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Difficulty: MediumSpeed Control and Following Distance

You are traveling at 55 mph55\text{ mph} on a rural two-lane highway when another driver begins tailgating your vehicle closely from behind. According to safe driving practices, what is the most appropriate adjustment to your speed and following distance?

  1. A
    Maintain the posted speed limit and reduce your following distance from the vehicle ahead to prevent other cars from merging into your lane.
  2. Gradually slow down to encourage the tailgater to pass, while increasing your following distance from the vehicle ahead.Answer
  3. C
    Speed up beyond the posted speed limit to open up a larger gap between your vehicle and the tailgater.
  4. D
    Maintain your speed and the standard three-second following distance without adjustments, as following distance rules apply only to adverse weather conditions.

Answer

Gradually slow down to encourage the tailgater to pass, while increasing your following distance from the vehicle ahead.
When followed closely by a tailgater, increasing your following distance in front of your vehicle creates a larger safety buffer. This allows you to brake smoothly if obstacles appear, giving the driver behind enough time to slow down without colliding with your vehicle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the hazard created by the tailgating driver.
Recognize that a tailgater eliminates your rear safety cushion, making sudden braking extremely dangerous.
If an emergency requires you to stop quickly, the vehicle behind is likely to cause a rear-end collision.
2
Adjust your speed and forward following distance.
Ease off the accelerator slightly and expand your following distance behind the lead vehicle to four seconds or more.
A larger forward gap enables gradual deceleration if a hazard appears, giving the tailgater sufficient time to react or an opportunity to pass safely.

Key Concept

Adjusting speed and expanding following distance when tailgated to prevent rear-end collisions
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Topics

Speed Control and Following Distance

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