New York DMV Permit Written TestRules of the Road and Traffic LawsMedium
You are driving on a two-lane road and are being tailgated by another vehicle. What is the safest action you can take?
- ABrake sharply to send a message to the tailgater.
- BSlow down gradually, move to the right if possible, or change lanes when safe to allow them to pass.
- CMaintain your speed and ignore them.
- DSpeed up to create more distance between your vehicle and the tailgater.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Slow down gradually, move to the right if possible, or change lanes when safe to allow them to pass.
When being tailgated, the safest action is to allow the tailgater to pass. You can facilitate this by slowly reducing your speed, giving them more room, and moving to the right or changing lanes when it is safe to do so.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Braking sharply is aggressive and highly dangerous, potentially leading to a collision.
- C. Ignoring a tailgater does not resolve the dangerous situation and can increase stress and risk.
- D. Speeding up only encourages the tailgater to speed up as well, maintaining the unsafe following distance.
Handling Tailgaters
If you are being tailgated, the safest response is to create more space, slow down, and allow the other vehicle to pass.
- Do not engage in aggressive driving.
- Increase your following distance from the vehicle in front of you.
- Move to the right or change lanes if safe.
- Do not speed up or brake suddenly.
Memory trick: When someone's too close, don't fuss or fight, just ease up and let them out of your sight.