Tailgating other vehicles on the road is one of the most dangerous things you can do while driving. It’s illegal and a certain recipe for disaster.
Most states have laws against tailgating, but enforcing these laws can be difficult unless there’s an egregious offender on the road. This action is defined as following another vehicle more closely than prudent which means leaving too little space to slow down to avoid an accident. Whether you’re guilty of it or you’ve got someone following your vehicle too closely, the situation becomes dangerous and could lead to an accident, especially when the front driver must stop suddenly.
Following too closely leads to pile-ups
If you’ve ever watched the news and wondered how multi-car pile-ups occur, most of the time, it’s because several drivers were following too closely. Unless it’s winter and the roads are covered in snow and ice, most drivers have ample time to slow or stop their vehicles if they leave enough space in front of them, but that doesn’t always happen. These multi-car pile-ups can stop traffic for hours while authorities sort things out.
Are you a consistent tailgater?
Most of us are guilting of tailgating other vehicles from time to time. Typically, emotional factors and schedules cause people to feel stressed and could lead to more aggressive actions than normal. If everyone thought a little about how dangerous driving is and what could happen in an accident, most of us would leave more room between cars on the road.
Unfortunately, studies show some drivers exhibit behaviors that contribute to tailgating. Some of these are:
Aggressive nature
Some people are aggressive by nature or become more aggressive when they get behind the wheel of a car. Most of us associate aggressive driving with road rage, but it doesn’t always go that far. Still, if you find yourself honking excessively, weaving through traffic, cutting off other drivers, or speeding, you might want to rethink your approach to driving.
Unfortunately, young, inexperienced drivers are more likely to be aggressive and behave impulsively. If you have a young driver in your family, you’ll want to discuss the dangers of tailgating other vehicles with them.
Overinflated sense of self-importance
Drivers who tailgate others are the “Karens” of the roadways. We’ve all come to associate this name (sorry to anyone given the name Karen) with an inflated sense of self-importance. These drivers act like their work and schedule are more important than anyone else on the road.
These drivers often view driving as a competition or always be in a hurry because they’re late for everything. The desire to be first off the line at the traffic light or to get out in front by weaving through traffic leads to tailgating, creating a dangerous situation.
Feeling too secure behind the wheel
Although cars are much safer today than ever before, accidents still injure and kill thousands of people every year. Some drivers are unaware of the risks inherent to driving and think their skill and ultra-safe vehicle will protect them from anything on the road. These drivers can be guilty of tailgating other vehicles because they’re filled with a false sense of security.
How should you react to tailgaters?
For some, the urge to “brake-check” a person that’s following too closely is strong, but this can make the situation worse for you. In fact, if you take action that causes an accident, even while being tailgated, you’ll be found at fault.
Instead of making a dangerous situation worse, there are a few things you can do when other drivers are tailgating your vehicle. Some of those things are:
- Maintain a consistent speed at or below the speed limit
- Stay with the flow of traffic
- Stay in the right lane and let the tailgater pass you
- Don’t tap your brakes and “brake-check” the other driver
- Avoid making rude gestures that could lead to road rage
If the person tailgating your vehicle still persists and continues to follow you too closely, signal and pull over onto the shoulder and let them pass. This is a good way to keep yourself and everyone in your vehicle safe.
Let tailgating be their problem, not yours
When it comes to tailgating other vehicles, there’s never a good reason or time for this type of driving. If you are a tailgater, stop it. You’re causing an unnecessary and dangerous situation. If you’re being tailgated, stay calm and use a few of these tips to allow the tailgater to pass your vehicle and move away from you.
As always, stay safe out there.
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