We have all experienced a driver who refuses to back off and remains far too close behind us on the road. While this is certainly annoying, it is also dangerous. Rear-end accidents are extremely common, and they can also be extremely dangerous. Always allow for plenty of room on the road between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, and do your best to steer clear of motorists who tailgate.
Drivers who Tailgate
The National Safety Council identifies several different types of tailgaters, including:
Distracted Drivers – While we all know (or should know) that driving too close to the car ahead is dangerous, distracted drivers are not always paying attention. When a driver’s attention is focused on anything other than driving safely, he or she makes our roads more dangerous for everyone on them. Smartphones are an especially dangerous distraction. (How Much of a Distracted Driver Are You, Really?)
Drivers Who Are Not in the Know – Some drivers seem to forget that tailgating is dangerous and do it on a regular basis. Driving too close to the car ahead can become a habit that a driver may not even be aware of, but this does not qualify as a viable excuse.
Driver Complacency – Just as drivers who speed know that it is more dangerous to do so, tailgaters typically know the danger involved in driving too close but continue to do so anyway. These tailgaters seem to figure that, because they have not been involved in an accident to date, they have nothing to worry about, but this is obviously faulty reasoning.
Tailgating – regardless of the motivation – is a dangerous practice that leaves us all more vulnerable to serious car accidents.
Avoid the dangers of tailgating by always keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you (while factoring in the condition of the road and the effects of inclement weather into your calculation). Further, if a tailgater is behind you, do what you can to safely put distance between your vehicles or to safely change lanes and attempt to bypass the danger.
Tailgating Is a Form of Aggressive Driving
The National Safety Council further shares that tailgating can be a form of aggression and that this could be the most dangerous form of all. Some drivers feel the need to express their aggression to other drivers and tailgate as a means of doing so. Aggression, however, has no place behind the wheel. Aggressive drivers are dangerous drivers. When the vehicle behind you is a semi or another vehicle that is much larger than your own, the danger is compounded (Read more about sharing the road safely with semi-trucks). The heavier the vehicle, the longer the stopping distance, and the greater the impact in any crash that ensues. (Aggressive Drivers are Dangerous Drivers)
You Need an Experienced Killeen Personal Injury Attorney on Your Side
Motorists who tailgate make our roads more dangerous. If a tailgater leaves you injured, Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is a dedicated personal injury attorney who is committed to skillfully advocating on behalf of your case’s optimal resolution. Mr. Pritchard has extensive experience helping clients like you, so please do not hesitate to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.
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