Ever been in a rear-end collision? You can probably guess that they are one of the most common types of car accidents. But did you know that most rear-end collisions are caused by tailgating?
You probably don’t think of yourself as a tailgater. In fact, when people are involved in rear-end collisions, it’s easy to blame the other driver who braked too suddenly. But many drivers today follow other vehicles much too closely, whether they are driving around town or on the freeway. In fact, many rear-end collisions occur at speeds of only 25 to 35 miles per hour! The good news is that making sure you’re not tailgating is as easy as using the ‘three-second’ rule — or in some cases the ‘four-second’ or ‘five-second’ rule. When the vehicle ahead of you passes a certain stationary point, such as a sign, simply count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three.” If you pass the same point as the other vehicle before you finish counting, you are following too closely.
Sometimes, even the three-second rule isn’t enough. You’ll want to consider using a four- or five-second rule when you are:
- Driving in rainy or snowy weather. Even if you are driving fairly slowly in bad-weather traffic, a rear-end collision can still cause a fair amount of damage to your vehicle — and you.
- Towing a trailer of any kind. The heavier your vehicle — and load — the longer it will take you to stop.
- Driving at high speeds. The faster you’re driving, the longer it will take you to stop.
- Following a motorcycle, especially in bad weather.
- Following any type of vehicle that stops frequently, such as a school bus.
- Attempting to merge on to a freeway or expressway.