Too Close for Comfort? Stay Safe, Stay Back.

Too Close for Comfort? Stay Safe, Stay Back.

Does someone standing too close to you make you feel uneasy? The same feeling applies on the road.

We are launching a new campaign to highlight that tailgating can lead to road users not only feeling uncomfortable and tense but in many cases, pressured to speed up too. 

We're asking drivers to consider the personal space of others and understand that maintaining a safe distance is a matter of both safety and consideration for all road users.

Intentional or not, tailgating continues to be a safety issue. Between 2019 and 2023, it was a factor in an average of 123 killed or seriously injured casualties every year on our motorways and major A-roads. That equates to 7% of all people killed or serious injured on the strategic road network. 

43% of people admit to tailgating at least sometimes

60% of people feel uncomfortable when being tailgated, experiencing the same tension and anxiety as when someone invades their personal space in everyday life.

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You’d never get this close on foot, right? Tailgating is just as uncomfortable.
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Personal space is a thing, on and off the road.
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Would you sit here? Or is this too close for comfort?

It’s time for motorists to recognise that their actions on the road have a real impact on others' comfort and safety.

Make the Change: Two Seconds, is all it takes. 

Our message is simple. Maintain a safe following distance of at least two seconds. This isn't just a rule; it's a small, conscious change that makes a huge difference to everyone's safety and driving experience.

Here's what you need to know about driving too close:

  • Driving too close creates an uncomfortable feeling for the driver in front, and it's just as socially unacceptable as standing unnecessarily close to someone in everyday life
  • Maintaining a safe following distance (at least two seconds) is a crucial action that significantly improves road safety for everyone
  • Small changes in your driving behaviour can have a big impact on overall road safety and the driving experience

 

By making a simple adjustment to how you drive, you can help create safer, smoother, and less stressful journeys for yourself and everyone else on the road. 

Don’t get too close for comfort. 

Stay safe, stay back.

For more information visit our tailgating webpage. 

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