If you are being tailgated, what should you do?

Increasing your following distance when being tailgated is the safest and most effective response. By creating more space between your vehicle and the one in front of you, you allow yourself additional time to react to sudden stops or emergencies. This added distance can help prevent accidents, as it gives you room to maneuver if the vehicle in front of you were to stop suddenly, while also reducing the pressure from the tailgater behind you.

The other options may not provide the same level of safety. Flashing brake lights could confuse the tailgater or escalate the situation, signaling them to pass may not help if they are aggressive or unable to do so quickly, and reducing your speed dramatically could lead to more dangerous driving situations or might encourage the tailgater to act recklessly. Thus, increasing your following distance is a proactive and defensive driving strategy that helps maintain safety on the road.