Tuesday 1st August 2006

Tailgating is the big problem

National Motorway Month kicks off

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Tailgating's the problem not speed

More than a quarter of motorists (26 per cent) are "an accident waiting to happen" because they drive too close to the vehicle in front on motorways, according to a new nationwide survey of 22,105 vehicles released by leading motoring bodies at the start of National Motorway Month (NMM) yesterday.

The worst offenders in the survey were on the M4 in Wales, where over 50 per cent of drivers were too close to the vehicle in front. The next worst were Midlands motorists on the M42, where 39 per cent were too close, and the M9 in Scotland, at 26 per cent.

The best motorway behaviour was found on the M5, where just 1 in 12 drivers were tailgating, followed by the M20 and the M2.

Researchers from the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) surveyed a sample of UK motorways on two successive Wednesdays in June and July, before feeding data to the RAC Foundation for analysis.

The RAC Foundation, IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), the Freight Transport Association and BSM Driving Schools jointly promote National Motorway Month (NMM). Together NMM campaigners have highlighted tailgating as the number one driver error on the UK's motorway network, and are calling on drivers to remember the "two second rule". Highways Agency (HA) research into safe driving found that tailgating contributed 29 per cent of all injury accidents on the network. The Highway Code says that you should allow at least a two second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying fast traffic. But this latest survey shows that this is alien to many motorway users. If the weather is poor, the 'two second rule' needs to be doubled.

Motorways are the safest roads in the UK but with there are still more than 8,000 drivers killed or seriously injured (KSI) on the network each year. More than 42 per cent of crashes occur within 1 km of a junction.

HA chiefs are of the opinion that tailgating - or "close following" - is a major contributor to crashes and are currently researching the problem with a view to improving safety and tackling poor driver behaviour. It's notable that they didn't argue that speeding was the biggest problem.

In 2004, National Motorway Month highlighted the success of chevrons in reducing tailgating. NMM campaigners have this week welcomed the news that the Highways Agency is introducing new white chevrons on the M1 between junctions 26 and 27, together with signs to advise drivers to "keep two chevrons apart." This will result in a total of nine network locations with chevrons.

NMM members would also like to see more frequent reminders via the roadside Variable Message Signal (VMS) boards which could also make a difference to driver behaviour.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "It's obvious that too many drivers simply forget their speed, regardless of the conditions on the motorway or what is in the lane ahead of them. They then follow other vehicles as if they were travelling much more slowly. So they are ignoring the two second rule - designed to help you leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops.

"Regardless of what indicators are available on the motorway, every driver should make it standard practice to leave a good gap, adjusting their following distance regularly to take into account weather and traffic conditions," said Rodger, who was an examiner at the Metropolitan Police Driving School before taking up his role as the IAM Chief Examiner earlier this year.

Links

• Institute of Advanced Motorists
• RAC Foundation

[bridgland]

What this doesn't go into is the causes of tailgating. My experience is that this occurs due to several factors.

1. Aggressive driving from the tailgater: -
a. Because that is just their nature or state of mind at the time.
b. Because the driver in front has just cut up the person who is now tailgating and needs to be 'shown the error in their ways'.
c. Becuase leaving a gap allows other people to ignore the same highway code rules and pull out in front of the person deemed to be tailgating - If you ask anyone doing this, then they would say that they are trying to stop someone in the inside lane from potentially cutting them up/slowing down their progress (see b. above).
d. The tailgating car is in a hurry and prepared to break the speed limit as well as ignore basic common. sense when it comes to an acceptable distance, which becomes more important the faster you travel.

2. Becuase the driver in front is hogging a lane and not following the highway code about correct lane use. I have witnessed the Police on the A3 get very close to a car in front and flash their headlights as well as finally show them their blue lights before the driver took any notice (the car was doing 40 MPH on a stretch limited to 50 MPH in rush hour in the middle lane and creating a big tailback).

3. They know each other and are playing 'silly buggers' with each other, potentially with no regard for the others on the road.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

You forget the numpties that just trundle along close behind and think nothing of it. No agression invloved, just no thought that they really ought to leave a gap. Often see this in the slow lane with a clear middle or in middle with a clear outside lane.

Rob

[V8 Kieran]

Not to mention the Artic drivers who think it's funny/clever/efficient to take 2 miles (yes, I measured it once) to overtake each other, just to gain 40 feckin' feet.

Makes my blood boil

Police should have bigger presence on motorways and rigidly enforce better behaviour - the tailgating would vanish and rage incidents I'm sure would follow suit......

[bridgland]

Rob_the_Sparky said:

You forget the numpties that just trundle along close behind and think nothing of it. No agression invloved, just no thought that they really ought to leave a gap. Often see this in the slow lane with a clear middle or in middle with a clear outside lane.

Rob

Fair point.

One final one that I forgot - They are being towed! (I have seen that a couple of times, at stupid speeds as well)

The key thing here is education and respect for others on the road. If that respect is not shown, e.g. pulling out at 60 MPH because of the "if the gap is big enough to park in then I can pull out" mentality, or that they are just oblivious to what they are doing, then they need to be told. Flashing of lights and use of horn should work. Tailgating is not the solution, even though your emotions might tell you otherwise.

Cameras cannot see this happen, which is why more traffic police should be out there passing out compulsory re-education sessions as well as fines. They are more than happy to catch speeding offences, but their attention to other offences that don't respect the other equally, if not more, important highway code practices makes this an appearance of going after the "soft target".

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 12:24

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 12:29

[tvr_nut]

Shame the IAM's spokesman has to use the words "forget their speed" in his first sentence. I know he means it in the context of people too blind stupid to realise you need a larger distance to stop the quicker you are going, but it will be this bit of the message that the "speed kills" headline grabbers will quote.

Witnessed similar "lorry alongside lorry" behaviour on the A1 North yesterday - well done to the Eddy Stobart driver in the twin-trailer HGV being passed, for having the decency to brake very slightly to allow the optimistic overtaker to pull in front, and release the queue of cars getting sick of doing 56mph. There are some considerate HGV drivers out there (but sadly becoming the exception when 20yrs ago it was the norm).

[tvr_nut]

Question?

Anyone else find 2 second gap is uncomfortably close at 30mph? I find it is just that bit too close to give any real visibility, and tend to leave a bit more.

At 70mph 2 seconds feels about right - until someone pulls into the gap (without even signalling) that is!

[bridgland]

tvr_nut said:

Question?

Anyone else find 2 second gap is uncomfortably close at 30mph? I find it is just that bit too close to give any real visibility, and tend to leave a bit more.

At 70mph 2 seconds feels about right - until someone pulls into the gap (without even signalling) that is!

I find the 2 second gap really only viable and comfortable at 40-50 mph and above. It just doesn't feel right at 30 mph.

Your point about pulling out into a gap that you left, because it was right for 70 mph, is all too regular on our roads especially when they slow down due to it because they are now too close to the car in front, therefore making you slow down too.

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 12:35

[afrofish]

I agree with all that was stated above but I feel the need to stress that

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO..

There would be no tailgating if people got out of the way more often!

I have to confess to being in the faster half of Britain's drivers and as such I frequently find people pulling out into the outside lane to overtake (VERY SLOWLY) usually because of a MLM! To add insult to injury they usually sit in the outside lane as there's another car in 100m, which they will only have to pull out for again (and they can't be bothered).

Without resorting to undertaking, allowing the distance between you to be reduced is often one of the most effective ways to remind people that you wish to (and are able to) go faster than them.

(Please don't think I mean 2 feet here either..I think a degree of incursion into the safety zone is relatively safe if you can see there are no obstacles ahead of the driver in front).

On the occasions where people do come up behind me quickly I always move in as quickly as possible to let them past as it is not my job to police the roads and if they want to make progress faster than me...so be it.

Edited by afrofish on Tuesday 1st August 12:55

[fatboy b]

It's not just motorways though is it? I remember doing some motorbike training (post test) with a copper a few years ago. One thing he told me has always stuck. "In a 30 limit, do 30. In a 40 limit, do 40. When you see the black diagonal line on a white background, go like ". Now I'm not sure a totally agree with the last bit , but the first bit I do, and still do now in my car. And guess what, at least once a day there's some tt on my arse.

I'd be interested to know the different techniques from people to deter these idiots.

[jazzyjeff]

[quote=bridgland]
I find the 2 second gap really only viable and comfortable at 40-50 mph and above. It just doesn't feel right at 30 mph.

Your point about pulling out into a gap that you left, because it was right for 70 mph, is all too regular on our roads especially when they slow down due to it because they are now too close to the car in front, therefore making you slow down too.

[quote]

As always its just a matter of planning, anticipation and appropriate signalling - for those wishing to change lanes AND for those potentially in the path of those wishing to move.

Bridgland - you say you're uncomfortable with the two second rule at 30 - does that mean you drive closer to or further away from the car in front? :-/

JJ

Edited by jazzyjeff on Tuesday 1st August 12:47

Edited by jazzyjeff on Tuesday 1st August 12:48

[joe_icecool]

Travelling north on the M1 on Friday evening i came upto a car in the outer lane with plenty of room on the middle lane, the car in front of me undertook him after sitting behind him for a while, keeping a fair gap between me and the car sat in the outside lane i indicated to overtake the response was a hand out of the window pointing for me to undertake him, i closed to gap to his back end very rapidly still indicating and he refused to pull in so i backed off again, he was sat doing 65mph (from my GPS) probably showing exactly 70 on his speedo, by now there was a fair queue forming and i was undertaken because i had a braking gap in front of me he eventually pulled in because of the car sat on his bumper flashing his lights at him.

I always try and leave a gap for braking, 1600kg with no ABS and brakes that i know i can lock all 4 wheels up in the dry if i stand on the brake pedal hard enough.

Having driven on the continent a few times the "fast lane" is usually clear as people do pull in after overtaking and if you do find a car "sat" in the fast lane it normally has british number plates on it.

I blame a lot of it on the Speed kills policy, people switch off when they are sat at 30 in a 30 zone and at 70 on the motorway i think some of them think it is there duty to stop others from overtaking them when they are sat at 70, more time and money needs to be spent on driver education and, though i'm reluctant to say it as the only points i have is an SP50 Speeding on motorway issued by a police officer, we need more police on the roads pulling drivers up for bad driving practices, myself included if i'm driving badly.

Joe

[bridgland]

JJ said:

Bridgland - you say you're uncomfortable with the two second rule at 30 - does that mean you drive closer to or further away from the car in front? :-/

JJ

I'll quantify this a bit better. It actually feels a little too close, moreso with a large vehicle in front of you. I prefer to be able to see what is coming up ahead and this gap doesn't give me that ability with a wide and/or tall vehicle in front.

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 12:56

[fatboy b]

afrofish said:

I agree with all that was stated above but I feel the need to stress that

Without resorting to undertaking, allowing the distance between you to be reduced is often one of the most effective ways to remind people that you wish to (and are able to) go faster than them.

Is that not aggressive driving??

[vladd]

I used to travel from Warwick to Exeter every Friday and I'd say over 80% of people were tailgating. There'd be traffic in the outside lanes as far as the eye could see, all nose to tail. I'd leave a gap of 1.5 to 2 seconds and quite often someone would undertake me and go into the gap. Crazy stuff.

[lockup]

Useful article. Not least for pointing out that the safest place on the motorway to change CDs, ensure the kids are belted up and make phone calls is when you're near a junction.

With 58% of crashes occuring in the "kill zones" between these 2km long islands of tranquility, when will Bliar and is cronies realise its not speed that kills, it's a FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF JUNCTIONS on our motorways.

[havoc]

fatboy b said:

afrofish said:

I agree with all that was stated above but I feel the need to stress that

Without resorting to undertaking, allowing the distance between you to be reduced is often one of the most effective ways to remind people that you wish to (and are able to) go faster than them.

Is that not aggressive driving??

Yes, but sadly it's become the 'accepted' method of getting noticed as someone who wants to get past. Flashing headlights from a safe distance actually seems to be considered more aggressive by most drivers! (WTF?!? )

So, when confronted by an OLM going slower than you wish to, you have the following options:-
1) "Push up" as described above to get their attention. Depending on the degree of moronity, this may lead to significant tailgating before you get their attention. Even then, they may decide to ACTIVELY obstruct you, rather than passively as currently. Which puts you in a more dangerous situation with no progress.
2) Flash headlights. Again, this may or may not work, and may actually make them inclined to ACTIVELY obstruct you as above.
3) Undertake when a gap appears. This, IMHO, is often the route of least resistance (and thus potentially safest ACTIVE decision to take). Unfortunately, it's also illegal.
4) Sit behind them, watch everyone else undertake YOU, and wait until they get bored or bullied out of the way by someone else. Very safe (passive), but you need the patience of a saint. Also runs the risk of (1) happening to you, sometimes followed by (2) as the Moron behind you fails to appreciate that you are just driving safely.


Contrast to the continent, where a brief flash of headlights while approaching from safe distance is enough to remind someone about the inside lane, and often progress is completely unimpeded.

...why am I still resident in the UK again?!?

[chevy-stu]

havoc said:

Contrast to the continent, where a brief flash of headlights while approaching from safe distance is enough to remind someone about the inside lane, and often progress is completely unimpeded.

...why am I still resident in the UK again?!?

ditto...

[bridgland]

lockup said:

Useful article. Not least for pointing out that the safest place on the motorway to change CDs, ensure the kids are belted up and make phone calls is when you're near a junction.

With 58% of crashes occuring in the "kill zones" between these 2km long islands of tranquility, when will Bliar and is cronies realise its not speed that kills, it's a FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF JUNCTIONS on our motorways.

Twisting the maths there . "More than 42 per cent of crashes occur within 1 km of a junction". So if you say that it is 10 km on average (just to get a number) between junctions and 100 accidents have occured, then 42 accidents will occur in the 2 km either side on the junction, or 21 per km, as opposed to 58 accidents on the other 8 km, or 7.25 per km.

More junctions brings with it some very alarming behaviour: -
- Last minute lane changes and stamping on the brakes with no regard of who or what is behind you, as you realize that you need to get off
- Poor speed judgement from cars joining the motorway (too fast or too slow), making drivers on the motorway take evasive action
- Speeding off onto the slip road and suddenly realizing thet there is a tailback to get onto the roudabout/junction at the bottom 70 mph with 100 metres left is only going to end in tears.

While we are on this topic, why is the article talking about KM and not MILES? Is there a stealth movement to get rid of the last few Imperial remanants that we have left?

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 14:14

Edited by bridgland on Tuesday 1st August 14:25

[splatspeed]

allow undertaking

then people would move over

[Timberwolf]

I don't tailgate, I overtake

I think most of the problems inherent in motorway travel come from that, for the majority, their motorway driving is driven by two core fears:

* The fear of being stuck behind a "slow" vehicle.
* The fear of changing lanes.

Why "slow" in quotes? I'll tell you why. As far as I can observe, for the average driver, if there's a truck or caravan/trailer combination in front of them, they have to get ahead of it. Even if their speed is actually a few miles per hour slower than the vehicle in question.

This probably explains at least some of the accidents around junctions, because outside of that region the trucks will have pulled away from the incapable 50mph bumblers.

So, and you must all have seen this happen, they swing out (often unannounced) into the middle lane, and make achingly crawling progress past the truck or whatever, with a tiny speed differential. After an age of slow crawling, they look up the carriageway, and see another truck several miles ahead.

"Oh no," thinks the driver, "If I pull in now, I will only have to pull out again later. But then there might be a car in the way. I'd better stay in lane." And the eventual extension of this is that we end up in the situation we all know and love; Lane One at 56 miles per hour, Lane Two at 58, and Lane Three at 60.

I think there's a big argument in favour of bigger speed differentials between the lanes. I've always found that the M40 in light traffic tends to operate this way; without any trucks around the speeds are more like 65, 75, 90 - and as a result any car approaching from behind you will pass in a short amount of time, rather than getting as far as your blind spot and then going no further, as usually happens to me.

I'd like to see what would happen if you changed motorway speed limits to the following: 60mph maximum Lane One, 55-75 Lane Two, 70-85 Lane Three, and on anything beyond a third lane an 80mph minimum. I've always found the problem with lorries overtaking not being so much the trucks, but the wave of drivers feeling the need to displace into the outside lane despite going no faster than either truck on any significant level.

(Point one of my list, again.)

Of course, that does ignore the Great British Public's complete inability to deal with any kind of speed differential; the number of times someone pulls out in front of me because they see my car, but mistakenly assume I will travel at the same glacial pace they prefer, is too depressing a number to really count.

Sorry about the merely tangential relevance to the original topic