Are you a space invader - if you tailgate the car in front, you’ll have less time to react
Tailgating causes accidents – and you don’t get an extra life in the real world.
Driving too close to the vehicle in front is dangerous and can make it impossible to avoid a collision in an emergency. Tailgating was the third most common contributory factor in deaths and serious injuries on UK motorways in 2016. In fact, tailgating is the biggest single bugbear that drivers have about other motorway users. Nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) drivers say they’ve experienced or witnessed it.
“Tailgating is a factor in 1 in 8 casualties on the strategic road network.”
Worrying footage released by Highways England shows how quickly things can go wrong when drivers tailgate the vehicle in front.
In the video, taken from the M6 in Cheshire, several cars break sharply as an unrelated incident unfolds ahead.
As you'll see, one car is struck by a HGV.
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All drivers should leave a minimum two second gap between them and the vehicle in front and if doubled if you are in a larger vehicle such as a HGV or PSV. In wet conditions, this should be at least doubled again for all drivers whatever the vehicle. There's a dedicated Highways England website offering advice on how to deal with tailgating. |
