The manual describes noticing an aggressive driver changing lanes as they close on you from behind. What does it tell you to anticipate and do?
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A.
Anticipate they will tailgate; speed up to match the flow of traffic ahead.
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B.
Anticipate they will pull alongside; hold your lane position firmly.
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C.
Anticipate they will pass and cut you off; slow down and be ready to brake. Correct
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D.
Anticipate they need to exit; move left to give them room to the shoulder.
The answer is "Anticipate they will pass and cut you off; slow down and be ready to brake."
The manual's example says to anticipate the aggressive driver will pass and cut you off, then slow down and be ready to brake. Choosing A falls back on the freeway habit of matching prevailing speed to shed a tailgater, but that response matches the aggressive driver's pace and closes the gap you need to brake safely.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Anticipate they will tailgate; speed up to match the flow of traffic ahead.
Speeding up matches the aggressive pace instead of opening the gap the manual describes. This answer falls back on the freeway habit of matching prevailing speed to shed a tailgater.
B. Anticipate they will pull alongside; hold your lane position firmly.
Holding position contradicts the manual's guidance to slow and yield. This answer treats an aggressive driver as a right-of-way contest rather than a situation to yield out of.
D. Anticipate they need to exit; move left to give them room to the shoulder.
The example tells you to anticipate the driver will pass and cut you off, so moving left based on an assumed exit need is the wrong response. This answer reads aggressive lane changes as a rush to exit and applies the courtesy drivers extend to a merging vehicle.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in Florida. Source: Florida Driver Manual, "Handling Emergencies: Defensive Driving," p.75..
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