How To Deal with Tailgaters when Driving

In my 30+ years of driving I’ve found the main reason someone tailgates is because they’re an arsehole.

I’ve been driving nearly forty years. The advice my dad gave me way back when I first started is just as valid today: “if someone is right behind you, it’s because they’ve caught you up. Let them come past. It’s better to watch their accident happen in front of you, than be involved in it”.

Took a defensive driving course many years ago. One thing that always stuck with me that the instructor said is to remove your emotions from the situation and don’t assume anyone’s intentions. If you do, you are allowing the other driver to unsafely dictate your actions. We don’t know if they are just an idiot, or maybe even dealing with some sort of personal emergency. All that really doesn’t matter. You control your vehicle. If there’s room to change lanes, just move over, and let them on by.

Take these bits of advice from an old man who was a long-distance truck driver across many states, many years. Slow down, slightly. Stay in the right side of the right lane. Take an exit ramp, and go across that road and get back on the same highway in a minute or so. Take a short break off the road for gas, a soda, coffee, a burger, whatever you will need, take that small break now, instead of later. Use your turn signals, use your slower speed, use the best driving you can, to do better than the ones who are driving badly. Don't make the wrong choice of driving OVER the speed limit to give them the distance YOU would like them to be at. Don't slam on your brakes in front of them, better to use your turn signal and turn off of that street, and turn back onto it in a minute. If they are road ragers and are following you, let them, just stay 10 miles under the speed limit, do not get up to top speed, or the legal speed limit. Let them pass you. They are risking a wreck, they will get to their designation one full minute before you will get to yours. . But not If a Police person does stop them, someday. Then they get to pay a ticket.

As somebody who has had a full licence for 58 years I find that smooth driving is the answer to virtually everything.

I did a speed awareness course and actually I was advised on two things, at roundabouts, go around the roundabout twice to put the tailgater in front of you. The other thing I was told is if you really feel uneasy with a tailgater, pull over the side of the road and let them pass you but look like your parking.

As an ex driving instructor I can agree with everything you say and do. I saw a sticker on the back of a car some years ago that said "The closer you get, the slower I go" 😎

Tailgating is the most stupidest and weirdest thing to do.. it actually artificially creates traffic instead of keeping it "at a steady flow"! 1000% agree with you! KEEP THE FLOW!!

One thing he didn’t mention to rid yourself of a tailgater is that you can go round a roundabout a full turn before exiting and hopefully the tailgater has gone and you end up behind them, also applies to pulling in to a lay by to let them get past.

I remember a few years ago driving slowly through heavy snow when someone stuck themselves super close right behind me, flashlight their lights trying force me to go faster... At some point the road was straight and a little bit wider so I moved to the side a bit to let them overtake... Which they did, proceeding to drive on really quickly... I carried on driving a few more minutes until I came to a sharp bend with the car that had overtaken me on its roof! I saw the driver was OK, standing next to the car, talking into his phone... And drove past thinking about who was going to get home quicker on that day!

A very well-worthwhile instruction video. When 68, I took a course of Advanced Driving lessons to get my driving up to scratch and continue (now 75) to use the same procedures. I don't want to be "some old fart" that caused an accident. Thank you and best to All.

About 10 years ago, I was driving in the Netherlands when I narrowly escaped becoming involved in a multiple vehicle dual carriageway pile up. It was the evening rush hour and both lanes were nose-to-tail doing around 30mph. I ensured that there was enough stopping distance in front of me for myself AND for the tailgater who was sitting on my tail. A sudden cloudburst resulted in a 30 vehicle pile up. The only undamaged car was mine. I had enough space to slow and stop, including slowing the car behind me. When the police arrived, they were amazed to find this lone GB plate undamaged car.

Tailgaters get me so riled up, I tend to forget where my accelerator is 😧

I frequently get tailgated because I always endeavour not to break the speed limit and lots of people seem to want to be able to do that. My solution is to pull over or slow down and then lower my drivers window, and gently wave them past. I’ve never had any aggro from this. Some of them seem to be actually quite embarrassed, and then end up driving more slowly. It’s fantastic because the stress is instantly removed. Another way is to go twice around a roundabout. Recently, I waved a white van driver past me. He actually flashed his hazard lights to thank me, and then carried on speeding — until he went around a corner to find a police camera van. 🤣

I've been driving for about 16 years now and I mostly get tailgated because I always cruise at exactly the speed limit, where possible. I always drive in the manner displayed in this video so most of the times I ignore tailgaters and pretend like they don't exist...but it's sad to see some people struggle with it. You've done a good job at demonstrating a solution to such a situation. I'm definitely recommending this video to some of my friends that are uncomfortable with tailgaters!

A few years back (pre dashcam era), I had a knackered old Toyota Celica that I picked up for £150, didn't care about and was getting rid of anyway. Late one night, I had a chav sitting right on my rear bumper with his missus, laughing to each other about how close they were. I decided that this was going to be the Celica's death rattle, and literally STOOD on the brakes. They were so close that the impact wasn't that violent lol, but the utter shock on the boyfriend's face was priceless. Turned my lights off so they couldn't get my reg plate and made good my escape through the loca rat run 😎

Been driving for 40 years & thanks to your videos I'm now still up to date with new rules & things I didn't know you had to do as back then was completely different

I do much the same but in addition, as soon as I can do so safely, I signal and pull into a safe area in order to let them go around. I have found the longer they are behind you, the more dangerous they may become. Never let a tailgater know they have aggravated you as this can also make things worse.

😂 i was once tailgated aggressively by a van with a trailer in a road where overtaking was forbidden (all while driving at maximum speed allowed). I proceeded to slow down to the minimum speed of the road and enjoyed the following 3km of the guy remembering all my ancestors… then proceeded to drive faster than him because obviously he had a damn van with a Trailer. Pure joy

Years ago, my mate used to inject RedeX direct into the carburettor, that fixed tailgaters instantly, sorry Greta (Injection was via windscreen washer hose and an oil can)