You’re a safe, careful driver, but you know that you share the road with some people who certainly are not. They speed, change lanes quickly, and always seem to be prioritizing their own desire to get somewhere more than the safety of those around them.
One day, while driving home from work, an aggressive driver starts tailgating you. You’re just driving at the speed limit, like normal, but that’s clearly not enough for them. They get so close that you’re worried they’re about to hit you. What should you do?
Tips for handling it properly
You may feel unsafe and that can cause you to want to lash out, but you shouldn’t. Instead, use these tips during the encounter:
- Do not slam on your brakes or do anything else to escalate the situation.
- Do not make gestures toward that driver. Even avoid eye contact, if you can.
- Remember that it’s not personal and they could be in a hurry, having a bad day, etc.
- Do not break the speed limit just because they want you to. Maintain your speed and drive like normal.
- If you can, it may be wise to pull over and simply let them pass.
- If this turns into a road rage situation and you’re worried, call 911. Let the police handle it, rather than doing anything on your own.
Unfortunately, you could get injured if that driver gets more upset or just causes an accident through their unsafe driving practices. If this happens, then you need to know how to seek compensation for your injuries and the related costs.