Space behind — Montana Permit Test

You can help keep the driver behind at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed and signaling in advance when you must slow down.

A driver who slows with no warning gives the car behind no time to brake.

However, you can help keep the driver at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed, and signaling in advance when you must slow down.

When stopping to pick up or let off passengers, try to find a safe place out of the flow of traffic.

A car stopped in the travel lane to drop someone off is a target for the driver behind.

Stopping to pick up or let off passengers - Try to find a safe place out of the flow of traffic to stop.

If you want to parallel park with traffic behind you, put on your turn signal, pull next to the space, and let following vehicles pass before you park.

Backing into a space with a car on your bumper invites a crash with the car you are backing toward.

If you want to parallel park and there is traffic coming behind you, then put on your turn signal, pull next to the space, and allow following vehicles to pass before you park.

If you are being tailgated and there is a right lane, move over to the right.

Staying in front of a tailgater keeps them inches from your bumper mile after mile.

If you are being followed too closely and there is a right lane, move over to the right.

If you are tailgated with no right lane, wait until the way is clear and reduce speed slowly; never slow down quickly to discourage a tailgater.

Slamming on the brakes to teach a tailgater a lesson is how you get hit from behind.

If there is no right lane, wait until the way is clear then reduce speed slowly.

How can you help keep the driver behind you at a safe distance?

Keep a steady speed and signal before slowing. A driver who slows with no warning gives the car behind no time to brake. Montana Driver Manual, p.65: “However, you can help keep the driver at a safe distance by keeping a steady speed, and signaling in advance when you must slow down.”