Many drivers have reported being tailgated. Unfortunately, this negligent behavior often happens on the road. Therefore, your chances of being tailgated are extremely high.
Tailgating is widely known as a dangerous behavior. So, why would a driver fail to maintain a safe following distance when they know the dangers of their behavior?
Emotional, cognitive and perceptual factors
Several emotional, cognitive and perceptual factors contribute to tailgating. These include:
- Impatience – When a driver is in a hurry or frustrated because they think the driver ahead is too slow, they may tailgate to encourage them to speed up.
- Overconfidence – Some drivers are overconfident in their reaction times. They believe they are so skilled that they can react safely in seconds if the car ahead slows down or stops. But, in most cases, this does not always happen.
- Distraction – A driver who is not paying attention to their driving, for instance, they are looking at their phone or outside, may not notice how close they are getting to the car ahead.
- Habitual tailgating – Some drivers misjudge the following distance and, in turn, keep tailgating other road users. For example, an inexperienced driver who does not know how to apply the three-second rule may unknowingly follow you too closely.
- Drunk driving – A drunk driver has impaired depth perception, poor coordination, and overconfidence, which can make it impossible for them to maintain a safe following distance.
- Protecting the gap – In busy, multi-lane roads, some drivers reduce the safe following distance to as low as one second to prevent other cars from merging into that space. They do this to avoid losing their perceived “time” or position in traffic.
Understanding why some drivers engage in tailgating can help you know how to respond safely. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a tailgater, you can hold them accountable to receive the compensation you deserve.