National Highways claims south-east motorists worst for tailgating
The roads organisation is calling on motorway and road users to leave a safe gap between them and the car in front
Drivers in London and the South East have been rated worst for their road manners – and National Highways is urging drivers to leave space as tailgating remains a major danger, contributing to 222 serious incidents on the region’s motorways and major A-roads last year.
Despite Britain priding itself on politeness and consideration, millions of drivers feel their day-to-day manners worsen when they are driving as new research from National Highways reveals widespread tailgating, and declining road etiquette.
Almost 5 million drivers nationally say their manners slip behind the wheel when they’re under pressure, especially when running late.
A further 2.4 million admit tailgating deliberately to push slower drivers to speed up.
In London and the South East, 41% still admit to tailgating – the highest proportion in the country.
National data suggests that running late is the biggest trigger for poor driving etiquette (27%), followed by tiredness (20%) and peak-time commuting (16%).
With 40% of drivers rating road etiquette in the region as good, London and the South East ranks sixth out of six regions across England in National Highways’ new ‘manners map’ that highlights where behaviours are better and where they fall short.
Colin Stevenson, Road Safety Information Lead at National Highways, said: “While the regional picture varies it’s clear that tailgating remains a real concern. It may seem harmless, but it can put everyone on the road at risk. Following too closely means there is less time to react and stop safely if the vehicle in front slows down or stops.
“Leaving a safe gap makes driving safer, keeps traffic moving more smoothly, and is a simple courtesy that helps everyone feel more relaxed behind the wheel. A good rule of thumb is the two second rule, which should be doubled in wet conditions or when visibility is reduced.”
Nationally, tailgating contributes to around 8% of people killed or seriously injured each year on motorways and major A-roads, based on long term Department for Transport data.