3 ways to tell you’re tailgating
‘One thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three’. It has taken at least three seconds to read those words.
It’s the same amount of time you should keep between your vehicle and the one in front.
While the three-second rule is widely recommended for motorists to ensure they’re travelling at safe distances, it’s not an official road rule in Australia.
If keeping count while driving is distracting, or you find judging distance difficult, here are three other telltale tailgating signs to look for.
1. Braking suddenly
Ever been a passenger in a vehicle where the driver is constantly accelerating and braking heavily. Do you find yourself pressing the virtual footbrake?
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says repeatedly accelerating close to the vehicle in front of you and braking heavily can increase the risk of a rear-end collision. In fact, a third of all crashes are rear-end collisions, and following too closely is a major cause.
“The risk can be dramatically reduced by simply maintaining sufficient space between you and the vehicle in front and, of course, paying attention,” Charles says.
“Unpredictable movements like this can reduce a driver’s reaction time, increase stress and anxiety, and provoke anger from others on the road,” he adds.
That’s why it’s important to always keep acceleration and braking smooth and ensure there’s enough space between you and the vehicle ahead to safely stop.
“If you do need to react quickly in the event of an emergency or when traffic suddenly slows, there should be enough space for you to do so safely,” Charles says.
2. Water splashes onto your windscreen
‘That’s strange – it wasn’t forecast to rain,’ you think to yourself as water splashes on your windscreen.
The driver in the vehicle in front has flicked on their wipers with the intention to clean their windscreen – not yours. If you’re too close to the car in front, you’ll get splashed.
Our advice? Ease off the accelerator, go home, grab a bucket and microfibre cloth and get scrubbing.
3. If you can’t see the vehicle’s rear wheels
Ever braked suddenly at the lights and found yourself almost bumper-to-bumper with the car in front? If you can no longer see the other vehicle’s number plate, consider yourself too close.
When stopped at the traffic lights, you should actually be able to see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front or be no closer than three metres. Keeping this distance is just another important way to avoid rear-end crashes, particularly at or near intersections where there can be a greater risk of collisions. It also allows you enough space to manoeuvre around the vehicle in front if it breaks down.
The three-second rule in three easy steps
The three-second rule applies at any speed, whether you’re travelling 40km/h in Unley or 110km/h on the South Eastern Freeway.
Here’s how to apply the rule safely.
1. Choose a fixed point: Select a stationary object on the side of the road. In this case, let’s focus on a road sign.
2. Keep your eye on the vehicle ahead: When the vehicle in front of you passes that road sign, start counting – one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three.
3. Check your distance: If you reach the road sign before you finish counting, you’re travelling too closely to the vehicle in front of yours. Take this as your reminder to back away.
Final word
Drivers face a $414 fine, a $105 Victims of Crime Levy and one demerit point if caught not keeping a safe distance.
If you’re the one being tailgated, try to stay calm and let the other vehicle pass.
“That might mean safely pulling over to the side of the road,” Charles says. “If you intend to pull over, make sure to indicate your intentions early and only stop in a location where it’s safe to do so.”
Remember, tailgating won’t get you to your destination any faster.