How to Avoid a Tailgating Car Accident

By Staff Writer

It happens to everyone. You’re cruising down the highway minding your own business when you look in your rearview mirror to see the person behind you following entirely too closely.

Tailgating, or when a driver follows another car at an uncomfortable distance (literally on its “tail”), is a very common occurrence. This bad habit is incredibly dangerous and causes thousands of car accidents each year.

Tailgating another individual will not get you to your destination any faster. It also creates the possibility of irritating the driver in front of you so badly that they tap their brakes. You could end up rear-ending them or hitting another car on the road.

Here are several tips to consider in order to avoid an accident caused by tailgating.

• Allow ten feet of distance for every ten miles per hour that you are traveling. If you are driving 50 mph, there should be a minimum of fifty feet between you and the car in front of you. This allows ample time for you to come to a stop if necessary.
• Watch your speed and pay attention to the car in front of you. Stay alert and allow plenty of time to stop and not hit the car in front of you.
• If you are driving in poor weather conditions such as rain, snow or ice, double the amount of distance between you and the car in front of you. At 50 mph in poor weather conditions, you should have 100 feet between you and another car. It takes much longer to brake in poor conditions.
• Because motorcycles and large vehicles require more distance to stop than regular sized cars, allow more distance between you and these types of vehicles.

Tailgating is only appropriate at Tennessee football games, not on the road!

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