National Highways reminding motorists across the West Midlands the dangers of tailgating
More than 140 people are killed or seriously injured each year in tailgating-related incidents on England’s motorways and major A-roads
Motorists across the West Midlands are being reminded the dangers following a vehicle in front of them too closely can have.
National Highways say tailgating contributes to an average of 147 people being killed or seriously injured each year on England’s motorways and major A-roads.
To highlight the issue, they've launched their Too Close for Comfort campaign to show the impact in which tailgating can have and encourage drivers to keep their distance.
Anthony Phipps is the operations manager at National Highways in the West Midlands and he says the figures show just how serious of an issue it can be.
He said: "Just under 150 people are killed or seriously injured on motorways or major a-roads where tailgating is an attributing factor, that makes up roughly 7% of all people killed or seriously injured on all the motorways and major networks, so it's a large proportion.
"You could be distracted and lose your concentration and all the sudden you're a bit too close to the vehicle in front, so when you're driving the golden rule is the two-second rule.
"If you think you are too close to the vehicle in front, pick a landmark such as a bridge or a road sign and even if you say, only a fool breaks a two-second rule, and you've reached that bridge before you finished that sentence, then you are too close."
Further data from a recent survey for National Highways found 43% of drivers admitted to tailgating at least occasionally, while 60% say they feel anxious or stressed when others do it to them.
Tailgating was also a factor in 1 in 8 collisions on the strategic road network.