Are you ever heading home or out and about running errands when you get the feeling someone is following you? Did you inadvertently cut someone off in traffic and now they're following you? Even if there is no discernible reason that someone is following you, it doesn't mean that they aren't!
Maybe you're headed somewhere new or that you frequent less often. Between road construction, attending festivals and events, and simply going to new places, you will find yourself in unfamiliar areas or places that you don't go to as much. With most of your mental effort being placed on knowing where to go and how to get where you're headed, it can become difficult to pay close attention to who is around; especially someone following you in traffic.
Want to know what actually works when someone starts following you?
#1 - Sniff Out the Tail
Many years ago, delivery companies like FedEx and local school bus services were experimenting with techniques to reduce the number of accidents by requiring their drivers to only make right turns. While this did reduce accidents slightly, the idea actually created a fool proof way to determine if you're being followed! If you continuously make left turns only or right turns only, the person following you will have to follow suit if they want to continue tailing you. While it could take several turns over a few miles, this technique should make it pretty obvious if the person is actually following you.
Another simple and easy way to identify a tail is to behave as if you're turning one direction and then cancel the turn or turn the opposite direction if possible. If you're on the interstate or longer stretch of road, take the next exit and then get back on the interstate or highway immediately afterward. Again, the tail must follow suit and will be forced to make it obvious that they are following you. Just be careful as this can be dangerous if you have to stop often.
Some will say going faster or trying to "lose the tail" is the best option. It's actually not. That's just dangerous, puts pedestrians and other drivers at risk, and is likely illegal. Instead, do the opposite. Slow down to roughly 5 mph under the posted speed limit and see if the tail stays on you for a long period of time. Most people would likely pass you for being a slow poke, and it will be obvious you have a tail if the person decides to stick around despite your decreased speed.
Lastly, take a different way home as much as possible every day! Remember that it's harder for someone to tail you if they are trying to follow you from some other location than your job, gym, or that coffee house you love. By taking a different way home every day, you are more unpredictable and therefore better defended!
Tip #2 - Keep Moving, Prepare, Buy Time
First, remember that going home or to your next stop is now a decidedly bad idea since you may have a tail. Do NOT drive home. You will simply be telling the bad guys where you live. Even if they choose not to have an encounter with you today, they now know where to find you AND your family. You'll want to keep moving at a safe speed and do so in a useful direction or to another location. The tail is likely waiting for you to stop and exit your vehicle or hoping that you don't notice them until you reach your destination. If there is going to be a confrontation, make sure it's on your terms or, better yet, prevent the confrontation altogether!
Yes, while it's uncomfortable to think about, it is now time to consider readying your firearm if you are carrying one. Be mindful that you are driving and should still be focused on the road and the tail. Just make sure your firearm is accessible or have a trusted passenger help you! If you are traveling with children, keep them calm by proceeding as you normally would while driving. If they ask what's wrong, tell them you're just making sure they are safe. If for any reason you feel it is necessary to give them directions on what to do if you must stop, do so calmly and reassure them.
Remember that confrontation is a LAST resort. We are simply preparing for what may happen if it happens before we can get in touch with the police!
Tip #3 - Force Being Followed Toward a Desired Outcome; Divert the Tail
If you are convinced you are being followed, put those tax dollars to work and call 911! It's not a waste of time, you're not going to get in trouble, etc. Explain the situation to the dispatcher, answer their questions, and give as much information possible about the tailing vehicle, the license plate, and the occupant(s). Unless the dispatcher gives you a specific destination to drive toward, start heading toward the nearest police station and tell them you're headed there! The likelihood of an Officer or Deputy being near the station is much higher than if you are on a rural road somewhere.
As you move toward the safer area, remember that red lights, stop signs, railroad crossings, drawbridges, known construction zones, or any other place that requires you to stop are all danger zones; avoid them if you can! Instead, find the best road to take with little to no required stopping and continue to the station or destination you're being directed to. If you are unable to reach a police station, you can also call a fire station, local jail, or any other public safety-affiliated location and coordinate a basic response to the tail.
As with many things in life, it is much easier to point a situation's momentum in the right direction (toward a police station) than to confront it head on! Even if you have to drive for several minutes or an hour in the "wrong" direction toward a police station instead of heading home, the wait is ALWAYS worth staying safe and keeping you or your family out of harm's way. It may take time to reach the station, but there will be plenty of friends with guns and a situation which the person following you likely wants no part in...
Being Followed is No Casual Experience; Be Smart and Stay Safe!
Being followed is strange, makes us anxious, and is usually an indicator that trouble is close. Just remember that you have options. Determine if the person is actually following you and keep driving without stopping if possible. Prepare to defend yourself if the tail decides to force a confrontation sooner than you expect by having your firearm accessible and strategically driving to avoid stopping. Lastly, contact the police and bring the situation to them. By forcing the tail to either stop following you or interact with them, you greatly decrease the chance of a conflict!
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