Tailgating Hazards | Howards Motor Group
Go Back
  • The Nation’s Tailgating Black-Spots Revealed
  • 11 August 2014
    Facebook Icon
    Twitter Icon

    The Nation’s Tailgating Black-Spots Revealed

    One of the main causes of traffic accidents in England (and globally) are tailgaters, causing headaches and problems beyond the initial 10 minutes of annoyance and a warning tap on the brakes!

Whether you are rushing to your holiday destination during the summer months, navigating the airport run or dealing with black ice in the winter, the country’s roads can pose a range of challenging hazards that we all have to negotiate on a regular basis. One of the main causes of traffic accidents in England (and globally) are tailgaters, causing headaches and problems beyond the initial 10 minutes of annoyance and a warning tap on the brakes! The Highways Agency have recently revealed the leading black-spots on England’s roads that constantly cause tailgating issues for drivers, a habit considered one of the most dangerous and catalyst of avoidable accidents.

Painstakingly analysing over 6000 motorway stretches across England, data indicated that those who are younger behind the wheel have a greater likelihood of causing an accident through tailgating, with over a third of collisions caused by those under the age of 30. Tailgating is primarily caused when drivers fail to leave a safe two second gap between their vehicle and the one in front, with too little time provided for reactive braking. Nearly 50% of vehicles monitored during the month long study were found to be driving too close to those in front, leaving less than 65 yards between vehicles. Staggeringly, nearly 20% of vehicles were failing to leave at least a second between vehicles.

Topping the table as the most hazardous stretch of road for prolific tailgaters was a stretch of M1 near Leeds, more accurately the south-bound carriageway between the A1M and junction 47. The most popular road for tailgating was the M42, featuring 4 times within the top ten. Often the outcome of rushing, frustration or anxiety relating to keeping up with the traffic flow, tailgating causes up to 1700 annual injuries and around 5 fatalities.  

To avoid or deal with tailgating the best approaches include:

·  Leave plenty of time for your journey, don’t rush to save minutes or seconds.

·  Change lanes to allow a tailgater to pass, remember to keep a healthy speed on motorways as to not break the law but avoid hold up traffic behind.

·  In bad weather it’s best to leave double distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. Poor weather can increase stopping distances through decreasing tire traction.


  • Receive our latest news and offers:
    Don’t worry we won’t bombard you with emails and you can refine your preferences at any time.

  • SUBSCRIBE
Reputation Reviews
  • Howard Garages (Weston) Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Howard Garages (Weston) Ltd to act as a credit broker, not as a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only. Company Number: 1108986

    We can introduce you to a selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. An introduction to a lender does not amount to independent financial advice and we act as their agent for this introduction. Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next best offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure the best deal you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. Lenders may pay a fixed commission to us for introducing you to them, calculated by reference to the vehicle model or amount you borrow. Different lenders may pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement, all of which are set by the lender concerned. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.