There you are, innocently driving the speed limit, when a guy in a pickup truck comes riding up your bumper. For some reason, Mr. Important is in a hurry, and he’s going to let you know all about it. He honks. He might even flip you the bird. But worst of all, he’s impeding your ability to drive safely—all because you’re going the speed limit.
Tailgating is nothing new, and though it’s an incredibly dangerous form of aggressive driving, that hasn’t stopped people from weaving through traffic or flashing their high beams. And sure enough, there’s never a police officer in sight. Rather than lose your cool right back at them, let’s explore the best ways to deal with these so-called motorists!
Keep a Level Head
It’s easy to see red when someone kisses your bumper. Not only is it annoying, but we also have this internal desire to finally put a tailgater in their place. The thing is, that knee-jerk response won’t get you anywhere. If anything, it only exacerbates the problem and makes it even more dangerous for you.
The smartest thing you can do is ignore them. Whether or not tailgaters want attention is up for debate, but they certainly want to get a rise out of you. You know better than anyone that peeling your eyes off the road to flip someone off or weaving through lanes to shake them endangers other motorists. Don’t give them the time of day.
It’s just as important to maintain your own safe driving habits. Don’t let these motorists intimidate you; if they want to zoom past the speed limit, that’s their prerogative. But you know better. Let them be the ones to catch speeding tickets, impounded cars, and points on their license.
Don’t Stoop to Their Level
Look, you’re not alone in wanting to mess with tailgaters! How easy it would be to brake-check them…or switch lanes just to give them a piece of your mind. But there’s no rhyme or reason to tailgating, and when another motorist gets aggressive, matching their energy diverts your focus even further. Trust us, you’re not going to teach Mr. Cool a lesson—but you will endanger yourself.
Just move over. It’s one of the easiest ways to deal with them. Unless that driver has a particular can of worms to open, they’re just going to pass and go about their day. Now you’re free to keep driving without causing a scene on the road or risking an accident.
You can also keep an eye out for incoming speeders. You know the drill: situational awareness is a cornerstone of good driving, and most of the time, you can spot these motorists a mile away. If they’re crawling up your butt, get out of the way before they even have a chance to do so.
Know When to Report It
A hard truth is that some tailgating is caused by our driving. While you shouldn’t let aggressive drivers bully you off the road, you might want to think about your habits to ensure you’re efficient behind the wheel. For example, if you tend to cruise around in the fast lane, you’re bound to tick off a few people.
Most of the time, bad driving stems from personal issues. If you’re aggressive, you’re aggressive, and there’s not much else you can do besides get out of someone’s way. However, there’s no shame in reporting dangerous habits, especially if they’re repetitive or coupled with other hazards, like ignoring stop signs and blowing through red lights. Hit-and-run accidents are another huge red flag.
For the most part, it’s best not to get involved in one-off incidents. Repeat offenders are another story. If you can score a license plate or even a detailed description of the vehicle, report it. You might not hear back from authorities, but you can at least rest easy knowing you tried to keep the road safe.
Driving Home for Christmas
With the Christmas season upon us, road rage is bound to occur. Unfortunately, it’s ultimately up to you to watch out for your passengers and yourself (as much as we’d like to believe that terrible driving will catch up with the offenders one day).
Make sure you give yourself ample time to get around this year. Remember that roads will undoubtedly be packed with Christmas shoppers and out-of-towners, which means a greater potential for backlog and terrible driving habits. The more time you leave yourself, the better a chance you have to reach your destination without tearing out your hair.
Tailgating can happen at any time, and no one likes dealing with it. But it’s important to keep your eyes on the road and ignore them. If they want to act like children, you can certainly treat them that way!
