How should you respond to aggressive or tailgating drivers?

• A. Do not engage; maintain a safe following distance and consider changing lanes to allow them to pass.
• B. Return aggressive driving.
• C. Block the other vehicle to prevent tailgating.
• D. Slow down to a crawl to provoke them.

Answer: (A)

When a driver is aggressive or tailgating, the safest approach is to avoid confrontation and create space. Not engaging and keeping a safe following distance gives you more time to react if the other driver makes a sudden move. If it’s safe, changing lanes to let them pass reduces the risk of a rear-end collision and lowers the chance of escalation.

This works because tailgaters often push to pressure the lead vehicle; by letting them pass, you remove yourself from their pressure and keep the road safer for everyone. Other options—returning aggression, blocking the other vehicle, or slowing down to provoke them—can quickly lead to a crash and legal trouble, and they don’t address the real risk at hand. If you can’t change lanes, continue at a steady speed and increase your following distance to give yourself more room to react. Stay calm, avoid eye contact or gestures, and don’t engage.