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Confusion over what is a "safe following distance" has QUT [(Queensland University of Technology)] road safety researchers calling for a standardised definition to prevent tailgating.
- Tailgating conclusively linked to rear-end crashes
- Most drivers leave less than a 2 second gap between them and the vehicle in front
- Rear-enders account for one in five Queensland crashes
Dr Sebastien Demmel, from QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety -- Queensland (CARRS-Q), said the results of the study which found 50 per cent of drivers tailgate, was being presented at the 2017 Australasian Road Safety Conference in Perth today.
"This study, for the first time conclusively linked tailgating with rear-end crashes, but we also identified confusion among drivers over what is deemed to be a safe following distance," he said.
"Despite drivers perceiving they are following at a safe distance, our on-road data showed that in reality most don't leave the recommended two to three second gap," he said.
"At some locations 55 per cent of drivers were found to leave less than a two second gap between them and the vehicle in front, and 44 per cent less than a one second [gap]."
A safe following distance is 5 feet. While looking at a smartphone.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 13 2017, @09:04AM
Tourists: people who probably aren't familiar with the area and thus are doing the right thing by leaving a bigger gap - slower reaction time since may be glancing at signs/navigation device.
Retirees: if they're old enough to look like stereotypical retirees then they likely have slower reflexes and thus are doing the right thing by leaving a bigger gap just in case.
So if you cut in front of them and they crash into you it's actually your fault even if legally it isn't. And thus the real problem is the people who keep cutting in front of them.
It's a public road not a racetrack. Until they require everyone to pass more stringent driving tests you have to be aware that the grandmas and grandpas with poor but legal driving vision have as much right to be on the road as you do.
Shoving yourself in front of them in a walkway is bad manners, so's doing similar stuff on the road. If they're in front of you, deal with your impatience till you can pass safely and politely.