The best way to protect yourself when someone is driving too closely behind you is to
- gradually increase the space in FRONT of you ✓
- leave more space BEHIND
- honk and flash your brake lights
- brake quickly and then speed up again
Answer: A. gradually increase the space in FRONT of you
The best way to protect yourself from a tailgater is to gradually increase the space in front of you.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says you cannot control the space behind you the same way you control the space in front. When someone follows too closely, it suggests slowing down a little so you gain more room ahead. With that extra room, if you need to stop you can do it more gradually, which lowers the chance the driver behind will run into you. Moving to another lane or pulling over to let the tailgater pass are listed as other choices.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. leave more space BEHIND — The handbook makes the point that you cannot manage the space behind you the way you manage the space in front, so adding room behind is not something you can do.
- C. honk and flash your brake lights — Honking and flashing your brake lights is not among the responses the handbook gives for a tailgater.
- D. brake quickly and then speed up again — Braking quickly and then speeding up again is not a suggested response, and sudden braking cuts the time you have to stop gradually.
Remember it
You can't push a tailgater back, so give yourself room ahead instead: a little less speed buys you a little more space in front.
Official handbook: ICBC Learn to Drive Smart, Chapter 5: see-think-do – Do, p. 74