Tailgaters are most feared m-way drivers
Survey finds that most aren't worried by speeding
We fear tailgating most
This is all according to the RAC Foundation, which this week launched the results of a NOP Automotive survey as part of National Motorway Month. When asked what their biggest fears were on motorways, respondents cited:
- 46 per cent - motorists who drive too close
- 22 per cent - HGVs overtaking
- 15 per cent - motorists driving too fast
- 5 per cent - getting pulled over for speeding
- 5 per cent - joining/leaving the motorway
- 4 per cent - had no fear.
A survey of 15,000 vehicles for National Motorway Month last year found that 40 per cent of motorists travel too close to the car in front on motorways, and more than 70 per cent of those motorists travelling in clusters were following too closely. Figures also show that trucks are involved in 22 per cent of fatal accidents but make up just seven per cent of traffic.
Only five per cent of people fear getting pulled over by police for speeding, suggesting that either we are a nation of law-abiding motorists or that there is a perception that speeders won’t get caught due to the declining traffic police presence on our roads -- and in particular on motorways.
When asked about road safety problems specific to motorways:
- 31 per cent of motorists think drug/drink drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways
- 13 per cent think drivers on hand held mobile phones
- 12 per cent think tired drivers
- 9 per cent think speeding drivers
- 6 per cent think congestion/volume of traffic
- 5 per cent think inexperienced drivers
What causes accidents
Motorway month research has shown that there is very little information on the actual causes of accidents on motorways, and the groups involved in the campaign are now urging Government to review the mechanisms for recording accident data. What is known however includes:
- Close following is a contributory factor in more than one third of all personal injury accidents on the motorway network.
- Research commissioned by the Government found that falling asleep at the wheel accounts for up to 20 per cent of crashes on motorways or similar roads, and as many as one in ten of all crashes on Britain's roads.
- Six per cent of all fatal motorway accidents are caused by the sudden failure of under-inflated tyres.
- More than a third of accidents are caused by lane changes or unintentional lane departures.
- Two thirds of rear end collisions are caused by inattention.
- Speeding is not in the list above
Research has also shown that with the exception of motorway sites, accident rates are lower during periods of heavy congestion than during uncongested conditions. For motorway sites, however, the accident rate in congested conditions was nearly twice the rate of those in uncongested conditions.
In France it was found that lack of attention (including fatigue and sleepiness) was a principal causes of fatal accidents on motorways in one in three accidents, speed and dangerous driving in one in four accidents, dangerous overtaking and driving too close in one in 15 accidents and alcohol, drugs or medication in one in five accidents.
Edmund King, executive director of RAC Foundation, said: "Motorists are right to fear the tailgater on motorways. These drivers put their own lives and those of others on the line by driving too close.
"Sudden lane changes, often without indication, are causing a third of accidents. All drivers need to be more considerate in their motorway driving style. Too many drivers do not use their mirrors, do not signal and do not pay attention on motorways."
Other survey results
- 31 per cent of people in the Anglia region fear heavy goods vehicles overtaking most, compared to only 15 per cent of people in the West Country.
- 54 per cent of people in Granada and 55 per cent in the West Country fear motorists driving too close, compared to 31 per cent in Tyne Tees region
- 25 per cent of cabriolet or coupe drivers fear getting pulled over by traffic police for speeding, compared to three per cent of 4x4 drivers.
- 19 per cent of drivers under the age of 35 think inexperienced drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways.
- Half of people in the West Country think drink/drug drivers are the biggest road safety problem on motorways, compared to 16 per cent in the Tyne Tees region.
- 19 per cent of drivers in Yorkshire think speeding drivers are the biggest road safety problem compared to only 5 per cent in Harlech region.
- 31 per cent of Peugeot drivers think tired drivers are the biggest problem compared to only 5 per cent of Honda drivers.
Why this survey?
National Motorway Month is a joint initiative by the RAC Foundation, Auto Express Magazine, IAM and BSM to encourage safer driving on our motorways. The campaign will run through the busy holiday month of August.
Having a 2-ton 4x4 so close I cannot see it's number plate when I'm driving my 21 at legal speed is really scary. If there is suddenly a danger, I can stop very quickly they cannot due too the bulk on there car. My passenger and I will just be squashed and very dead persons :mad: :mad:
Jack
Of course, the flip side is, because they are in a tank, they don't mind if they ride over your 21!
And what if you're suffering this problem in the outer lane, i.e. both inner lanes full with nowhere to pull over and you're passing the middle lane at a reasonable rate - where do you get out of the way??
To be honest, if these tailgaters crash and injure/kill themselves they deserve all they get. Cleansing of the gene pool...!
jazzyjeff said:
To be honest, if these tailgaters crash and injure/kill themselves they deserve all they get. Cleansing of the gene pool...!
But they don't just kill themselves and even if they do a crash affects their families badly too.
Besides I think most tailgaters don't even realise they are doing it (through not paying enough attention). Hardly a crime worthy of the death penalty.
ing road!jazzyjeff said:
And what if you're suffering this problem in the outer lane, i.e. both inner lanes full with nowhere to pull over and you're passing the middle lane at a reasonable rate - where do you get out of the way??
Then ease off a bit until you've got a bit of breathing space in front of you. Effectively add his braking distance to yours, and put that combined distance in front of you. Then you won't have to brake as hard if someone else screws up ahead of you, and the arse behind you will have more chance of not ploughing into you.
Of course, this works only 'til a MLM decides it's time he tried out the 3rd lane, and pulls into your safety buffer. When this happens, just increase the gap again. The tailgater will eventually either learn, or pop a blood vessel. IME, about 25% of them learn.
Regards
Paul
Alex said:
If you don't want to get tail-gated, PULL OVER!
It's not always that simple, I was pulling off the M40 onto the M25 the other day with a Volvo tailgating me. There was a lot of traffic doing the same and as we got slower he got closer until he got fed up, pulled out and sped off, probably only to cut someone else up further up the road.
I agree that tailgating is the biggest single danger on the motorways but the accident stats would probably include speed related and be used to justify another speed camera
986xb said:
I absolutely agree re. 4X4's. People I know who drive these are convinced that because it has 4 wheel drive, it has the same abilities as an Impreza - they really believe it; so they think they can stop on a penny.
Of course, the flip side is, because they are in a tank, they don't mind if they ride over your 21!
a few weeks ago on my way home from work I was driving along a twisty country lane. It is full of blind corners.
I drove round one corner to find a big Volvo 4x4 (going miles too fast for the corner, he must've thought he was in an Impreza) understeering onto my side of the road almost looking like it was about to fall over. Fortunately I just about had space to slow right down while he swerved back onto his side of the road. Could've been a different story.
I think that the first thing a driver who is being tailgated should do is look at their own driving and work out why they are being tailgated perhaps?
we all know 70 is the legal limit and as such if you want to drive at that spped then the inner lane is the place. overtaking should be done in a safe manner then the driver should return immediately to the inner lane.
At least I think thats what the highway code said when i passed my test (and does even today)
middle lane D**k heads are my greatest fear. the ones who feel it is ok to drive at 70 in this lane coz hey its the legal limit??
N.
PistonHeads said:
22 per cent - HGVs overtaking
Eh? How fast are you 22% driving?
PistonHeads said:
Only five per cent of people fear getting pulled over by police for speeding, suggesting that either we are a nation of law-abiding motorists or that there is a perception that speeders won’t get caught due to the declining traffic police presence on our roads -- and in particular on motorways.
Nope - just don't expect to get pulled over for driving at 80 or thereabouts.
Surprised to see no mention of MLMs in the "biggest road safety problems specific to motorways". 31% think drink/drug drivers are the biggest problem? Eh? I don't think I've *ever* seen anybody (obviously) drunk on the motorway.
heightswitch said:
far be it from me to critisise anyones driving, but as a driver I have never been the victim of a so called tailgater!
Me neither, every now and then I will get tailgated in a 30 or 40 zone when I am sticking to the limit, but out on the open road or a dual carriageway or motorway, almost never. If folks are habitually tailgated by others, they should look closer to home for the cause 1st, from what I see on our motorways something like 99 out of 100 cars who are being tailgated it's obviously their own fault because they stubbornly refuse to move over when they are able to do so. It's the MLM's and lane 3 at 80mph owners club. Although I concede that tailgating when the car ahead has got nowhere to go, either moving over or increasing speed, due to traffic volume, is pretty pointless.
>> Edited by Balmoral Green on Wednesday 17th August 17:10
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