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How to tackle
tailgating
Driving too closely to others can be annoying and,
more importantly, dangerous. Here's how to avoid getting caught up...
BY MARIA MCCARTHY
Tailgaters:
everyone hates them but they are difficult to avoid.
A survey
by insurance comparison website Confused.com revealed that 73% of drivers are
tailgated every month, and 18% have had an accident or a near miss on account
of being tailgated.
Two
types of tailgating
'Most tailgaters are aggressive drivers who actively
want to intimidate the motorist in front of them,' says Steve Horton, director
of communications for Road Safety GB. 'But there are also 'passive tailgaters'
who just aren't concentrating properly. Both create risk but the aggressive
variety or 'violator' as we call them can be far more intimidating.'
Don't
be bullied
'Don't let the tailgater push you into driving faster
than you feel is safe.' advises
Richard Gladman, head of driving standards at IAM RoadSmart.
'Some drivers speed up thinking this will appease the
tailgater, or that it will help to widen the gap between you. But generally,
they go faster themselves, stay just as close and you end up feeling even more
out of control. Remind yourself that you are in charge of your car, not them.'
Let
them pass
One
tip for dealing with tailgaters is to let them overtake you as soon as
possible. It might feel as if you've let them 'win' by doing this, but having a
safe and relaxed journey is far more important than getting embroiled in petty
power struggles.
If
you reach a clear stretch of road, keep your speed steady and allow the
tailgater to overtake.
Other
strategies include pulling into the side of the road, turning off into a petrol
station or even going all the way around a roundabout.
Keep
driving normally
But
don't feel under pressure to let the tailgater past.
'If you're already driving safely, why would you want
to change anything?' says Tom
Leggett, Crash Test Engineer at Thatcham Research, the motor insurers'
automotive research centre.
'It's the tailgater who needs to change their
behaviour, not you. Only pull over if you feel it is absolutely necessary. You
shouldn’t endanger yourself or other road users just to let a tailgater past.
Stay calm and continue driving confidently.'
Plan
and signal early
When
a tailgating driver is really close you can end up in a situation where even
pulling over or turning off at a junction can make you feel anxious as you're
uncertain whether they will spot your brake lights or indicator in time.
'Always signal your intentions and start managing your
speed well in advance,' says Steve.
'That will give both aggressive and passive tailgaters
the chance to spot your manoeuvre and hopefully back off.'
Make
space in front
You
might not be able to control the tailgater behind you but you can control the
space in front of you.
'You should maintain a safe following distance between
yourself and the car in front of at least two to three seconds,' says Steve.
'This creates a small 'safety bubble' in case you need
to stop in an emergency. This space will give you room to slow at a more
controlled rate if you have to and mean the tailgater is more likely to be able
to stop without running into you.'
Don't
play power games
Some
motorists are so annoyed by tailgaters that they deliberately slow down to
annoy them. You can even buy novelty bumper stickers declaring, 'the closer you
get, the slower I drive'.
Other
strategies include putting hazard lights on, tapping the brake lights
unnecessarily, or shouting and gesticulating at the tailgater.
But
no matter how tempting it might be, don't engage in any of these. They can be
dangerous and trigger road rage in the tailgater, which will only make the
situation worse.
Don't
stare into your rear-view mirror
Being
tailgated can feel very threatening and it's easy to get drawn into constantly
monitoring this angry stranger driving up your rear.
'The temptation is to pay attention the tailgater's
intimidating behaviour,' says
Richard.
'But it's important not to let yourself become so
preoccupied by them that you stop paying proper attention to what's in front of
you – such as a cyclist round the next bend. Check your mirror when necessary, but
let your main focus be on your own driving and on the road ahead.'
Drive
behind a lorry
If
you're on a multi-lane carriageway one option is to just get behind a lorry.
Tailgating
types will be keen to overtake a large slower-moving vehicle so if you're
following one they'll whizz past you as well.
'Staying in lane one is a totally valid option,' says Richard.
'Lorries are only legally allowed to do 60mph on the
motorway and are physically limited to 56mph, so your journey will take
slightly longer than if you were regularly overtaking and making progress. But
as long as you leave plenty of space in front of you and make sure the driver
can see you in their rear-view mirror, it can be an effective way of avoiding
tailgaters.'
Get
a dash cam
If
the worst happens and your tailgater causes an accident a dash cam that records
both front and rear views such as the Nextbase Duo HD can provide valuable
evidence for insurance companies and the police.
When
buying a dash cam, it's important not to buy a cheap one from a petrol station
– their footage tends to be extremely poor quality.
Tailgating
is illegal under careless driving laws and if you feel your tailgater should be
reported many police forces now have a section on their website where you can
upload your dash cam footage of the incident.
Is
it you?
'If you are constantly being tailgated in different
locations it might be worth asking yourself if your own driving style could be
improved,' says Richard Gladman.
'Maybe you drive in a hesitant manner which makes you
more of a target for aggressive tailgaters, or aren't always aware of speed
limits. The Institute of Advanced Motorists offer a range of courses including
a Driver Assessment for £49 where you'll be given expert advice to improve your
driving skills.'
Maria McCarthy
I'm a journalist, author,
broadcaster and media consultant
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