Car following you late at night - what to do?

[RS3RS]

This is just a hypothetical situation that I came up with while I was driving home. Figured I'd give it to you guys to see what you think about the situation.

Okay, so you're driving home late at night when not many cars are out on the road. You notice a car behind you that has taken all of the same turns as you, and you're kind of suspicious.

You take a few turns that no person would logically make - a circle around a block or something - and confirm that the vehicle is in fact following you.

You don't know what the car is, or what their intentions are, and as such, you obviously wouldn't want to drive back to your house since you wouldn't want whoever this is to know where you live in case they aren't exactly friendly for one reason or another.

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons. This could be a well-planned out robbery where the person is gathering information, or it could just be a private investigator that someone hired, or just some teens screwing with you.

So what do you do? Do you just not worry about it and head home? Do you try to lose the car? Do you phone the police and see if they can do anything? Do you try to confront the individual?

Discuss.

 

[JohnKSa]

Go to a well-lit, very public place. If you have a cell phone, have the police meet you there.

If you don't have a cell phone and there is no good place to go that is reasonably close, you might try losing them, but that's risky for a lot of obvious reasons. I'd test their resolve, but if they are persistent, it's probably better to back off at that point. Getting killed or hurt in a car accident, or worse yet, killing or hurting an innocent "by-driver" is not what you want.

You definitely don't want to create a confrontation. THEY may force a confrontation, but you don't want that if you can reasonably avoid one. And while you're in a working vehicle, you can probably reasonably avoid a confrontation if you don't get hemmed in. People often get killed or hurt in armed confrontations. My guess is that you don't want to get killed or hurt. (Remember, the good guys don't always win like they do in the movies.)

 

[sm]

BTDT and how many T shirts you want?

-Head to the nearest Fire Station, LEO Station/ Sub-station, or if see a LEO parked, flash lights to get attention.

-Head to a well lighted place - best if have people. If you have a cell phone, and can safely call and drive, call LEO direct.

-Cul-de-sacs can be a "circle of death" . I live on one. One way in and out does not leave one any options to evade - you have just boxed ( circled ) yourself in.

Mine for instance has fences in folks back-yards, so no way to drive thru a yard to evade, meaning no safety of vehicle and once on foot you have to deal with dogs and that back fence. Boxed, cornered, circled...whatever.

-Best to use that brain and vehicle to one's best advantage.

There is nothing wrong in safely taking a left turn on Red and making it to a Fire Station and laying on the horn. You do apologize, and tell the LEO officer honestly that you did take a illegal turn and were in fear. You give best description of vehicles ( lucky me I had two) and Fire Fighters make the best coffee and have great snacks they share with you and LEO officers. The LEO will later follow you home to make sure you arrive safe.

Take a defensive driving course.

If a normal traffic route , do take alternate routes to be aware of any changes and stay familar. For instance any road-work, detours, would not be a great find in the need you had to take one.

For instance I commute to College, I have two night classes that run until 9pm or later- road construction has been going on for some time. Last week the normal entrance ramp I take to get home was closed...the suggested detour is not a good place to be at night to get to "next" entrance ramp. So I took another safer route ( albeit longer) to access freeway.

Cul-de-sac again - not long ago I could not get home. I literally sat in a Parking lot with LEOs and such and had to wait. There is one "main" street leading into neighborhood, all Our cul-de-sac's "T" off of it.

There had been a shooting, LEOs and Dogs working the neighborhood. Not only was my street/ cul-de-sac blocked - but with that one street blocked ("main") everybody elses too...NOBODY could enter or leave.

-I have pulled into Hosptials to Emergency Recieving areas - usually a LEO and or Hosptial Security around.

And if you head to the side gate of a Military camp - keep your hands on the windshield ( for some reason steering wheel did not seen "good enough") and tell the BIG guys with Rifles what the Problem is. MPs are understanding and one will call the Local LEO to come and escort you from gate. Said LEO will let you hang around his station for a bit and when things are safe have someone make sure you get back out onto Freeway safe.

BIG MPs sure do make them "eevil black rifles" look small.
Really nice folks - Professional, and really nice once matters explained and understood. I can understand and appreciate being a bit "stern" when some guy just wheels up to a gate and hollers "help".

 

[smince]

Almost 18 years ago, just married and not as "tactically saavy" as I am now, we had a car follow us home one night. We live in a small town subdivision, rural on the edge of town. It was obvious we were being followed.

Problem #1: Our fire station is volunteer, and no one is manning it 24/7, or at best, only one person.

Problem #2: Ditto, our PD. One officer and a civilian dispatcher per shift. Chances of him being at the PD are slim, as there is a good bit of area to patrol(Makes a good case for 2nd ammendment).

I did head to the house, pulled into my drive and turned the car into the front yard to put it between myself and the following vehicle. Told my wife to get into the floor of the car(she had drawn her Colt .380 she carries). The vehicle did turn into my driveway, but the occupants did a quick reverse when they saw me in the headlights holding a 1911 and a Mag-light (pre-Surefire) at low ready.

Report was made, nothing ever came from it that I know of.

There are more officers on duty and 24hr quickie stores in the area now. I would probably do different now if it happened. This was in the days when cell-phones were the large expensive bag type and not everyone had them.

 

[hso]

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons.

That side will get you killed and/or in jail.

Drive to the nearest police gathering place or call 911.

 

[Hemicuda]

Either find a LEO, well lit public area, or...

USE that extra lever on the floor, the lift kit, and those big, expensive tires to simply go somewhere the other car can't go... (park on their roof as a final option...)

 

[WT]

Something similar happened to my secretary. She noticed she was being followed and she turned into an all night convenience store. The guy behind her followed her in. Turned out that he was a uniformed policeman in an unmarked vehicle. He was following her because her tail lights weren't working. She was pretty shook up at first and gave the officer a piece of her mind. He did not give her a ticket.

Yes, he really was a cop on duty.

 

[Edmond]

Happened to me a few years ago. I was driving my Corvette through some areas that I was not familiar with, they were yuppy neighborhoods. A Crown Vic is on my rear and turning where I turn. I went a few over the speed limit. They turn on the lights and asked me if I was lost, I was lost and having a car following me didn't help. I had a cup of grape juice and they asked me if that was just juice and I said yes. They said, "Follow us and we'll take you back to Harlem." They didn't mention anything about the speeding or the rolling stops.

The thing is, if they can get your plate, they can already get where you live. Does that mean I would drive home immediately? No. From a private investigators point of view, I would call the local PD and drive straight to the police station. If I really want to lose someone, and this may not be possible in all situations but it is where I live, get to the expressway ramps. Right before the expressway ramps, pull off to the side of the road and see what that car does. Force them to make a choice. If they pull up behind you, you know they're looking for trouble. If they're dumb enough to pull up in front of you, get their plates. Either way, call the police.

 

[JamisJockey]

The culdesac is a no-no. Forget the legal reasons. You're backing yourself into a corner with an unknown number of attackers. You also don't know why you're being pursued. Attacker, or good samaritian? Old friend who wants to reuinte, or stalker?
Your vehicle also gives you a means of E&E, which is the best way to stay alive and survive any encounter. It also offers you a degree of protection.
This is an easy situation to control. You just drive normally to a busy well-lit public place, preferably a Police station or Hospital (emergency room entrance is usually busiest).
You had better have a Cell-phone in your "tactical" equipment. Calling the police ahead of time means you might just be able to rondeveous with a cop at some point (who knows, maybe your pursuer is an unmarked or detective, too).
Don't drive past your house, don't go home, don't go to a relatives house.

 

[Sheldon J]

A few weeks back

The culdesac is a no-no. Forget the legal reasons. You're backing yourself into a corner with an unknown number of attackers. You also don't know why you're being pursued. Attacker, or good samaritian? Old friend who wants to reuinte, or stalker?

I was on the way to church (mid day service) with the family, out of state van in front of me had no brake lights, he made a bunch if turns, that just happen to be the way to church. Pulls into lower drive and parks on the end of the lot, I pulled up beside him, rolled down the side and made for him to do likewise, he looked nervious, I then told him he had no brake lights, and that this was where I was going and that if he wished to stay I would have a look at his lights after service if he liked. He thanked me and left. Was he paranoid that he was being followed, was he lost, he was alone, not dressed for church, minor PD to rear of small van, yes I had the HK.

 

[thorazine]

Happened to me twice,

Each time (after confirming I was beliving followed) I found a safe place to stop, park and exit my vehicle. I proceeded to run around my car in circles smacking the top of my head while making fire engine sounds.

Got back in my car and left.

Other car never moved an inch.

 

[JohnKSa]

A novel solution.

Not very tactical, is it...

 

[1 old 0311]

I was managing a service department at a large dealership. We were open till midnight. One night I locked the building, and headed for the gates to lock them. I noticed a car sitting across the street with the engine running (exhaust smoke) lights off, and 3 guys in the car. I thought strange but what the hell.
I started driving home, and they tucked in behind me. I made 5 turns, and they continued to follow. I thought I sure didn't want a gunfight in my front yard, so I pulled into a empty parking lot, got my Glock 19 from the car, and got out. They slowed down to a stop, looked me over, and realized they no longer had the upper hand. They then did what all punks do.........Got the hell out of there.
That 33 round pre ban mag with Hydra Shoks was a very nice equalizer.

Kevin

 

[tegemu]

I have seen self defense experts say that whatever you do, do NOT go to your home. Now they know where you live. Whatever choice you make to resolve the situation can most likely be done just as well somewhere else.

 

[JamisJockey]

Kevin:
You're lucky they didn't just run you down....you left the sanctuarary of your Tactical Regroup Vehicle (Sounds cooler than your "get the hell out of there car")

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Two women told me about passing the deranged boyfriend of a friend
of theirs who passed them going in opposite directions: he U-turned
and pursued them apparently to get info from them about the girl
friend's where abouts.

They pulled into the very well litten parking lot of the local Justice
Center, home to over a hundred local police and sheriff's deputies.

 

[Johnny_Yuma]

Tactical Side

The tactical side of you says to find a cul-de-sac, turn around, block off the road in front of them and draw - but that obviously won't work for legal reasons. This could be a well-planned out robbery where the person is gathering information, or it could just be a private investigator that someone hired, or just some teens screwing with you.

I strongly suggest that you get that "tactical side" of your's some decent training before it boxes you into dead-end you've got no way out of.

One of the first things a good officer survival instructor should teach is never go into a place you don't know that way out of. As soon as you pull into that cul-de-sac, a tailing driver intent on doing you harm will block your car in. What are you going to do if five armed passengers pile out of that big SUV blocking the exit to the cul-de-sac while the driver counterblocks your attempts to exit? In about 15 seconds, some of those five will have flanked you and they can have their way with you at that point.

JY

 

[Warren]

This one time I was being followed by a couple of people that were harrassing me so I rammed them.

The all steel front bumper on my '70 Camaro totally owned the cheap steel that the other car's foriegn doors were made of.

I felt great, though it was a stupid move and I don't recommend it. They never bothered me -like that- again. In fact I ended being the best man at the passenger's wedding and he at mine.

 

[Crosshair]

Quite simple method to first use to see if they really are following you, The four turn method. Just drive in a circle (four turns) and if they are still behind you then you are likely being followed. I have used it a few times to satisfy my paranoid side.

 

[bcolorado]

There was a case here several years ago where a man followed a lady after her shift at a casino in mountains. She drove to a police station , on the grass, he caught her as she stopped her car and killed her later that evening.

three things work...
cell phone, cell phone, cell phone

 

[Kamicosmos]

People often snicker at me for knowing where the police, Fire stations, and hospitals are on my commonly traveled routes.

They also snickered when I was buying my house. One of the 'selling features' for me was the fact that I had 4 routes out of my neighborhood, and from there I had many routes to 3 major highways.

And besides, it's fun to 'loose the tail' every now and then. Even more fun now that I have a New Mustang.

 

[misANTHrope]

There are some good side effects to owning a Camaro, and knowing how to drive the piss out of it.

 

[pete f]

In a situation like this, crowds are your friend.

My daughter has been to driving school, (real driving school, AKA skip barber) but she has been told to go to Police station, fire station, shopping mall, All night resturant. etc. Not to worry just get there. She drives a 2002 s-10 4x4 not the biggest thing but somewhat stout, If she gets scared to the point of fearing for her life, she has been told to drive it like she stole it, get out of there, go 4 wheeling across the park, throw it in reverse and take out his radiator. try the cell phone, hit the onstar button, drive into Mcdonalds and scream at the top of her lungs, NEVER STOP< NEVER get out of the car unless she gets stuck.

My wife was chased some years ago by a looney who had been fired from her office. After making several turns and going slow, driving like mad, she finally drove across the curbs and across a school yard in 4WD pulling out going th wrong way on a one way, he was forced to try todrive around, after getting a half mile on him she was able to pull into a city public works parking garage and just screamed for help, two large truck mechanics came out to see what the ruckas and the bag guy left in plume of dust.

 

[Nitrogen]

This happened to me, real-life, earlier tonight.

Guy was tailgaiting me. I slowed down so he could pass me. Instead of passing me, he tried to run me off the road. I gunned the engine to get back ahead of him and he kept tailgaiting me. I had my fianceé call 911 while I began driving like a bat out of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks to see if I could lose him.

The manuver that finally worked was pulling along the right lane, and pretending to exit the freeway, (making sure nobody was nearby) and speeding up on the offramp. He followed me very closely. At the last second, I veered HARD left, while braking, getting back on the freeway.

I had managed to loose him, as well as almost losing a load in my shorts.

Told my fianceé that if he hit us and we stopped because he hit us, to duck below the seat and cover her ears. If the guy hit me, disabling my car, he was going NOT going to injure either of us any farther.

 

[Hemicuda]

as i said earlier... that little (and expensive) extra lever (ypu soccer-mom types might have a button on the dash) is your friend... those cars and small pickups cannot go the places my 4x4 does... so they can't follow...