Motorists at greater risk from tailgating and use of mobile phones

ONE in five motorists have been involved in a collision or a near miss as a result of dangerous tailgating, a new survey shows.

And mobile phone users are twice as likely to be involved in a crash or near miss as a result of driving too close to the vehicle in front.

Over a third, 36%, of those who admitted to using a hand-held mobile phone while driving have been involved in a collision or near miss as a result of tailgating compared to 15% of those said they never use a hand-held mobile while driving.

The results, published by the National Safety Council, are based on an on-line survey of 1,998 drivers conducted on behalf of the council's W5 Marketing Intelligence, in partnership with the Car Buyers Guide.

Of the male drivers who took part in the survey, 24% admitted they had been involved in a near miss or collision as a result of tailgating while 16% of women admitted having the same experience.

It also showed 22% of motorists with a full drivers' license were in a collision or near miss as a result of tailgating, compared to 13% of drivers with a provisional license.

Chief executive of the council, Pat Costello said he was surprised by the survey that confirmed tailgating had become a major problem.

"Tailgating can and does cause road crashes. It is dangerous but preventable by keeping a proper distance between you and the vehicle in front," he said.

The survey also showed avoiding distractions while driving was essential to maintaining an appropriate distance.

He pointed out that before a vehicle comes to a stop it will have travelled a certain distance before the driver has reacted to the need to bring it to a stop. Stopping a vehicle was really a combination of reaction distance and braking distance.

"If you are tired or distracted as a result of using a hand held mobile your reaction time will increase," he warned.

Mr Costello said one way of ensuring a safe distance between two vehicles was to follow the two-second rule.

"When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object start counting as follows 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two'. If you have reached the fixed object before 'two' you are following too closely. If this is the case, slow down and create the two second space."

He also urged drivers to add one more second to each weather condition encountered.