Tailgating

There can be several reasons for tailgating.

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 may provoke road rage where one vehicle is blocking and another attempts to defy the block.{{cn|date=January 2022}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/driver-qualification-handbook-english.pdf |title=rms.nsw.gov.au |access-date=2015-01-26 |archive-date=2020-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301125609/https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/driver-qualification-handbook-english.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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{{snd}}perhaps also with use of headlights and horn{{snd}}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.{{Cite web |title=State of Florida.com {{!}} Driving in Florida |url=https://www.stateofflorida.com/defensive-driving/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=www.stateofflorida.com}}

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.[https://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers-4.html motherjones.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110041001/https://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers-4.html |date=2007-01-10 }} 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.[https://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers-2.html motherjones.com], King of the hypermilers-2 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070109232407/https://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers-2.html |date=2007-01-09 }}

Tailgating may occur when the drivers of two vehicles do not want to be separated, the vehicles are in a procession (e.g. funeral), or the vehicles are maintaining a formation for security purposes (e.g. escorting a dignitary or a dangerous prisoner).{{cite book|last1=McManus|first1=John|title=Tactical Emergency Medicine|date=2008|page=223}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Hennessy|first1=Dwight|title=Contemporary Issues in Road User Behavior and Traffic Safety|date=2005|page=74}}

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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 many countries by the slogan, "only a fool breaks the two second rule."

{{See also|Two-second rule|Following distance}}

File:M11_-_keep_apart_two_chevrons_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2640925.jpg

Tailgating causes most rear-end crashes in South Australia.{{Cite web |date=2005-06-30 |title=Tailgating Campaign |url=http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/rss/content/safer_people/road_users/tailgating_campaign.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805192158/http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/rss/content/safer_people/road_users/tailgating_campaign.htm |archive-date=2012-08-05 |website=transport.sa.gov.au}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2014-06-18 |title=Road markings to ease tailgating |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/road-markings-to-ease-tailgating-24270683.html |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-AU}} Public goods vehicle license 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.{{cite web|url= https://www.bussgeldkatalog.org/abstand/?gclid=CO2ckuGVycMCFanMtAodpwkAcw |title= Abstand und Abstandsvergehen |trans-title= Distance and Distance Offense |year= 2015 |access-date= 4 February 2015 |language= de}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.today/20120805192158/http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/rss/content/safer_people/road_users/tailgating_campaign.htm Tailgating Information] (Government of South Australia)
• [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC19970627056 TRAFFIC AND CRIMES AMENDMENT (MENACING AND PREDATORY DRIVING) BILL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120906/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC19970627056 |date=2007-09-29 }} (New South Wales parliament Hansard transcript where tailgating is noted as being an offense under the new legislation).
• [http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/behaviors/aggressive/tailgating.htm Tailgating Information] (Wisconsin Department of Transportation)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061002062935/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/partners/2dots2safety/faq.htm "Two Dots to Safety" campaign] (operating in the United Kingdom and Europe, but also in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington state)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208033821/http://driving-in-singapore.spf.gov.sg/services/Driving_in_Singapore/Information/roadsafety/safetyadvice.htm Police Force safety advice] (Singapore)
• [http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/199805/26/0526098.htm Report on an anti-tailgating operation] (by the Hong Kong police)

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Category:Hazardous motor vehicle activities