Practice question

If you are tailgated, what is the recommended action?

  1. Brake suddenly to discourage tailgaters.
  2. Signal to the tailgater to speed up.
  3. Increase your following distance and allow the tailgater to pass when safe.
  4. Move to the far left lane immediately.

Answer: C — Increase your following distance and allow the tailgater to pass when safe.

When a vehicle is tailgating, the safest move is to create more space and let the tailgater pass when it’s safe. Increasing your following distance gives you extra time to react if traffic slows or the vehicle in front brakes, reducing the risk of a rear-end collision. If it’s safe to do so, you can move to the right lane to let them pass. Avoid braking suddenly, which can provoke a crash, and don’t try to signal them to speed up or move abruptly to another lane in a way that could surprise other drivers.

Practice more: Traffic School Module Practice Test →