I headed for home by myself at approximately 10pm.  I was...between
exits...when a car pulled into the right most lane beside me (I was in
the center lane) and started matching speeds with me.  After a minute,
I tried to slow down so he would pass.  He slowed too.  I regained my
previous speed, and he sped up with me.  Finally after a few minutes
of this, he pulled slightly ahead of me, rolled down his window and
motioned towards my tire as though something was wrong.

The man had already begun to make me nervous by driving along side me
for some distance on the mostly empty highway, and now my training
took over.  "This man is trying to get me off the road by myself here
in the dark," I thought.  This, in case you are unfamiliar with the
area, is basically the middle of nowhere.  I know my car.  I am very
careful with maintenance, and I am an experienced driver.  I know what
a flat tire feels like.  I knew my car was fine.  I put on my turn
signal and moved to the right-most lane behind the man anyway and
slowed down slightly (there is always the chance that something could
have been wrong, better to be prepared).  The other car pulled onto
the shoulder and started slowing down.  Now I knew he was definitely
trying to get me to pull over.  I passed him, he swerved back on the
road and drove right behind me.  At the next exit, there were two gas
stations.  They were well lit and there were a few people there.

I exited, he followed.  Not only this, but a car I had not previously
noticed, that was in front of us suddenly swerved off the exit when I
put my turn signal on.  I know this scenario.  I grew up in some
pretty bad areas.  I have had training in this.  At this point,
everything I had learned was in control.  I decided not to stop
anywhere.

By now there was absolutely no doubt that my car was fine.  When we
approached the stop sign at the dark, empty intersection after the gas
stations, the car ahead of me put on his left turn signal and stopped.
I checked for traffic as I approached the intersection, then pulled
around him to the right, and headed straight back for the highway.
Both the car that had been ahead and the one that had been following
me turned left across the highway and did not pursue further.

I have now carefully checked my car in a safe place when I knew I was
no longer being followed.  It is in perfect condition.  This is a
classic scenario for car jackers to use at night.  I feel lucky that I
was well prepared and didn't have to think too much about what to do.

1.   Don't ever let yourself be caught between two cars.
     Car jackers often work in pairs, attempting to corner your vehicle.
2.   Don't ever pull off the road at night by yourself in a
     dark, unpopulated place.
3.   Carry a cell phone - I'm going to get one!!
4.   Stay calm.  Don't try any tricks.  If you are in an
     accident, you are vulnerable.
5.   Remember that most criminals want easy victims...DON'T
     LET YOURSELF BECOME ONE!!!
6.   Make sure you find out how to react BEFORE you are in
     the situation!  These situations are unfortunately real and
     dangerous.  Thinking about it when it happens is too late!
7.   ALWAYS make sure you do not stop until you are CERTAIN
     that help is present (i.e., even if you are in a slight
     accident, head straight for the police station, and don't stop
     until you are there.  Car jackers often slightly damage vehicles by
     bumping them from the rear to try to get the driver to get out.)