Tailgating Causes Hundreds of Accidents in Texas
We’ve all seen it. Someone following another driver so closely, you wonder if they are hitched to each other. It’s a dangerous scenario–for both drivers. In the event the car in front has to make a sudden stop, an accident is almost assured. And at that distance and highway speeds, neither driver is going to have a positive outcome.
We’ve all been frustrated by a driver who seems to get stuck in a lane and no matter how we try, we just cannot get around their vehicle. Whether you’re already late for an important appointment, or, like a lot of us, just plain annoyed with a slow driver, the simple truth is that letting that irritation get the best of you could result in serious damage to you–a flipped and crushed car is not something your family is eager to see. Especially if you were in it.
The Stats of Tailgating
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 80 percent of drivers admitted to aggressive driving, including “tailgating, confronting other motorists and even hitting other cars on purpose.”
The study further states that among aggressive behaviors, the top ones include:
•· Rude Gestures
•· Blocking another car from changing lanes
•· Cutting off other cars
Astoundingly, nearly 4 in 100 drivers get out of their car to confront other drivers. This kind of behavior is not just unsettling, it’s not just inconsiderate, it’s illegal. And aside from causing serious accidents that result in great bodily harm, it can also land you behind bars.
What if I am the victim?
Plain and simple, if someone makes threatening gestures, cuts you off and then slows down, or follows too closely, pull out of your lane, slow down and remove yourself from the aggressive driver. If someone follows you after you have tried to evade the situation, drive to a safe location, stay in your car and call the police. Your future and your safety are not worth someone else’s lapse in judgment.
80 percent of us have driven aggressively at one time or another–which means that you have likely been both the provoker and the provoked. The next time you find yourself in either position, take a deep breath, step back and remember: choose safety instead. It truly is a matter of life and death.
