

Andrew Maclean
3 Days Ago
Have a tailgater behind you? Here is what you need to do and no, staying in the right (fast) lane to teach them a lesson isn't one of them.
Senior Contributor
Senior Contributor
You might have already seen our story about brake-checking people who tailgate you – that is, hitting your brakes to warn a driver from being so close to you.
While that might seem a simple and sensible way to warn someone that you’d like them to back off a little, it can often enrage the person behind and could escalate the situation to a dangerous level.
And yes, if you were to be rear-ended, the person behind you would likely be found to be liable for the accident, but they might not stick around to swap details – and if they did, you might be in the path of physical harm, too. We’ve all seen those crazy dash-cam videos where people take matters into their own hands, quite literally.
A few of you have suggested that flashing your hazard lights might be an effective way to make a tailgater back off. It may have worked for you, but it should not be encouraged unless there is a genuine hazard or risk on the road ahead of you. It’s ‘boy cried wolf’ stuff, and could instigate further road rage from the person who is following you too closely for comfort. Also, misusing your hazard lights can be illegal.
There are other ways you can simply – and more safely – attempt to stop someone from tailgating you while you’re driving. Here are a few options.
What if all the lanes are moving freely and you’re just keeping pace? It’s still worth getting out of their tailgater’s way, because otherwise, it’ll just bug you more.
In short, don’t engage a tailgater. Just let them pass, and honestly, it’ll be gone from your mind in a matter of minutes. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.
Matt has more than a decade of experience in automotive journalism, and loves exploring the pros and cons of new cars, delving into deep-dive industry stories, and going for a drive just for the fun of it.
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