tailgating – following too closely

Tailgating – Following Too Closely

A Collision Countermeasures Presentation

Copyright SafetyFirst 2007

Statistics

“…during 2004, there were 2200 deaths and 769,000

injuries from more than 3 million rear-end collisions.”

- National Safety Council


Introduction

• Tailgating is following the vehicle in front of yours too closely to safely avoid a collision.


Introduction

• The odds of a crash go up when tailgating is combined with: –not paying attention, or

–traveling faster than conditions permit.


Introduction

• The amount of time and space you will need to react, slow and/or stop is greater when: –your vehicle is fully loaded,

–its brakes are out of adjustment or need maintenance,

–you are tired or distracted.


Introduction

• The faster you drive, the more room you’ll need to stop.


Details

• If you allow more space between your vehicle and the car ahead, you’ll have more time to spot a hazard or accident down the road.

• You will have more time to stop, or to avoid the hazard.


How Much Space Do You Need?

• The amount of following distance depends on the size of your vehicle

(i.e. extra heavy trucks take longer to stop than sedans & pick up trucks)



• Following distance also depends on other factors such as:– Vehicle condition (tires and brakes, etc.)– Weather conditions (harder to stop on

wet or icy roads)– Your fitness (you need time to react – if

you are tired, ill or “multi-tasking” while you drive, you need more following distance)



• For most sedans, pick ups and small vans, you could apply a “three-second rule.”

• We’ll explain on the next slide…



• When the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain point, such as a sign, count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three.”

• This takes about three seconds.

• If you pass the same point before you finish counting, you are following too closely.



First Vehicle Passes A

Fixed Object

You Start Counting

If your vehicle passes that fixed point before you count to “3” or “6” (depending on your vehicle type, etc.) then you are following too closely.

1.2.

3.



• The “three-second rule” doesn’t tell you that you have enough distance/space – it only reminds you when you are definitely too close!

• You may need much more space depending on conditions!



• Sometimes you will need more than a “three-second” cushion.

• For larger trucks, you may want to start with a “six-second” following distance – your safety director will help you determine what is adequate based on your vehicle type (loaded and unloaded, etc.)


Leave More Space When:

• Leave more space when you are crowded by a tailgater… by leaving extra space you can: –slow down gradually if you encounter

stopped traffic, and hopefully…

–avoid being hit from behind by the tailgater!



• Driving on slippery roads…you will need more distance to stop your car.

• Following motorcycles-If the motorcycle falls, you’ll have to avoid hitting the rider.



• Pulling a trailer or carrying heavy loads…Extra weight makes it harder to stop.



• Following large vehicles that block your view ahead. You need the extra room to see around the vehicle and to the sides.


Summary

• When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react.

• Give yourself that needed time by allowing enough following distance.


THANK YOU!

• Thank you for participating in our program….

The decisions that every driver makes while behind the

wheel lead to a specific result…let’s all try to make it a

safe one!

tailgating – following too closely

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