We all get in a hurry due to the hustle and bustle of life.
Commuting to work, driving the kids to school and going out to run a seemingly endless list of errands cause most of us to feel as if we’re in a constant time crunch.
When life is hectic and we have a thousand things on our minds, we don’t always keep our focus on the road. “Tailgating” – or riding the bumper of the car in front of you – in order to reach your destination more quickly is not the answer.
Below are some vital tips for avoiding an accident due to tailgating.
Watch your speed.
Drive at a speed at which you will be able to stop without hitting the car in front of you if it comes to a sudden halt.
Leave space.
Always allow enough distance between you and the car in front of you. A good rule of thumb is to leave 10 feet for every 10 miles per hour. For example, if you’re traveling at 60 mph, you should allow a distance of 60 feet.
Be wary in bad weather.
When roads are slick, you should double the amount of space between your vehicle and the car in front of you.
Allow extra time.
When driving a large car, truck or motorcycle, give yourself extra time to stop. These types of vehicles take longer to come to a complete stop.
If someone else is following you too closely, do all you can to get away from them—switch to another lane, pull over safely to the side of the road or let them pass you. Don’t let your anger get the best of you by putting on your brakes quickly. You could cause an accident and leave yourself or the other party injured.
If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury from a car accident caused by tailgating, you may need to contact an experienced attorney that can help you obtain the compensation that you need.