I for one, do not know or understand how anyone in there right mind can follow the vehicle in front of them so close that all they can see is the vehicle in front of them. What an uncomfortable feeling. I tried it once and did not see any practical reason for it. I have been driving for 25 years. Common sence tells me that if I lay back 2 or 3 car lenths that I can react to emergency situations with out panic. If you are tail gating the vehicle in front of you then all you are doing is waiting for his brakes lights to come on. What fun is that. Driving is a privalage and is also very enjoyable if you can see more than the back of the car you are tailgating. Regarding the above article, my veiw is that people tailgate because people are impataint.
Why drivers tailgate
· By: Drivers.com staff
· Date: 1994-12-09
Comments (8) Join conversation
This article originally appeared in Volume 4, Number 4 of Driver /Education, in December 1994.
There are many opinions on why drivers tailgate. But there doesn't seem to be much in the line of hard research that would cast some light on this particular kind of driving behaviour.
Several experts queried in preparation for this article admitted that, while they know of research dealing with tailgating behaviour in general, they could not bring to mind any specific research into why individual drivers do it. Even GM Senior Researcher Leonard Evans, author of Traffic Safety and the Driver , a book that has been referred to as the bible of traffic safety research, seems to have little more than opinion to offer on the topic of why drivers adopt a tactic in traffic that is not only dangerous, but also has several tactical disadvantages.
"Why do drivers choose to follow so closely? It seems to me that it becomes largely a driving habit, rather than a reasoned conscious behaviour," Evans writes. "Drivers appear to do many things for their own benefit rather than for any utility benefit." He goes on to suggest that, in some cases, it may be done as criminal behaviour that's indulged in for its own sake.
Evans also suggests that the lack of speed difference between vehicles allows drivers to feel safe. This, and the fact that crashes are rare events and that drivers can get away with tailgating, makes drivers complacent about the danger. "They have learned from repeated experience that it is safe to do so, in the sense that they have been doing it for years without adverse consequences," he writes.
Challenge for educators
If these views hold true, driver educators have an almost impossible challenge in dealing with the problem. The three- to four-second rule is taught as a rule of thumb for minimum safe following distance.
But selling this driving technique on the basis of safety may be difficult if penalties for tailgating (in the form of accidents) are rare and drivers feel no sense of danger.
On the other hand, more utilitarian penalties for tailgating are quite common. Tailgaters get blocked in more often because they are unable to anticipate problems ahead and select the best lane.
"They feel more stress because they can't use their vision properly and do long-range traffic planning," says driver training consultant David Baker. "Drivers are often more concentrated on defending the indefensible, the space between them and the car in front, rather than on the cooperative aspect of driving in traffic," says Baker. "When they're shown how, they can see and feel the benefits of staying back and having more control. They feel more confident about their control over the situation."
However, it might be a lot easier to find ways to sell these benefits if a
great deal more were known about why tailgaters tailgate.
Comments
thomas1, on Monday, 25. June 2007 at 04:17 PM
John, on Thursday, 28. June 2007 at 09:17 AM
I moved to France last year and am enjoying nearly every aspect of the culture with one huge exception - the all-too-common practice of tailgating. It almost seems permissible here, something I just can't rationalise. From my experience, its almost impossible to drive a short 10km trip without at least one potentially dangerous incident via this (literally) shortsighted behaviour. Incidentally, I typically drive just under or over the limit, always paying attention to lane discipline and trying to read the road - in other words, I try to drive considerately and would never intentinally block another vehicle's progress.
I believe that in many ways tailgating is far more dangerous than speeding, which whilst not-condoning any form of irresponsible driving - tailgating ALWAYS involves a second vehicle, whereas speeding doesn't necessarily involve a third party.
I would welcome any initiative to reduce this seemingly global problem, yet from my experience of driving in the UK, is far more prevelent on mainland Europe.
Eric, on Thursday, 28. June 2007 at 03:42 PM
Peopel are tailgating because the car in front of them (usually in the left lane) is not yielding to the rule "slower traffic keep right" Even if someone is speeding, they are now faster and you become the slower traffic. If you choose not to move , then you must deal with tailgating.
Albert, on Friday, 14. December 2007 at 02:29 AM
I want to install holographic projectors that, only when I'm being tailgated, project the image of my car suddenly stopping. It doesn't matter what lane you're in... they tailgate. I actually speed up sometimes to see how fast they're willing to go... they still tailgate... they usually fall back when I'm up to 90 to a 100mph... I've seen 18 wheelers tailgate too! Sometimes I imagine driving a tank and slamming the breaks on the tailgaters. They just need to get into an accident, that's all. Have you ever been the passenger with a person who tailgates...? Scary... I'm get nervous...
Glenn, on Tuesday, 25. March 2008 at 03:45 AM
You just can't fix stupid...and that's just what tailgaters are! I would love to just slam on my brakes and let the asshole crash into me, but that would be stupid. Every society on the planet will ALWAYS have tailgaters. I always drive the posted speed limit (+ or - a few mph), but the tailgaters keep coming, and always will. I don't get too excited about tailgaters anymore because there are so may of them out there. We all pay the price eventually, while our auto insurance rates continue to rise. The best one can do is let the tailgater pass you when it is possible. YOUR SAFETY IS #1., DON'T MESS WITH THE (STUPID) TAILGATER---because the situation may turn out real bad for YOU. SAFETY...SAFETY...SAFETY!!! Call 911 and report the asshole...the cops will do the rest.
Shawn, on Thursday, 22. May 2008 at 11:13 AM
Glenn has it right ... you can't fix stupid. Tailgaters will always be around and keep coming like a cockroach ... more and more everyday as young adults adopt the pattern of their parents, society, etc. Personally, I struggle with "taking the high-road" on this issue everyday. It sucks. Too often, these assholes get away with it. I feel certain that most accidents are caused by tailgaters and impatient drivers. Unfortunately, it seems like the cops are more concerned with catching speeders rather than tailgaters. At this point, I feel I'm in the minority on this subject. Nowadays, I'm starting to see cops getting tailgated themselves and they don't seem too concerned about it either. I guess it's just the norm now. Maybe I should become a highway patrol officer and dedicate my services to busting tailgaters only. I'm tired of being the "nice guy" on this issue. I say screw 'em all ... just once I'd love to see one have a horrific, deadly single-car accident. They have no regard for my life (including my passengers), so why should I have any for theirs.
Jeff, on Monday, 26. May 2008 at 05:40 PM
Yeah I would have to agree that no matter where you live, no matter how hard you try to avoid it or what lane you're in people are always going to tailgate. You see these jerks on somebodies bumper in the right lane and then they move into the left lane to get right on somebody elses bumper. The best thing to do is to reduce your speed they're ticking you off so slow down to tick them off. And if they try to take further action against you just get on your cell phone and call 911 tell them the situation, where you're driving, the vehicle info and license plate info and the police will make every effort to pull that person over and give them a traffic warning/citation.
Erik, on Wednesday, 18. June 2008 at 12:26 PM
So what do you do when the cops speed and tailgate you ?
In my state, Pa., Gov. Ed Rendell likes his State Trooper chauffer to cruise at 100mph on the turnpike. He must have been on his way to Pat's Steaks to graze. Sticking the taxpayer with his ethanol subsidies will build up anybody's appetite. Don't believe them when they tell you they can't tear up a ticket, just ask the trooper who pulled him over.
