The ins and outs of tailgating
Ask any driver which road habits get under their skin and chances are they’ll mention tailgating.
This is when the driver behind is following too closely to safely slow down and stop when necessary.
In our 2022 driving pet-peeves survey, more than a quarter of respondents said tailgating ticked them off when they were behind the wheel.
Tailgating isn’t just annoying, though. It’s dangerous, causing crashes and higher insurance costs. It’s also illegal, and if you think the police won’t book you for tailgating, think again. You’ll be charged for failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The police will fine you $390 plus a $99 Victims of Crime levy, and you’ll receive one demerit point.
What do the stats tell us?
In the past five financial years, police caught 13,778 drivers tailgating, with about half fined and the rest warned. Alarmingly, the 2022-23 financial year saw the highest number of tailgating offences since 2018-19, which suggests drivers aren’t getting the message.
RAA Senior Manager Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says tailgating is a significant factor in rear-end crashes.
“It’s the most common crash type on our roads”, Charles says. “However, the risk of a rear-end crash can be reduced considerably by keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front.”
In the past five years, there were 4961 rear-end crashes where at least one injury occurred, which makes up 31 per cent of all injury crashes.
The fine
The fine for tailgating another driver.
Why do people tailgate?
The reasons why people tailgate are complex, but anger and frustration are contributing factors. Senior Research Fellow from Monash University Accident Research Centre, Amanda Stephens, says in an article for The Conversation that people often tailgate when they’re in a rush and feel that another driver is encroaching on their limited time.
“Aggressive tailgating may be seen as reprimanding the driver for their perceived slow speeds, or to encourage them to move out of the way”, Amanda says.
Angry and aggressive drivers may underestimate how risky their behaviour is and overestimate the amount of control they have behind the wheel.
When drivers tailgate, there’s less time to react and stop suddenly to avoid a crash. This is especially the case at higher speeds, where the distance covered during the reaction time and while braking increases significantly, compared with lower speeds.
Increasing the following distance is important as speed increases. Remember the three-second rule and ensure at least three seconds elapse from the time the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed point to the time your vehicle passes it. How long is three seconds? Count, ‘one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three’.
Research suggests that drivers who tailgate or speed increase their odds of being in a crash 13 to 14 times, compared to when they’re driving more safely. The stress of being tailgated also increases the likelihood of making a mistake behind the wheel.
Tips to stop yourself from tailgating
There are some ways you can stop yourself from performing this dangerous driving habit. Preparing for your journey is key. Plan your route and try to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination in case there are delays.
When you’re behind the wheel, listen to some calming music, and if you’re feeling angry, pull over for a few minutes and take some deep breaths.
Try to rethink your behaviour about tailgating. Know the risks and ask yourself if they’re worth it or put yourself in the place of the driver in front. How would you feel if that was one of your loved ones being tailgated?