Dangerous Tailgating: Over a Million Drivers Caught on New Motorway Cameras in the UK

Dangerous Tailgating: Over a Million Drivers Caught on New Motorway Cameras in the UK

Revved up Motorways Catch Millions of Tailgaters During Trials, But No Enforcement Yet

Tire-scorching cameras installed on four major motorways across the UK have detected a whopping 844,060 cases of dangerous tailgating during groundbreaking trials, according to our exclusive report. This staggering figure was obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Select Car Leasing and shared with This is Money.

It appears drivers are encountering tailgaters more frequently, with a poll of over 1,000 UK motorists showing 28% of respondents hit by this irritating road behavior at least once a week. Half of the motorists surveyed believe the offense has heightened in the last two years, indicating a worrying trend on British roadways.

National Highways, the Government department responsible for the busiest trunk routes, states that tailgating is a factor in one out of eight crashes on motorways and major A roads. Drivers found to be following too closely are guilty of a 'careless driving' offense, punishable by a minimum £100 fine and three points on their license. In more severe cases involving accidents, offenders could face even harsher penalties like driving bans or even prison sentences.

However, enforcing this offense has historically been challenging, as it typically can only be documented by officers witnessing it in person. But the aforementioned trials conducted between 2017 and 2021 aimed to assess the technology's potential for correctly identifying tailgating behavior.

The first trial took place on the M3 during a two-month period between October and December 2017, spotting an impressive 237,648 "possible offenses." The next year-long trial on the M6 in 2018 identified 319,787 cases of dangerous tailgating. The M20 underwent another year-long trial between 2018 and 2019, resulting in 226,282 instances of drivers following too closely. Lastly, the M1 motorway near Northampton experienced 60,343 instances of tailgating during the October 2020 to September 2021 trial.

Despite these hundreds of thousands of motorists being caught in the act, no enforcement action was taken during the trials. Only in the last trial, conducted in partnership with Northamptonshire Police, did repeat offenders receive warning letters.

Although the technology has proven effective, National Highways currently has no plans to broaden these trials or make the tailgating cameras a permanent fixture. The department maintains that this would be a decision for the relevant police forces as the enforcement body.

Yet, with increasing reports of aggressive driving and the proliferation of new roadside devices that can identify tailgating as well as other illegal activities, such as drivers using mobile devices behind the wheel, the public expressed support for the technology to help combat tailgaters on Britain's roads.

What constitutes tailgating, you may ask? The Highway Code defines it as driving too closely behind another vehicle, which is both dangerous and illegal. Motorists should provide a safe cushion between themselves and the vehicle ahead, allowing enough space to halt if the vehicle suddenly slows down or comes to a stop. The so-called 'two-second rule' advises motorists to maintain a two-second gap on roads carrying fast-moving traffic and in tunnels with reduced visibility. However, this gap should be increased to 2.4 seconds at 50mph and 3.1 seconds at 70mph, and doubled on wet roads, as well as further expanded on icy roads.

1. The cameras, installed as a part of trials on four major UK motorways, have likely detected over half a million cases of dangerous tailgating, adding valuable data to the automotive industry's understanding of the issue.
2. Despite the striking numbers, no enforcement action was taken during the trials, potentially contributing to the ongoing trend of frequent tailgating incidents on British roadways.
3. The industry and finance sectors might need to collaborate to mitigate this issue, as the proliferation of new roadside devices could signify an added investment in reducing aggressive driving and enhancing transportation safety.
4. As the technology continues to prove effective in identifying tailgating behavior, public support for its wider implementation and integration into the UK's transportation system remains likely.

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