Picture this: You’re on your way to pick up a passenger, or you already have them with you. Checking your rearview mirror, you notice a vehicle coming up close behind you.
Are they pressuring you to speed, being a bully, or trying to push you out of the way?
What they’re actually doing is tailgating you, and it’s one of UK drivers’ biggest motoring pet peeves.
It’s a dangerous habit that can lead to a vehicle write-off, insurance claim, or even a driving ban should the worst happen. All affecting your livelihood as a hire and reward driver.
So let us explain what tailgating is, why you could be in trouble with the law, and how to avoid it.
Tailgating is where a vehicle follows too closely behind the vehicle in front. It’s a dangerous action that can make it difficult to stop in time in the event of an accident. According to National Highways, tailgating is a factor in 1 out of 8 collisions on our roads.
There can be a number of reasons why people tailgate - drivers might be in a rush, impatient, or not aware of how close they’ve got.
Nonetheless, 60% of drivers reported feeling uncomfortable by tailgaters.
Many drivers may not know that tailgating is against the law, as per Rule 126 of the Highway Code:
“Dangerous and careless driving offenses, such as tailgating, are enforced by the police.”
If police spot you driving too close to the vehicle in front, you could be issued a £100 charge and three penalty points on your license.
In the event of a serious collision or accident, you could lose your license or face a driving ban if you were found to be tailgating.
Across the UK, there are several different types of cameras being used to monitor driver behaviour.
They not only catch speeders, but also identify people using their phone while driving, driving without wearing a seatbelt, ignoring traffic lights, and tailgating.
Although no one has yet been convicted via camera of tailgating, several motorists have been sent letters reminding them of safe road etiquette. In fact, cameras on just four major motorways caught almost 1 million motorists tailgating.
It won’t be long before AI cameras up and down the country are trained to spot tailgaters, resulting in more drivers getting caught out.
The “two-second rule” is key.
National highways recommend choosing an object up ahead of you, such as a sign, tree or bridge. When the vehicle in front of you passes the object, count two seconds in your head. If you reach the same object before you’ve finished counting, you’re too close and need to fall back.
In wet weather, you should count 4 seconds, and even longer in icy conditions.
The two-second rule allows you greater time and distance to react if something happens ahead of you. If you choose not to leave a suitable gap, you could be putting yourself and others around you in danger.
If tailgating causes an accident, your No Claims Discount could be negatively affected if you’re at fault. In some cases, this could increase your insurance premium at renewal.
It’s important to be properly insured. All INSHUR policies are designed for drivers and the daily challenges they face on the road.
Whether you need Third Party Only or Comprehensive coverage, there’s a policy for you with INSHUR.
It can be tempting to want to teach the vehicle behind you a lesson, but this can be dangerous in itself.
Slowing down can encourage greater anger from the person behind, leading to a more stressful situation. Continue driving at a safe speed and try your best to stay calm.
Don’t stare at the driver in the rear-view mirror - you’ll lose focus on what’s happening ahead of you.
The best advice is to continue driving normally and not let bad driving influence you. If you’re on a dual carriageway or motorway, don’t “hog the middle lane” - keep left and allow others to overtake.
On single lane roads, let drivers overtake when they have the opportunity, don’t speed up, and signal early so they have time to react.
To raise awareness, National Highways launched a campaign in July of this year, called “Make the Change: Two Seconds is all it takes”.
It’s a simple message that the Highways hope will “have a big impact on overall road safety and everyone’s wellbeing on the road”. Stay safe, stay back.
Watch the campaign video here:
Road safety is key to protecting your livelihood. But in the event of an accident, you need a partner who understands the risks you face as a busy driver. At INSHUR, our policies are designed to get you back on the road quickly. Get a free online quote today and drive with confidence, knowing you’re protected.
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