This month we report on the issue of tailgating, a high risk, intimidating and aggressive driving behaviour – yet some drivers persist in driving too close to the vehicle in front. Hit Third Party in the Rear collisions can be common but understanding the reasons why drivers tailgate is the first step to stopping this habit.
Read our article to find out more.
It’s Walk to School Week plus with summer almost here there will be more children
and students walking to school and colleage. Make sure you are alert to the potential
of children being vulnerable at road crossings when walking to and from school..
TAILGATING - A MAJOR CAUSE OF ROAD INCIDENTS
Research by Highways England on the impact of tailgating found that 1 in 8 of all road incidents were due to drivers getting too close to the vehicle in front. Tailgating is an anti-social, aggressive and intimidating style of driving that often leads to collisions and injuries, yet many drivers tailgate unintentionally as they are unaware they are invading another driver’s road space and therefore driving dangerously.
Many drivers are having these low level, avoidable collisions including Hit Third Party in the Rear collisions, which are largely due to tailgating but also linked to speeding and failing to scan the road ahead.
There are Four Types of Tailgaters:
The Aggressive Tailgater
- Fully aware they are driving too close to the vehicle in front
- Knowingly takes risks and is reckless
- Intimidates other drivers
The Distracted Tailgater
- Pay poor attention to how they are driving/ driving environment
- Fail to understand the risks
The Ignorant Tailgater
- Unaware that tailgating is risky, dangerous and poor driving standard
- May lack driving experience eg newly qualified driver
- Ignorance means they may fail to understand they caused a collision
The Complacent Tailgater
- Know they should not tailgate and that it’s dangerous
- Confident they will not have a collision
- Assume collisions are something other drivers have
We have various toolbox talks such as Preventing Rear End Collisions, Appropriate Speed and Scanning the Road which will educate drivers on reducing their risk of collisions and help to avoid high risk driving habits developing.
The clear message for drivers is that tailgating does not shorten journey times and only serves to show their lack of driving skills, inability to drive attentively and without due consideration for the safety of other road users.
Motorists face up to £100 fine, 3 penalty points on their licence, a possible driving ban and even a prison sentence dependent on the severity of tailgating if found guilty of causing an accident.
The best advice for is to become more aware of their driving style and assess whether they are guilty of tailgating. Drivers should correct their driving in the following ways to avoid the risk of tailgating other drivers:
- Pre plan their route and allow sufficient time for their journey
- Check their route to scan for road works and traffic jams, and allow additional journey time
to avoid the need to speed or tailgate - Always observe the legal speed limits on roads
- Remember to leave the recommended ‘Two Second Rule’ distance between their vehicle and
the one in front.
There is no doubt that this dangerous habit puts drivers at high risk of collision if they do not follow this advice. A good driver will be able to control the space around his or her vehicle and that includes tailgating. The objective should be to let a tailgater get past so you can continue the Journey safely.
IT’S WALK TO SCHOOL WEEK …. SUMMER WEATHER MEANS MORE PEDESTRIANS TOO
This week is Walk to School Week and you might have noticed more children walking to school for this annual five-day walking challenge. More children and their carers on the pavements and at road crossings means more potential risks of road incidents.
Remember young children are likely to run, scooter or be busy chatting as they make their way to and from school, which means they don’t always focus at pedestrian crossings or as they walk along pavements. The aim of the week is to provide education about road safety to ensure children grow up thinking about their safety and that of other road users.
With summer on the way too, more children will be choosing to walk, cycle and scooter to school so be aware of these more vulnerable road users on your regular driving for work routes, and especially at the start and end of the school day.
We have a Driving Near Schools and Colleges Toolbox Talk for drivers to refer to when they see children and young people crossing the roads and walking to and from school and college.
