Tailgating describes the action of driving on the road too close to the vehicle in front, making the distance between the two vehicles too short for stopping to avoid a collision. Although the definition is simple, the repercussions of an accident caused by tailgating can very often be fatal. It is the leading cause of auto accidents because it decreases the reaction time between vehicles. Over 50% of accidents involve one vehicle following another vehicle too closely. The law states that a vehicle “… should not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent.”
Drivers engage in tailgating for a variety of reasons, including:
The safe distance for following another vehicle varies and is dependent upon many factors such as how fast the vehicle is travelling, weather, the time of day, the number of cars on the road, visibility and the general condition of the road. If any of these circumstances are present at the time of a tailgating incident, it is recommended that speeds be slower and stopping distance longer. For more details....
