What should you do if a vehicle is following you too closely?

• A. Tailgate to discourage tailgating.
• B. Mirror and stay at same distance.
• C. Increase following distance to allow safe stopping.
• D. Move into another lane.

Answer: (C)

When another vehicle is following closely, the main idea is to create more space in front of you so you have time to react and stop safely. Increasing the distance between you and the car in front gives you a larger buffer if you need to brake, reducing the chance of a rear-end collision from the tailgater behind you. It also helps you drive with less sudden braking or abrupt moves, which can provoke the tailgater or escalate risk. If it’s safe, you can signal and move to another lane to let the tailgater pass, but the core action is simply increasing your following distance.

The other options don’t provide the same safety benefit. Staying at the same distance or tailgating the car in front is unsafe if the traffic ahead slows down. Moving into another lane can be helpful when safe, but it isn’t the universally safest or most reliable response in all situations.