Drivers must maintain a safe following distance. The recommended distance in New Jersey is a two-second time delay in good weather and a four to five-second delay in poor road or weather conditions. This means a following car should reach a stationary point, such as a road sign or guardrail, in two or four to five seconds after the rear of the vehicle in front passes the same point.
While you may maintain a safe following distance with the car ahead of you, the driver behind you may not – they may tailgate you.
So, why is tailgating dangerous?
No time to react
When a driver tailgates you, they worsen their view of the road and surrounding traffic. And this can be worse if you are driving a large vehicle, like a truck.
If something unexpectedly happens, perhaps traffic slows down or stops, the tailgater may not have time to react. Accordingly, they may end up crashing into you.
How can you respond to a tailgater?
If someone tailgates you, it can be tempting to increase your speed to increase the distance between your vehicles. But this may not be the best decision. This is because you risk your safety by speeding, and the tailgater may not get your message – they may speed as well, closing the gap you just created. Using gestures or slamming your brakes can also be dangerous.
The best way to respond is to remain calm, maintain your speed and focus on driving. Then, when it’s safe, move to the right to let the other driver pass. If you are on a single-lane road, you can pull over to a well-lit parking lot or gas station to give them way.
If a tailgater injures you, learn more about your case to receive the compensation you deserve.