Is It Agains the Law to Drive So Close to Someone

Everyone has an opinion on how to care for tailgaters. But what's the correct way to deal with them safely?

Tailgating is one of the about hated driving habits, right up there with middle lane hogging. Merely it'due south not only annoying – information technology'south dangerous.

More 100 people are being killed or seriously injured equally a consequence of tailgating each year. It'due south as well a factor in effectually one in 8 casualties on motorways and A-roads according to government statistics .

What is tailgating?

Tailgating means driving too close to the vehicle in forepart of you and it's dangerous considering it increases the gamble of collision.

If the vehicle in front end of you brakes suddenly you might non be able to stop in time.

Even when tailgating is non deliberate - and simply the upshot of careless driving - other motorists tin feel intimidated when a car is too close behind them.

The Highway Code states that all drivers should attempt and maintain a two-second gap with the car in front and that gap should exist doubled at the least in wet weather.

If you're driving in snow and ice, increment this to a 10-2d gap.

Is tailgating illegal?

Yes, tailgating is a careless driving offence , and y'all could land yourself a fine of up to £100 and three points on your licence if you're defenseless by the police force.

If, however, your tailgating resulted in a serious accident you could go a driving ban or exist sent to prison.

And points on your licence increases your risk as a driver. This in turn could see your auto insurance costs get up the following year.

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Why do people tailgate?

There are many reasons why people tailgate. In some cases it'due south a bullying tactic - the tailgater might desire to intimidate you and become you to movement out of their way for example.

Or it could be that they're in a hurry.

Sometimes information technology might just be that a driver has 'switched off' and isn't paying attention to the road. They could also be inexperienced and unaware of the danger they might be causing.

How to deal with tailgaters ?

How you deal with a tailgater depends on whether they are of the 'passive' or 'aggressive' diverseness.

An aggressive tailgater has the articulate intention of passing you. They're probable to actively drive upwardly your rear in a fashion that says 'Get out of my way'.

A passive tailgater is a different beast entirely. Commonly they accept no real intention of passing you and instead are quite happy for you to take the lead, but only drive too close.

This is most likely an unconscious pick. Information technology could be that they're non really concentrating, and not thinking about leaving a safe braking distance.

And every bit dissimilar beasts, they require different approaches.

How to deal with aggressive tailgaters

This one's simple: every bit soon equally you can, and it's safe to do so, let them laissez passer. That's it.

Not everyone will agree, and aggressive tailgaters clearly press a lot of motorists' buttons.

It can be tempting to hold them up, wind them up or call back up tricks that brand them mad or 'teach them a lesson'.

But it's just non worth it. No-one benefits and at that place'southward aught to be gained by doing and then.

Peter Rodger, head of driving communication at IAMRoadSmart, says:

"The matter is with these drivers, they're already ambitious. So they're not almost to back off.

"Anything y'all do to try and brand them back off volition just brand them more unpredictable."

So not simply is there nothing to be gained past getting your own back on tailgaters, but you're potentially creating an actress problem.

You could easily trigger road rage, which is only going to make the situation worse.

If you're just further enraging the driver behind, information technology'due south difficult to meet how anyone'southward going to win. Don't feed the trolls.

In short:

• Let ambitious tailgaters pass safely

• Don't provoke an aggressive tailgater

• Avert road rage.

How to deal with passive tailgaters

Dealing with passive tailgaters requires a bit more idea.

"Always leave plenty of space in forepart," says Rodger.

As much as information technology may be tempting to try and put some space between you and the auto backside, you don't want to create the aforementioned situation for the car in front.

If the machine in front were then to suddenly brake you'll end up the unwitting filling in a sandwich.

Rodger adds:

"Avoid braking sharply. Flashing your brake lights isn't going to aid. It's better to but ease off your accelerator."

This is considering if y'all repeatedly restriction, the flashing of your restriction lights might start to lose touch on.

It's better to irksome downwardly gradually with your foot off the juice.

Then, if y'all do need to brake of a sudden, the brake calorie-free should hopefully prompt the tailgater to take some evasive action.

This won't entirely eliminate the adventure of getting rear-ended. Only at least there might exist less damage at a slower speed.

And, in the event of a machine insurance merits or the police getting involved, you're less likely to be establish at fault.

"And in that location'southward one last tip," says Rodger. "Don't be a tailgater yourself." After all, simply a fool breaks the two-second rule.

So, to summarise:

• Don't speed up - you'll only commencement tailgating the car in front of you lot

• Don't restriction sharply or flash your lights

• Ease off the accelerator - if at that place's a collision there should be less damage at slower speeds.

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Source: https://www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/too-close-for-comfort-how-to-deal-with-tailgaters