The insurance company Churchill revealed that on one day 19,137 cases of tailgating were spotted on three stretches of the M25.
Out of the recorded vehicles, the tailgaters were in cars, with 12,869 spotted, whilst 4,505 Light Good Vehicles (LGVs), such as vans and pick up trucks, were also spotted driving too closely to the vehicle in front.
Nicholas Mantel, the head of Churchill Motor Insurance, explained why tailgating another vehicle is never a good idea.
He said: “Tailgating is a dangerous habit that can lead to serious collisions. It’s often used as a form of aggressive driving to intimidate other drivers to move out of their way or accelerate.
“However, some drivers may unintentionally invade another vehicle’s space simply by being unaware of the appropriate braking distance needed between them and the vehicle in front.”
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According to the Highway Code, you should always allow yourself a two second gap between the front of your vehicle and the back of the one in front.
However, in some circumstances, such as when it is raining or the roads are icy, you should give yourself a bigger gap as stopping distances may be compromised.
If someone is tailgating your vehicle, National Highways recommends that you should continue to drive normally, and not let their driving style affect your speed.
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Nicholas highlighted how dangerous tailgating can be and advised drivers what to do in order to avoid it.
He explained: “Not providing adequate braking distance between vehicles can prove fatal on motorways.
“The best rule of thumb is not to be a space invader, stay back, allowing at least a two second gap between you and the vehicle in front, and stay within the speed limit.”
Throughout 2022, 20,634 drivers were convicted for tailgating, an increase of 9.5 percent compared to the previous year.
If the police stop you for tailgating another vehicle, you could be charged with driving without due care and attention and face a £100 fine, along with three points on your license.
However, if a case of tailgating resulted in a serious accident, the driver may receive a driving ban or even a prison sentence.
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