What to Do if Someone Is Chasing You in a Car

Being chased by another driver can be frightening, but a calm, safety-focused response can reduce the risk of a crash or confrontation. If someone appears to be following or pursuing a vehicle, the priority is to get help and reach a secure, populated location—not to confront the driver or try to lose them with risky maneuvers. In an immediate threat, call 911 when it is safe to do so and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

What to Do Immediately if Someone Is Chasing You

Keep both hands available to control the vehicle, watch the road, and avoid sudden moves. If a passenger is present, ask them to call 911 and describe the situation. If driving alone, use a hands-free system when possible, or wait until stopping in a safe place to call. Do not text, record video, or handle a phone while driving.

1. Stay in the vehicle. Lock the doors and keep the windows closed. Do not get out to argue, exchange information, or inspect the other driver’s vehicle while the threat is active.
2. Drive toward help. Head for a police or fire station, a well-lit business that is open, or another busy place with staff and other people. A busy emergency department entrance may also offer a staffed setting.
3. Call 911. Give the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle description, and a description of the pursuing car. State whether the driver has threatened you, displayed a weapon, tried to strike your vehicle, or caused a collision.
4. Follow the dispatcher’s guidance. Stay on the line if it is safe and practical. If the dispatcher tells you to stop at a particular location or continue to a specific place, follow those instructions.
5. Drive predictably. Obey traffic signals and speed limits where possible. Leave room ahead, signal before turns, and avoid abrupt braking, illegal turns, or high-speed driving.

Emergency dispatchers may be able to direct responding officers to your location while you keep moving. If you cannot safely speak, use any emergency text-to-911 service available in your area; availability varies, so voice calls are generally preferred when possible. If you are unable to reach 911, drive to a staffed public location and ask someone there to call.

Choose a Safe Destination

The destination matters. A home address can reveal where you live and may leave you isolated if the other driver follows you there. Instead, choose a place that is open, well lit, and likely to have employees, security, or a quick connection to emergency services. A police station is a strong option when it is reasonably close and reachable without taking unsafe roads.

Do not assume that any public-looking site is safe. A closed store, empty parking lot, isolated roadside pullout, or quiet residential street may provide little help. If a business is closed or the area is empty, keep moving toward a staffed place while staying in contact with 911. Do not drive into a dead end or a secluded location in an attempt to lose the other vehicle.

If the pursuer follows you to a public destination, stay inside with the doors locked. Use the horn or hazard lights if that can attract attention without increasing danger. Tell staff or security what is happening and ask them to contact police. Do not approach the other driver or leave the vehicle unless emergency personnel or the situation makes it necessary.

How to Respond to Different Situations

If Another Driver Is Following Closely

Tailgating can be dangerous, but it does not always mean a driver is deliberately pursuing someone. Avoid brake-checking, gesturing, shouting, or speeding up to provoke a reaction. When traffic and road conditions permit, create space ahead so there is less need for abrupt braking. If the driver’s behavior escalates or continues across multiple turns, contact 911 or local law enforcement from a safe, hands-free setup.

If Someone Is Trying to Force You to Stop

Do not stop in a secluded place just because another driver signals, flashes lights, or gestures for you to pull over. If you are unsure whether the vehicle is an unmarked police car, call 911, explain what is happening, and ask the dispatcher to confirm or guide you to a safe location. Keep your movements calm and visible. Laws and procedures can vary by state, so follow dispatcher instructions and any clear, lawful direction from an identifiable officer.

If the Other Driver Blocks the Road

Do not try to ram another vehicle or squeeze through a gap that could cause a serious crash. Keep the doors locked, create distance if there is a safe route, and call 911. If the car is trapped and escape is not possible, stay inside unless remaining there creates an immediate danger, such as fire or a hazardous crash. Tell the dispatcher where you are and what the other driver is doing.

If a Collision Occurs

Safety comes first after a crash. If the vehicle can move and staying where it is creates an immediate danger, move to a nearby safe location and tell 911 where you are. If it cannot move, or if anyone may be injured, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s directions. Do not approach the pursuing driver. If the scene is safe, check for injuries and share relevant information with responders. Do not leave an injury crash without contacting emergency services.

What Not to Do While Being Chased

• Do not drive faster than you can safely control the vehicle. Speeding can turn a threatening encounter into a serious crash and may endanger other road users.
• Do not make sudden or illegal maneuvers. Avoid running red lights, driving the wrong way, cutting across lanes, or using sidewalks to escape.
• Do not lead the person to your home, workplace, or a child’s school. Choose a staffed public location or follow directions from 911 instead.
• Do not confront or threaten the other driver. Gestures, shouting, or displaying a weapon can escalate the situation.
• Do not stop on a deserted road to investigate. Keep distance and move toward help if the vehicle remains operational.
• Do not rely on a phone app or social media post instead of emergency services. Call 911 for an immediate threat.

How to Tell Whether a Vehicle Is Following You

One car appearing behind a driver for a few turns does not prove intentional pursuit. Drivers often share the same route, and traffic can make vehicles seem closer than they are. Concern rises when a driver repeatedly mirrors several turns, follows through route changes that do not make sense, tries to block or strike the vehicle, makes threats, or continues after the driver heads toward a busy public place.

There is no need to conduct a test by making abrupt turns, speeding up, or driving into a remote area. Such tests can create a crash or increase exposure. Instead, continue toward a staffed location and call 911 if the behavior feels threatening or becomes dangerous. Share observable details with the dispatcher rather than guessing about the other person’s motives.

Information to Give 911

Clear, factual details help dispatchers assess the threat and direct responders. If possible, provide:

• Your current location, nearby cross streets, highway name, direction of travel, and landmarks.
• The make, model, color, and license plate of the pursuing vehicle, if you can see them safely.
• A description of the driver, but only if it can be observed without taking attention from driving.
• What the driver is doing: following, threatening, blocking, attempting to hit the car, or displaying a weapon.
• Your own vehicle description, the number of occupants, and whether anyone is hurt.
• Your planned destination or the location where you intend to stop.

Do not try to read a plate or identify a person at the expense of safe driving. An incomplete description is better than a crash caused by distraction. If your location changes, update the dispatcher when you safely can.

If the Person Is Someone You Know

A pursuit involving an ex-partner, family member, coworker, or acquaintance can present added risks. Do not stop to negotiate or assume that a familiar person will not cause harm. Call 911 if there is immediate danger, and tell the dispatcher about any prior threats, protective orders, or known weapons if relevant. Follow any safety plan developed with a domestic violence advocate, law enforcement agency, or other qualified service provider.

Once safe, consider asking a trusted person to accompany you and arrange a secure place to stay. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or by text by sending START to 88788. If calling or texting could be monitored, use a safer device when possible. These services are not a replacement for 911 during an immediate emergency.

After You Reach Safety

Remain in a secure place and tell responding officers what happened. Make a factual record as soon as practical: the time, route, vehicle description, statements or threats, witnesses, and any damage or injuries. Save relevant messages, call logs, dashcam footage, or photographs if they were captured safely. Do not edit or post potentially sensitive evidence before speaking with investigators.

If the incident involved a crash, injury, threats, or property damage, ask responding officers how to obtain the report and what follow-up is appropriate. Contact your insurer if the vehicle was damaged, and seek medical care if anyone may be injured. If the same person has made repeated threats, share the pattern with law enforcement and ask about local victim-support resources or protective options. Requirements and available services vary by location.

Practical Ways to Prepare

Preparation can make it easier to respond without panic. Keep your phone charged and accessible, set up hands-free calling before driving, and know how to contact emergency services from your vehicle. A passenger can be assigned to call 911 and note details while the driver focuses on the road. If traveling with children, tell them in simple terms to stay buckled and quiet while the driver gets help.

Drivers can also identify nearby police stations and 24-hour businesses along regular routes, but a planned destination should never replace live emergency guidance. A dashcam may document events, though it should not distract the driver or be handled while the vehicle is moving. The central rule remains simple: avoid confrontation, drive safely toward people and assistance, and call 911 when there is an immediate threat.