In the last few blocks,
you can't help wondering.
Am I being followed?
Oh no.
Your worst fear has just been confirmed.
Celebrities aren't the only people
dealing with stalkers and followers.
This could very easily happen to you.
An ex-lover, a stranger with road rage
or even a crazed stalker
could be approaching on your tail.
Well, the situation is about to get real.
So if you want to survive, buckle up
and follow these steps.
Does the car behind you look familiar?
Have you seen it before?
According to ex-CIA officer Jason Hanson,
seeing the same person
one time is an accident.
Seeing the same person
twice is a coincidence.
Seeing the same person
three times is an enemy action.
He adds that often,
you'll intuitively know
when something is wrong,
so listen to your gut feeling.
Turn left, turn right,
or whatever direction you can.
If the car is still behind you,
you're likely being followed.
If you're on the freeway,
get off and then immediately get back on.
You're probably being followed
if the other vehicle is still with you.
You can also try switching lanes
or slowing down to a safe
speed and allow the cars
around you to pass you.
If the suspected car
is still behind you,
you're almost definitely being followed.
If you're on a highway
such as country backroads,
you can still make multiple turns
depending on where you are.
Or you can pull over
and let the car pass you.
If you do this,
make sure you lock your doors
in case the other car's
driver tries to get to you.
This is also not a good time
to go to your destination.
It could give your follower
more information
about where they could find you
if they decide to give up
and try another day.
It would be best
if you keep driving
until the person chasing you
loses interest or until
you have police assistance.
Now that you are
sure you're being followed,
it's important to let your tail know
you're on to them.
Rather than stopping
and confronting the person,
maintain your speed.
Take note of their license plate
or the type of vehicle
in case this escalates,
and you have to call the police.
If they get close enough,
make sure they see you make eye contact.
This alone could scare them off.
You do not want to confront
whoever is chasing you
because they could be
armed and dangerous.
Even if you're alone, take comfort
from the strength in numbers.
And those numbers
will be the cars around you.
You'll want to be in an area
where there are rarely any stops.
Try to keep with the flow of traffic,
no slower or faster.
A freeway or major
highway will be your best option.
As long as you keep moving,
your follower will have
fewer chances to get to you.
Don't try to outrun your
tail by picking up speed.
And high speed car chases
usually don't end well,
mainly because uncontrollable
traffic situations
and poor driving skills.
In short, speed kills.
According to a nine year
study that ended in 2002,
police car chases cost
3,146 fatalities in the U.S.
What's even more
unfortunate is the study found that
1,088 of the deaths
happened to innocent bystanders.
Without driving at dangerously
high speeds,
try weaving through traffic.
And use larger vehicles
like big trucks as a visual barrier
between you and your tail.
If you can, tuck in front of a large truck
and then exit quickly
onto a different road.
Your tail could completely
miss your turn and lose you.
This term means making a quick left
turn before yielding
to oncoming traffic
as the light changes from red to green.
Keep in mind that this only works
if there is no advance
green light for left turns.
This causes your tail
to get trapped behind oncoming traffic,
and it's likely a move
they won't even suspect
you'll make because
it's pretty risky and rare.
If you are successful
and you're able to put cars
between you and your tail,
get off the road right away.
Keep an eye on your tail,
call 911, and let them know the situation
and your location.
Hopefully, during this whole ordeal,
you were able to remember your tail's
license plate number
and give the police as
many details as possible.
It's all about staying
calm and being smart
rather than recklessly
trying to outrun your tail,
because the last thing you want
is to end up in a serious car crash.
But if you do, don't worry.
We've got the perfect video
to help you survive that.
To be prepared and stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.