Watch Out for These 5 Dangers of Tailgating
You’re driving down the highway and you see the car in front of you getting closer and closer. Before you know it, they’re right on your bumper. We’ve all been there—tailgating is unfortunately a common occurrence on roads and highways. While it might not seem like a big deal, tailgating can actually be quite dangerous and even lead to accidents. Here are five dangers of tailgating that you should be aware of:
1. You could get rear-ended.
As any experienced driver knows, tailgating is dangerous. If the driver in front of you has to brake suddenly, there’s a good chance you could end up crashing into them unless you leave enough space between your car and theirs. Even if you’re paying attention to the road, it’s impossible to brake as quickly as someone who isn’t tailgating you. In addition to causing accidents, tailgating also increases stress levels and can lead to road rage. If you want to avoid these problems, it’s best to give the car in front of you some extra space.
2. The driver in front of you could swerve.
It’s important to always be aware of the car in front of you when you’re driving. You never know when they might have to swerve for something in the road. If you’re following too closely behind them, you could easily lose control of your own vehicle. If the driver ahead of you hits a pothole or an animal crosses the road, for example, sudden braking or swerving could cause you to rear-end them or veer off into oncoming traffic. Give yourself enough space between your car and the one in front of you so that you can react safely. It could save your life.
3. You could get pulled over.
Driving too close to the car in front of you is not only dangerous, but it could also result in a costly traffic ticket. In most states, there is a minimum distance that drivers must keep between their car and the one in front of them. If a police officer sees a driver tailgating, they may pull the driver over and issue a ticket. Not only would the driver have to pay the fine for the ticket, but points may also be added to their license. These points could cause the driver’s insurance rates to increase. Therefore, it is advisable for drivers to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of them to avoid being pulled over and ticketed.
4. You could cause an accident.
Here is another of the many dangers of tailgating! If you’re not careful, tailgating can easily lead to an accident—especially if multiple cars are involved. When drivers are forced to brake suddenly because someone is tailgating them, it often causes a chain reaction where the car behind them ends up rear-ending them, and so on down the line. In addition to the danger of causing a multi-car pileup, tailgating also increases the chances of hitting a pedestrian or cyclist. So next time you’re tempted to tailgate, remember that it’s not worth risking an accident. Drive safe and give yourself plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. If you get into an accident in Pittsburgh and require towing then give us a call right away.
5. You could make the driver in front of you angry.
Tailgating is not only dangerous, but it’s also inconsiderate and rude. If the driver in front of you feels like you’re following too closely behind them, they could get angry and do something reckless like braking suddenly or swerving into your lane just to teach you a lesson. As we all know, road rage is never a good thing.
The next time someone tailgates you on the highway or road, don’t take it lightly—it could easily lead to an accident. Be sure to leave enough space between your car and the one in front of yours so that if they have to brake suddenly or swerve for any reason. You’ll have time to do so as well without crashing into them or losing control of your vehicle altogether. Make sure to keep these 5 dangers of tailgating in mind whenever you get on the road. Stay safe out there!
