Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Permit Practice Test

If another vehicle is driving behind you too closely, what is a safe response?

1. Brake suddenly

2. Change lanes to allow them to pass

3. Speed up

4. Ignore them

The correct answer is: Change lanes to allow them to pass

Changing lanes to allow the vehicle behind you to pass is a safe and appropriate response when you find yourself being tailgated or closely followed. This action helps to reduce the risk of an accident that could occur if you were to brake suddenly, especially if the driver behind you is not maintaining a safe distance. By changing lanes, you give the aggressive driver an opportunity to move ahead and potentially eliminate the stress or danger that can arise from their close proximity. Braking suddenly can create a dangerous situation, as the tailgater may not have enough time to react, leading to a rear-end collision. Speeding up may only exacerbate the situation, encouraging reckless behavior from the driver behind. Ignoring the situation is also not advisable, as it does not address the potential hazards posed by the close-following vehicle. Hence, allowing the vehicle to pass by changing lanes is the safest option in this scenario.