Tailgating is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Yet it is also one of the most common errors drivers commit and is to blame for many crashes.
Presumably, most drivers know it’s dangerous. So why do they still do it?
Drivers often don’t realize they are tailgating
If you asked a driver whether they were keeping a safe following distance, they’d probably tell you yes. They’d probably believe they were giving themselves enough time to react to whatever the driver in front may do and avoid a crash. Often they are not. They might be one or two seconds back from the car in front, believing that is enough. In reality, the minimum recommended following distance is three seconds, and that should increase in poor conditions or if the driver is not at their best.
People may not notice they are creeping closer to the vehicle in front
A lot of drivers get distracted, so they are not keeping a constant eye on their following distance. They may not have noticed that their speed crept up or that the speed of the vehicle in front had dropped. They end up closer to its rear than when they last looked properly.
Some tailgating is intentional
While the majority of tailgating is likely unintentional, some is done on purpose. Drivers get up close to another vehicle to ‘encourage’ or intimidate them into hurrying up or moving over. Or they do it to show how angry they are because of something they consider the other driver did wrong earlier.
Regardless of why a driver tailgates, it is an unsafe practice and if they crash into you, you have the right to seek fair compensation for your losses.