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| Home | > | Drivers | > | Driving Alone | > | Being followed |
What to do if you think someone is following ...
The first thing to remember here, is that it's rare to be followed by someone who might have bad intent towards you when you are driving. 
However, if you think that you are being followed, you need to keep calm and act rationally.
The starting point is remembering that you are in control of the situation and safe in your car.
Next you need to remember a few simple 'do's and don'ts'.
Am I being followed, or just paranoid?
If you think that you are being followed you can check by driving around the block.
Choose a road you know. If you are in a strange area, or on a motorway, drive around a one-way system or a roundabout a couple of times. Make sure that you stick to major routes to avoid the risk of turning into a dead end road.
If the other car stays with you it is reasonable to assume that it is following. stay calm and take action.
What can I do?
Knowing that you are being followed means that you are in control - you are the leader.
The simplest action is to drive to a police station, fire station, or similar, somewhere that there will be people. If you are in a strange area drive to a busy place, a petrol station is ideal.
Draw attention to yourself by flashing your lights and sounding your horn it's not necessary to get out of the car - you can keep the doors locked. Keep driving until you reach a safe place.
Drive in a calm measured way at a sensible safe speed - if you try to 'get away' by driving fast to 'shake off' the following driver you risk having an accident.
Practice reading number plates backwards (in your mirror). Call 112 (999) on your mobile phone and explain where you are, the colour of your car and details of the 'follower'. Remember the dangers of using a mobile phone on the move and pull up in a busy place, or hard shoulder (this is an emergency) to make the call if possible - if you have to make the call on the move stay calm and reduce your speed. |
Should I pull over?
Helping or threatening?
If another driver gestures that you should stop because there is a problem with your car, drive on to stop in a place where there are other people.
If your car breaks down and another person approaches, lock the doors and keep the windows closed. Explain (through closed windows) that they should call the police for you. If you have a phone, tell them that you are OK and have called the police for help.
When help arrives, check the credentials of the helper, most rescue services have uniforms and clearly marked vehicles. If not they should have ID badges.
Click the forward arrow for advice about how to survive if you are stopped...
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