Dealing with tailgaters on a daily basis can be very frustrating. Not only that, but you have to make sure that you are on-guard in order to prevent an accident. as an auto accident attorney in Orange County, we know the rules of the road. to keep a safe distance between yourself and the car in front of you in order to prevent an accident. Today I have put together a few tips on how to handle tailgaters, in the hopes that it will prevent more unnecessary injuries. If you are suffering from injuries due to an accident, contact a car accident lawyer in our office today!
Remain Calm
This is not always the easiest thing for me to do when I see someone tailgating me. However, it is probably the smartest thing to do. If you notice that someone is getting too close and you feel nervous, take a few deep breaths. Make sure you are able to stay in control of your vehicle and try to pay extra attention to your driving. If you can. try to remove yourself from the situation. Unless you are on a busy freeway, try to see if you can move into another lane in order to get out of their way.
Many times tailgaters feel they are in a hurry to get to their destination. Even so, it can be dangerous.
Maintain Your Speed
Sometimes tailgaters may get stuck behind you because your speed is inconsistent and it may not be safe to pass you. Try to keep your speed as constant as possible so they can judge whether or not it is safe to pass.
- If you have cruise control, this is a good time to take advantage of it;
- Don’t purposely change your speed just to annoy the person who is tailgating you, this can cause road rage;
- Do not allow the tailgater to make you feel that you need to speed up and put yourself and others in danger. Keep to a speed you feel comfortable at;
- When in doubt, follow a truck
- Most people are not big fans of being behind trucks in traffic, which is actually the point. If you follow and get behind a truck, you are less likely to have to deal with a tailgater. They won’t want to be behind the truck any more than you do.
Avoid Brake-Checking
I, for one, am horrible at this. I do have a tendency to brake-check people who are following too close for comfort. While it does seem logical, it doesn’t always work.
- They may not even be paying attention and will slam on their brakes. This will cause a chain reaction accident behind them;
- On the other hand, the driver may catch onto what you are doing and ignore your lights. If you need to brake for real at some point, the driver behind you may not react at all. Causing them to hit you.
If you are suffering form injuries due to the negligence of another, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your case. as accident attorneys, we know that this time can be very stressful. We want to help take that burden from your shoulders so you can focus on healing.
