To stay safe, drivers should maintain a proper following distance. In many cases, the recommended distance is at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead.
However, you have likely encountered drivers who constantly tailgate. They may leave only one or two seconds between vehicles. They may also drive aggressively, acting as if they are trying to pressure you into speeding up.
You certainly do not want to do anything that could escalate the situation or make an accident more likely, such as brake-checking the other driver. So what should you do to keep yourself safe?
Encourage them to pass
The best outcome is often for the tailgater to simply pass your vehicle. This allows them to continue driving dangerously elsewhere, so you are no longer at risk of being involved in a crash.
Gradually slowing down can sometimes help because it gives the other driver more room and time to pass safely when there are openings in traffic.
You may also want to consider merging into another lane if you are on a multilane road. Simply getting out of the way of the tailgater can help prioritize your own safety and the safety of everyone else in your vehicle.
In more extreme situations, you may even want to leave the road entirely. For example, pulling into a gas station parking lot so the tailgater can continue on may only cost you a minute of your time, but it could help you avoid a serious accident.
Seeking compensation
That said, even if you do everything correctly, a tailgater could still cause a car accident that leaves you injured. If this happens, you may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.