How to Deal With Drivers Who Tailgate

Sitting behind the wheel is arguably one of the best feelings ever. Why? Because you’re in control of your vehicle, and you have the freedom to go anywhere.

But even with all that power, there’s certainly one thing you won’t be able to control一how other drivers operate their cars.

You’ll come across a bunch of good drivers who know how to share the road and use their signals, but some will get under your skin with their annoying driving habits.

And if there’s one bad driving habit that nobody wants to deal with, it’s tailgating.

The Psychology of Tailgating

Imagine cruising down the freeway on a Sunday morning with the radio blasting your favorite tunes. And as you’re taking your sweet time, you hear a honk that’s loud enough to drown out the voice of your favorite singer.

All of a sudden, you see a vehicle trailing so close that there are barely two inches between you and them when there are plenty of unoccupied lanes!

So why do drivers tailgate, anyway?

It all boils down to human psychology.

According to an article by Monash University senior research fellow Amanda Stephens, when a person has less time, it becomes more precious. And for a driver, getting to the destination becomes his ultimate goal.

So when a person sees an obstacle in front of them, which in this case is another vehicle that’s moving too slowly, they perceive that as something that’s getting in the way of achieving their goal.

As a result, the driver becomes frustrated or aggressive, and tailgating becomes their way of telling the other driver to go faster or move out of the way.

Stephens also noted that driving is an activity where you have to make quick judgments, which are generally affected by how you’re feeling at the time.

So when you get in the car feeling frustrated, you’re most likely to feel frustrated when driving, too. You might even blame other drivers for your circumstances.

Driving with clouded judgment can lead you to underestimate the risk of aggressive driving and overestimate how much control you have over the situation.

How to Handle Tailgaters

There’s no better way to deal with tailgaters than to channel your inner zen warrior. An annoying driver riding your tail can rile you up, but try your best not to let it get to your head.

If you know you’re not in the wrong, then there’s no need to worry about how you’re driving. Simply follow the rules of the road, and ignore the vehicle behind you.

Don’t Become the Driver Everybody Hates

Compared to driving while using a mobile phone, tailgating is more likely to end up in a crash.

On certain occasions, the pressure of being tailgated can become too much and tempt you to slam on the brakes to teach the other driver a lesson.

Sometimes, you might even think about trying to lose the vehicle behind you until you’re the one who ends up tailgating another car.

Don’t become the driver everybody hates. Instead, try to keep these tips in mind to keep calm while you’re on the road.

Before Driving

Plan your trips ahead of time to avoid any unwanted surprises down the road. It’s also important to recognize your feelings before getting in the car, as these emotions can greatly affect your driving style.

While Driving

Try to keep yourself calm throughout your journey. Consider performing deep breathing exercises or listening to calming music.

You might also want to try avoiding the right lane, as this lane is usually for slow drivers.

Other Annoying Driving Habits

Tailgating is only one of the many annoying habits bad drivers are guilty of doing. Here’s a list of the other ones.

Texting While Driving

Turning your head away from the road for a split second is enough to result in an accident. Unfortunately, drivers don’t realize this before it’s too late.

A lot of drivers think that answering a call or sending a short text message is harmless, but it’s one of the leading causes of traffic collisions.

Always remember that focus is key when you’re on the road, so avoid any form of distraction as much as you can. If you’re receiving an important call, it’s best to pull over first.

Ignoring Blind Spots

Failure to check blind spots can be dangerous, especially when you’re switching lanes. Make good use of your side mirrors to avoid collisions.

Not Using Turn Signals

Communicate with other drivers using turn signals. These lights let them know whenever you’re making a turn, so they can adjust their speed accordingly.

Failure to use turn signals might seem like a small thing you can ignore, but it can get pretty annoying when you’re trailing a car that doesn’t use them.

Driving Faster at a Yellow Light

It’s a widely known fact that a yellow light is a signal to slow down. But for some reason, some drivers take it as a sign to go faster before the red light comes on.

Driving faster at a yellow light is extremely dangerous, mainly because you don’t know how much time you have before you can cross the road safely.

If the yellow light comes on, don’t take your chances and simply wait for the stoplight to turn green again.

Parking Illegally

A lot of drivers who are always in a rush tend to cross some lines, especially when it comes to occupying marked parking spaces.

Taking over handicapped parking spaces, red zones, and curbs that aren’t meant to be occupied will only make you a terrible driver.

Even when you’re in a hurry to park your car, it’s not an excuse to occupy marked areas. Plus, you’re taking away the spot for someone who needs it.