Tailgating means driving too close to the vehicle in front of you. It’s dangerous because it increases the risk of a crash happening. In fact, over 147 people have been killed or seriously injured by tailgating in the last year. To get to the bottom of the this problem, we asked tailgaters exactly why they do it. And, if you're ever in a difficult tailgating situation, we can help you get out of it.
Our research
We conducted a nationally-representative survey of 2,000 UK adults via omnibus research experts OnePoll. The survey ran between 2 and 7 May 2025 and looked at drivers' attitudes towards tailgating. All figures presented here are from this research.
Is tailgating illegal?
Yes, tailgating is a careless driving offence. But this doesn't seem to deter tailgaters.
New research by National Highways shows that tailgating is a factor in at least 1 in 8 collisions on England's motorways and A-roads.
According to the drivers we asked, over half (51%) told us they sometimes see other drivers tailgate. And almost 2 in 5 (37%) said it was one of the most annoying driving habits.
But it's more common than you think. Over 1 in 7 (15%) of drivers don't realise they're tailgating. Over 1 in 5 (21%) said they sometimes tailgate. Over half (55%) said they rarely tailgate. But regardless of how often you tailgate, it's still illegal.
The Highway Code states that all drivers should try to maintain a 2-second gap with the car in front. On some stretches of motorway, this is indicated by 2 chevrons. You should aim to at least double that gap if you're driving in wet weather.
If you’re driving in snow and ice, increase this to a 20-second gap.
If you’re caught tailgating by the police, you could get a fine of up to £100 and 3 points on your licence.
And if your tailgating results in a serious accident, you could get a driving ban or be sent to prison.
Points on your licence increase your risk as a driver. Because of this, your car insurance costs are likely to go up the following year.
Why do people tailgate?
We asked tailgaters exactly why they tailgate. Here's what they told us:
| Reasons for tailgating | Percentage of tailgaters |
|---|---|
|
Other drivers are going too slowly
|
53%
|
|
I get impatient
|
40%
|
|
I'm trying to encourage them to move out of the way
|
30%
|
|
I don’t realise I’m doing it
|
15%
|
|
Because I'm driving too fast
|
7%
|
|
None of the above
|
8%
|
|
Prefer not to say
|
1%
|
In some cases it’s a bullying tactic. For example, the tailgater might want to intimidate you and get you to move out of their way.
Or it could be that they’re in a hurry. Over half (53%) said that they tailgated because the car in front was driving too slowly.
Around 2 in 5 (40%) said they tailgated because they get impatient. And almost a third (30%) tailgate to encourage people to move out of the way. More than 1 in 7 (15%) said they didn't realise they were doing it.
None of these are excuses for tailgating, though.
How to deal with tailgaters
How you deal with a tailgater depends on whether they're:
- Aggressive - have the clear intention of passing you. They’re likely to actively drive up your rear in a fashion that says ‘get out of my way.’
- Passive - no real intention of passing you and are happy for you to take the lead, but simply drive too close.
How to deal with aggressive tailgaters
If you're being followed by an aggressive tailgater, you should:
- Let them pass safely
- Don’t provoke them
- Avoid road rage
It can be tempting to hold them up or think up tricks that make them angry - like gesturing in the rear-view mirror.
Peter Rodger, former head of driving advice at IAMRoadSmart, says:
"The thing is with these drivers, they’re already aggressive. So they’re not about to back off.
"Anything you do to try and make them back off will just make them more unpredictable."
You could easily trigger road rage if you react to tailgaters, and this is only going to make the situation worse.
How to deal with passive tailgaters
If you have a passive tailgater:
- Don't speed up - you’ll only start tailgating the car in front of you
- Don't brake sharply or flash your lights
- Ease off the accelerator - if there’s a collision, there should be less damage at slower speeds
Rodger says:
"Always leave plenty of space in front and avoid braking sharply. Flashing your brake lights isn’t going to help. It’s better to just ease off your accelerator."
This is because if you repeatedly brake, the flashing of your brake lights might start to lose impact.
It’s better to slow down gradually with your foot off the accelerator.
Then, if you do need to brake suddenly, the brake light should hopefully prompt the tailgater to take some evasive action.
This won’t entirely eliminate the risk of an accident. But at least there might be less damage at a slower speed.
And, if there's a car insurance claim or the police get involved, you’re less likely to be found at fault.
What damage can tailgating cause?
You might see this damage to your car if you're in a tailgating collision:
- Damage to your boot
- Broken rear lights
- Dents to bodywork
- Scratches to the paintwork
- Cracked licence plates
- Issues with wheel alignment
- Broken rear windows
Some drivers have claimed on their car insurance to fix the damage caused by tailgaters. Unfortunately, this could also push up your car insurance costs even if the damage wasn't your fault.
“It’s worrying to see that tailgating is still happening on UK roads. It’s also concerning that drivers know it’s an offence, but they still do it.
“If you’re hit by a tailgater, make sure you follow our steps on what to do after a car accident.
“When it's safe, take photos and witness information so you have plenty of evidence when you make a claim.
“Describe the tailgating behaviour that caused the accident to your insurer. If you’ve followed the road safety rules your insurer should support your claim.”
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