Following Distances
The Dangers of Tailgating / Insufficient Following Distances
Most rear-end collisions are caused when drivers do not obey sufficient following distances. This is also known as Tailgating- often regarded as a form of aggressive driving behaviour. In South Africa, with the high prevalence of road rage, tailgating might contribute towards retaliation by other drivers and initiate instances of road rage.
Adequate following distances enable drivers to adjust in emergency situations and bring their vehicles to a stop safely – time that could mean the difference between life and death.
Total stopping distance involves the following:
Human perception time: The time required for a driver to recognise a potential hazard. This time is assumed to be approximately 0.75 seconds in normal situations
Human reaction time: Once the hazard has been perceived, the driver must respond by applying the brakes. The average reaction time is about 0.75 seconds
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