If another vehicle is tailgating your ambulance, what should you do?

Increasing your following distance is the most appropriate response when another vehicle is tailgating your ambulance. This adjustment allows for a safer buffer between you and the tailgating vehicle, minimizing the risk of a collision. By maintaining additional space, you provide yourself with more time to react to any sudden stops or emergencies that may arise in front of you, which is especially important while operating an emergency vehicle.

This strategy also helps to ensure the safety of both your crew and the tailgater. If the vehicle behind you is positioned too close, it could lead to a dangerous situation, particularly if you need to slow down or stop quickly. Increasing the distance allows you to maintain control of the ambulance while dissuading aggressive driving behaviors from the tailgater.

While using emergency lights and sirens might seem like a viable option to signal the tailgater to back off, it's generally more appropriate for directing traffic or indicating that you need to pass through intersections. Tapping the brakes intentionally to force someone to back off can be highly dangerous and is often not advisable, as it may provoke aggressive behavior. Involving the police should be reserved for serious incidents or ongoing aggressive driving, rather than a straightforward case of tailgating.