What is tailgating? Tailgating is a term often used to describe when drivers don't maintain a safe distance. If you're following another car too closely and the car in front of you brakes suddenly, you may not be able to stop in time to avoid a crash, so it's best to avoid tailgating.
A significant danger of tailgating is that tailgating drivers do not leave enough room to stop if the car in front rapidly decelerates. That increases the chances of a rear-end collision.
Tailgating is the action of a driver driving behind another vehicle while not leaving sufficient distance to stop without causing a collision if the vehicle in front stops suddenly. A typical example of tailgating. The first car is being followed very closely by another.
You can test it by while you're driving by picking a stationary object such as a road sign and counting two seconds as the car in front passes it. If you reach that point before you've finished counting, you're probably too close (in wet conditions four seconds is more appropriate because it takes longer to stop).
Remain calm and don't allow your emotions to get the better of you. Instead, stay in control of the vehicle so that you can drive safely and allow them to pass. Avoid slowing down or flashing your brake lights, as this may escalate the situation.
If you're on a multi-lane road, move over to the right when it's safe, giving the driver a chance to pass you on the left. If you're on a single-lane road, consider pulling into a well-lit parking lot or gas station to let them pass. Stay steady. Speeding up and slowing down can increase your chance of getting hit.
Proactively maintain a safe following distance
Standard advice for a personal vehicle is to put three seconds of space between itself and all other surrounding vehicles. If a driver is tailgating another vehicle then there is, at best, one second of distance.
The two-second rule is a rule of thumb by which a driver may maintain a safe trailing distance at any speed. The rule is that a driver should ideally stay at least two seconds behind any vehicle that is directly in front of his or her vehicle.
In terms of driving, tailgating is simply driving too close to the vehicle in front. I'm sure almost everyone has had an experience with tailgating. It doesn't take long, even as a learner driver you'll experience it all too often.
People watch TV at tailgates by using a digital TV antenna, streaming the game with a mobile hotspot, using a DISH Playmaker, or screen mirroring a mobile device to the TV. These methods are effective but require a reliable network connection and a power source. TVs are a common commodity at tailgates.
What are common tailgating methods? Common types of tailgating attacks that you should be aware of on the job include: Someone walking behind you into a secure area, depending on your common courtesy to keep the door open for them. A courier or delivery driver who aren't what they seem.
The short answer is yes, tailgating is considered illegal in most US states. However, proving that another driver is tailgating you can be complicated. Since most state laws don't specify a standard safe distance between two vehicles, tailgating can be open to interpretation.
Furthermore, the three states with the highest rates of tailgating—Idaho, Georgia, and Nebraska—are all located in different regions of the country. Tailgating and other aggressive driving behavior are strongly correlated.
Typically, someone is tailgating you because they want you to drive faster. In this case, remember that it's not your responsibility to follow their desired speed limit, just the posted one. In more severe cases, tailgating may be an expression of road rage.
They hope the driver in front of them will move faster so that they can drive faster, too. Drivers may tailgate and never cause an accident, wreck their vehicle or get pulled over. Because they aren't punished, they continue to drive aggressively. Some drivers are angry and take their emotions out on other drivers.
The truly American ritual of tailgating at football games started in the 1800s ... during the Civil War. Bringing picnics to watch the Civil War was a likely precursor to our modern-day tradition of toting food and drinks to a football game.
Basically, tailgating leads to rear-end crashes because: Tailgating reduces stopping distance. Drivers who tailgate greatly reduce the distance (called stopping distance) they need to bring their car or truck to a full stop.
"Tailgating" implies no consent (similar to a car tailgating another vehicle on a road), while "piggybacking" usually implies consent of the authorized person. Piggybacking came to the public's attention particularly in 1999, when a series of weaknesses were exposed in airport security.
The Three-Second Rule
Increasing the distance between you and the car ahead can help give you the time you need to recognize a hazard and respond safely. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. Determining the three-second gap is relatively easy.
Tailgating another vehicle is unsafe and illegal. Many rear-end collisions are caused by drivers following too close to the vehicle in front of them. The rules state that a driver must keep sufficient distance from the vehicle in front in order to stop safely and avoid a collision.
Tailgating (also known as piggybacking) in physical security is one of the most widespread security breaches affecting businesses today that often go undetected. Tailgating can be simply described as the passage of an unauthorised person, forced or accidental, behind that of an authorised user.
The cover braking technique involves taking your right foot off the accelerator and holding it over the brake pedal. If you have to stop quickly, your foot is already above the brake pedal and is in the perfect position to press the brake. This method will improve your reaction time.
Biometric scanners
They prevent tailgaters from walking with or behind an authorized person inside a building or office. Electronically controlled access controls and smart cards for entrances and restricted areas are also critical to prevent tailgating.