Which of the following tailgating actions is recommended to reduce risk?

• A. Speed up to increase distance from the tailgater.
• B. Move to a different lane and let the tailgater pass.
• C. Brake abruptly to deter the tailgater.
• D. Ignore the tailgater.

Answer: (B)

When a rider is tailgated, safety hinges on creating space and avoiding sudden moves. The best way to reduce risk is to move to a different lane and let the tailgater pass. By changing lanes, you physically increase the distance between you and the vehicle behind, giving you more time to react if anything changes and removing you from the tailgater’s immediate pressure. This also avoids provoking a dangerous reaction from the tailgater, such as braking hard or closing in further.

Before changing lanes, signal clearly, check your mirrors and blind spots, and ensure there’s a safe gap in the adjacent lane. Once the tailgater has passed, return to your lane and maintain a safer following distance than you were previously using.

The other options—speeding up, braking abruptly, or ignoring the tailgater—raise the risk of a rear-end collision or a loss of control and do not effectively reduce danger.