Most of us have experienced someone tailgating us before. When we look in the mirror and we feel like the guy behind us is right on our tail (hence the name tailgating) or when we feel the glare of the lights behind us too intensely we know someone is tailgating. . While it may be uncomfortable and annoying, it is also dangerous. While some forms of tailgating can more properly be classified as road rage, here we are talking about the propensity of the average driver to drive to close – not intentional tailgating.
Law enforcement officials and industry experts tell us that on heavily traveled, fast moving roadways, we should abide by the three second rule. The three second rule simply stated means that the minimum distance you should be from the driver in front of you is the distance traveled in three seconds. Not surprisingly, evidence shows that we actually tend to put less than one second between us and the driver in front of us. The dangers of tailgating are numerous and multiply exponentially when adverse weather or road conditions are present. The biggest danger in tailgating is the lack of reaction and stopping time in the event of an unforeseen condition. Most studies allow a driver one second to react to an unforeseen condition on the road. If the person behind you is less than one second away, then they essentially have no time to actually stop after they have reacted. This, obviously, leads to potentially fatal rear end accidents. In other words, from the moment you put on your brakes for an obstruction in the road ahead of you, the person behind you needs one second to take in and process your brake lights. Only after they have processed the need to stop can they actually begin to decelerate. This is the reason for the three second rule – to give you time to react AND stop. While reaction time remains the same, stopping time increases as road conditions worsen. Rain, snow, sleet and fog all increase the time necessary to come to a safe stop. Additionally, large trucks and other types of vehicles need additional time to stop even under the best of road conditions. For these reasons, it is always important to adhere to the three second rule when you are operating a motor vehicle. If someone behind you appears to be traveling too close, attempt to safely slow down and let them go around you to avoid the possibility of a rear end collision.
If you have been the victim of a tailgating accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Seek the advice and counsel of an experienced California personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. If the person that hit you was tailgating, they may be liable for damages you have suffered as a result of their negligence. If you would like an experienced California attorney to evaluate your case, contact the law offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit us at www.ledgerlaw.com.
