Tailgating tops chart of bad driving behaviour
A survey fromIAM RoadSmart shows drivers believe tailgating is the behaviour that distracts them most. The survey asked 1,000 drivers to rank a series of ‘occurrences’ based on how distracting they are – and 30% labelled tailgating as the most distracting factor.
With figures from National Highways showing tailgating is a factor in one-in-eight crashes on their road network, IAM RoadSmart says it is “not just a minor inconvenience”.
Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “The sight of a fellow driver in your rear-view mirror following too closely can be very disconcerting, and our survey shows it is the leading cause of driver distraction on Britain’s roads.
“It is worth remembering that you will cover 62 metres every two seconds when travelling at 70mph, meaning you need around 96 metres to stop, making adequate stopping distances absolutely critical to curtail the tailgating problem.
” Tailgating was followed by children or other passengers (26%) and traffic (21%). Whether it be from reckless behaviour from another road user, or even a screaming child, distractions while driving can come in many different forms. Drivers should always take control and do all they can to mitigate for them. “This way, together we can all ensure Britain’s roads are as safe as they can possibly be.”
