like taking the opposite course of action by tapping the brakes on and off. This is not advisable either, as it may make the tailgating driver more reckless in their actions.
What can you do?
While it can be difficult, the best course of action is not to respond to the tailgating driver. Try and give them as much room as possible, and let them pass when it is safe to do so. It’s understandable to feel shocked and upset after something like this has occurred, so if you feel like you need to, pull over for a while and regain your composure.
The most important thing when you set off in your car is that you make it safely to your destination. Unfortunately, the negligent driving of other road users can make this impossible. If you’ve been hurt by the reckless actions of another, make sure you explore your options in terms of legal compensation. This won’t undo the accident, but it will provide you with financial relief while you recover.
