When you’re driving down the road and you feel like the car behind you is a bit too close, trust your gut. If it feels like they’re tailgating you, they probably are. You should slow down and allow the other driver to pass in order to keep yourself safe.
Now, not all people tailgate intentionally. Some do, especially if they’re frustrated because you’re driving the speed limit and they want to break the speed limit. They may do it to show their displeasure or to get you to speed up. But you also have many drivers who just do not understand what a safe following distance is and tailgate accidentally as a result.
So what is a safe following distance? It is at least three seconds. For some people, it takes two seconds just to react, so they need more distance than that to actually avoid a crash. Even those who react more quickly, perhaps in less than a second, are still safer if they consistently put three seconds between them and the car ahead of them.
That person driving just one second behind your car may think that what they’re doing is safe. They may not understand the risk that it poses to you. But, if you have to stop quickly, there’s a very real chance that that tailgating driver is going to run into your car.
If this happens and you suffer injuries, you need to know if you have a right to financial compensation. You may be able to seek compensation for medical bills and related costs as part of fair compensation for your losses.