Tailgating is relatively common. Most people learn that they’re not supposed to do it in driver’s ed. They are supposed to keep a three-second distance between vehicles. But this is one of the most common violations you will see on your daily commute, as many drivers have only a second or two between their vehicles.
But if tailgating is dangerous and sometimes illegal, why do people do it? Here are three potential reasons.
1. They’re in a hurry
One of the top reasons people tailgate is just because they are in a hurry. They either want to pass or they want to get the driver ahead of them to go faster. They’re trying to push traffic forward, even if it’s risky.
2. They are angry
In some cases, tailgating can be linked to road rage. A driver who feels that they have been wronged in some way – maybe someone else cut them off – may aggressively tailgate that vehicle intentionally. They may also honk the horn, flash the lights, etc.
3. They are oblivious
Finally, it’s unfair to assume that all drivers tailgate intentionally. Many of them may simply misjudge the distance or the speed, or they don’t know that they are driving dangerously. Maybe they tailgate so often that they think it’s normal. Additionally, a lot of tailgating happens when drivers get distracted and do not pay close enough attention to the traffic around them.
Of course, if these oblivious drivers cause a rear-end accident, they have still been negligent. They are driving unsafely, whether they know it or not. Those who have been injured in an accident, whether it was intentional or the result of negligence, may be able to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.