This article is about driving too close. For other uses, see Tailgate.
Tailgating is the action of a driver driving behind another vehicle while not leaving sufficient distance to stop without causing a collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly.[1]
A typical example of tailgating. The first car is being followed very closely by another.
The safe distance for following another vehicle varies depending on various factors including vehicle speed, weather, visibility and other road conditions. Some jurisdictions may require a minimal gap of a specified distance or time interval. When following heavy vehicles or in less than ideal conditions (e.g. low light or rain), a longer distance is recommended.
Tailgating can occur when a vehicle attempts to prevent another vehicle on the right or left from cutting in front of them. The tailgating (or preventing) vehicle will drive as close as possible to another leading vehicle to prevent the side vehicle from cutting in. Like all forms, this practice of tailgating is illegal and attempts to force the side vehicle to slow down and get into the line of traffic behind the tailgating vehicle. This practice is very likely to evoke road rage where one vehicle is blocking and another attempts to defy the block.[citation needed]
Negligence
Tailgating can occur because of a lack of perceived risk in so doing. Thus, it is done unconsciously or negligently, very often by people who consider themselves safe drivers and generally obey some other rules of the road. Evidence shows that more experienced drivers are more likely to be involved in rear-end collisions, possibly because they overestimate their skill and become complacent about allowing sufficient distance to avoid an accident.[2]
Coercion
In its most uncivil form, it can be a case of road rage or intimidation. An example would be where the tailgating driver (the driver in the following vehicle) threatens damage to the leading vehicle and its occupants by driving aggressively – perhaps also with use of headlights and horn – to coerce the leading vehicle's driver into getting out of the way. The driver being tailgated might not wish to comply, especially if doing so would involve breaking the law, such as by increasing speed beyond the speed limit or changing lanes without due regard for safety.[citation needed]
Aerodynamics
A form of deliberate tailgating known as slipstreaming, "draft-assisted forced stop", or "draft-assisted forced auto stop" (D-FAS) is a technique used by some hypermilers to achieve greater fuel economy. D-FAS involves turning off the engine and gliding in neutral while tailgating a larger vehicle in order to take advantage of the reduced wind resistance in its immediate wake.[3] Note that this practice is extremely dangerous: while tailgating itself is inherently risky, the danger of collision is increased with D-FAS as power for power brakes can be lost after a few applications of the brake pedal and, with older cars, the pressure that causes power steering to function can be lost as well.[4]
Trailing and columns
Another instance whereby the practice of driving on a road very close to a frontward vehicle or at a close distance may occur is during an occasion whereby the drivers of the two cars are acquainted to one another. This may be due to it being a procession of motor vehicles, typically carrying or escorting a prominent person that wants to avoid interlopers. Another instance may occur where the leading vehicle is showing directions to the trailing vehicle and the trailing vehicle attempts to avoid allowing an interloping vehicle to come in between them.[5] Another sphere wherein tailgating has been observed is among drivers who are in a hurry, or other public road activity whose prerequisite is urgency or agitation.[6]
Hazards of tailgating
Tailgating can be dangerous to the tailgater, especially if they are driving closely behind a large vehicle (such as a tractor-trailer, or gas tanker). By tailgating, the driver has a shorter distance to stop, decreases the margin of error and blocks the awareness of surroundings.
If the leading vehicle decelerates suddenly (such as when encountering a traffic jam, traffic lights, avoiding pedestrians, etc.), the tailgater has a high risk of causing a rear-end collision, for which in insurance terms, they would always be held responsible. Brake checking is an exception to this, in which case the leading vehicle is generally the one held liable for damages.
In many jurisdictions, a two second gap is recommended between any two successive moving vehicles, characterised in Britain by the slogan, "only a fool breaks the two second rule."
Prevention
Anti-tailgating signage and pavement markings in the United Kingdom.
Tailgating causes most rear-end crashes in South Australia.[7] Some motorways in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia feature certain road markings which can help resolve this problem. Consisting of an arrangement of chevrons, these remind the driver not to tailgate, and assist in the two second rule.[8] There is also signage in Britain on smart motorways when they are very congested, to say "stay in lane: congestion". This is to remind motorists that there is, in these conditions, no longer an overtaking lane, merely a number of lanes, some moving faster than others at different points in time (undertaking by inner lanes being entirely permissible in this circumstance). Those in the outermost lanes should maintain a two second gap to the vehicle in front; as long as they do this, it is officially discouraged to change lanes. Public goods vehicle licence training in Britain states that lorries should increase the 2 second gap to the vehicle in front to 3 seconds when being tailgated to ensure that emergency braking can be a little gentler, to compensate for the tailgating vehicle behind having eaten up its own reaction time to almost nothing.
In Germany, tailgating is punishable with a fine of up to €400. In case of gross negligence, one or more penalty points are given and the driver's license may additionally be immediately suspended for up to 3 months.[9]
References
^"What is tailgating and why is it dangerous". Driving Tests Resources. 2014-03-20.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
TRAFFIC AND CRIMES AMENDMENT (MENACING AND PREDATORY DRIVING) BILL 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine (New South Wales parliament Hansard transcript where tailgating is noted as being an offense under the new legislation).
Tailgating Information (Wisconsin Department of Transportation)
Report on an anti-tailgating operation (by the Hong Kong police)
May 13, 2023
tailgating, this, article, about, driving, close, other, uses, tailgate, action, driver, driving, behind, another, vehicle, while, leaving, sufficient, distance, stop, without, causing, collision, vehicle, front, stops, suddenly, typical, example, tailgating, . This article is about driving too close For other uses see Tailgate Tailgating is the action of a driver driving behind another vehicle while not leaving sufficient distance to stop without causing a collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly 1 A typical example of tailgating The first car is being followed very closely by another The safe distance for following another vehicle varies depending on various factors including vehicle speed weather visibility and other road conditions Some jurisdictions may require a minimal gap of a specified distance or time interval When following heavy vehicles or in less than ideal conditions e g low light or rain a longer distance is recommended Contents 1 Causes 1 1 Preventing cut ins 1 2 Negligence 1 3 Coercion 1 4 Aerodynamics 1 5 Trailing and columns 2 Hazards of tailgating 3 Prevention 4 References 5 External linksCauses EditThere can be several reasons for tailgating Preventing cut ins Edit Tailgating can occur when a vehicle attempts to prevent another vehicle on the right or left from cutting in front of them The tailgating or preventing vehicle will drive as close as possible to another leading vehicle to prevent the side vehicle from cutting in Like all forms this practice of tailgating is illegal and attempts to force the side vehicle to slow down and get into the line of traffic behind the tailgating vehicle This practice is very likely to evoke road rage where one vehicle is blocking and another attempts to defy the block citation needed Negligence Edit Tailgating can occur because of a lack of perceived risk in so doing Thus it is done unconsciously or negligently very often by people who consider themselves safe drivers and generally obey some other rules of the road Evidence shows that more experienced drivers are more likely to be involved in rear end collisions possibly because they overestimate their skill and become complacent about allowing sufficient distance to avoid an accident 2 Coercion Edit In its most uncivil form it can be a case of road rage or intimidation An example would be where the tailgating driver the driver in the following vehicle threatens damage to the leading vehicle and its occupants by driving aggressively perhaps also with use of headlights and horn to coerce the leading vehicle s driver into getting out of the way The driver being tailgated might not wish to comply especially if doing so would involve breaking the law such as by increasing speed beyond the speed limit or changing lanes without due regard for safety citation needed Aerodynamics Edit A form of deliberate tailgating known as slipstreaming draft assisted forced stop or draft assisted forced auto stop D FAS is a technique used by some hypermilers to achieve greater fuel economy D FAS involves turning off the engine and gliding in neutral while tailgating a larger vehicle in order to take advantage of the reduced wind resistance in its immediate wake 3 Note that this practice is extremely dangerous while tailgating itself is inherently risky the danger of collision is increased with D FAS as power for power brakes can be lost after a few applications of the brake pedal and with older cars the pressure that causes power steering to function can be lost as well 4 Trailing and columns Edit Another instance whereby the practice of driving on a road very close to a frontward vehicle or at a close distance may occur is during an occasion whereby the drivers of the two cars are acquainted to one another This may be due to it being a procession of motor vehicles typically carrying or escorting a prominent person that wants to avoid interlopers Another instance may occur where the leading vehicle is showing directions to the trailing vehicle and the trailing vehicle attempts to avoid allowing an interloping vehicle to come in between them 5 Another sphere wherein tailgating has been observed is among drivers who are in a hurry or other public road activity whose prerequisite is urgency or agitation 6 Hazards of tailgating EditTailgating can be dangerous to the tailgater especially if they are driving closely behind a large vehicle such as a tractor trailer or gas tanker By tailgating the driver has a shorter distance to stop decreases the margin of error and blocks the awareness of surroundings If the leading vehicle decelerates suddenly such as when encountering a traffic jam traffic lights avoiding pedestrians etc the tailgater has a high risk of causing a rear end collision for which in insurance terms they would always be held responsible Brake checking is an exception to this in which case the leading vehicle is generally the one held liable for damages In many jurisdictions a two second gap is recommended between any two successive moving vehicles characterised in Britain by the slogan only a fool breaks the two second rule Prevention Edit Anti tailgating signage and pavement markings in the United Kingdom Tailgating causes most rear end crashes in South Australia 7 Some motorways in the United Kingdom Canada and Australia feature certain road markings which can help resolve this problem Consisting of an arrangement of chevrons these remind the driver not to tailgate and assist in the two second rule 8 There is also signage in Britain on smart motorways when they are very congested to say stay in lane congestion This is to remind motorists that there is in these conditions no longer an overtaking lane merely a number of lanes some moving faster than others at different points in time undertaking by inner lanes being entirely permissible in this circumstance Those in the outermost lanes should maintain a two second gap to the vehicle in front as long as they do this it is officially discouraged to change lanes Public goods vehicle licence training in Britain states that lorries should increase the 2 second gap to the vehicle in front to 3 seconds when being tailgated to ensure that emergency braking can be a little gentler to compensate for the tailgating vehicle behind having eaten up its own reaction time to almost nothing In Germany tailgating is punishable with a fine of up to 400 In case of gross negligence one or more penalty points are given and the driver s license may additionally be immediately suspended for up to 3 months 9 References Edit What is tailgating and why is it dangerous Driving Tests Resources 2014 03 20 rms nsw gov au PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2020 03 01 Retrieved 2015 01 26 motherjones com Archived 2007 01 10 at the Wayback Machine motherjones com King of the hypermilers 2 Archived 2007 01 09 at the Wayback Machine McManus John 2008 Tactical Emergency Medicine p 223 Hennessy Dwight 2005 Contemporary Issues in Road User Behavior and Traffic Safety p 74 transport sa gov au Tailgating campaign au news yahoo com Abstand und Abstandsvergehen Distance and Distance Offense in German 2015 Retrieved 4 February 2015 External links EditTailgating Information Government of South Australia TRAFFIC AND CRIMES AMENDMENT MENACING AND PREDATORY DRIVING BILL Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine New South Wales parliament Hansard transcript where tailgating is noted as being an offense under the new legislation Tailgating Information Wisconsin Department of Transportation Two Dots to Safety campaign operating in the United Kingdom and Europe but also in Pennsylvania Minnesota Maryland and Washington state Police Force safety advice Singapore Report on an anti tailgating operation by the Hong Kong police Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tailgating amp oldid 1151439480, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
