Tailgating is cause of 1 in 8 car casualties

TAILGATING is responsible for one in eight casualties on England’s motorways and major A-roads, an analysis found.

Highways England, which manages the roads, said more than 100 people are killed or seriously injured each year in accidents where a vehicle has driven too close to the one in front. The body believes only a small minority of tailgating is deliberate, with many drivers simply unaware they are dangerously invading a car’s space.

It has launched a campaign named Don’t Be A Space Invader, based on the arcade game. The Highway Code says drivers should allow at least a two-second gap between vehicles, which is doubled on wet roads. In-car research using dashcams and heart monitors revealed a driver’s typical reaction to being tailgated is surprise, anger and increased heart rate.

It was also identified as the biggest complaint motorists have about road users.

The Don’t Be A Space Invader campaign is supported by former Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell, who is president of road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.

He said: ‘Tailgating is a driving habit I utterly deplore. Not only is it aggressive and intimidating, but it can lead to a crash with a tragic outcome.’

Richard Leonard, of Highways England, said: ‘We want everyone to travel safely, so the advice is – stay safe, stay back.’