Let’s be honest, we’ve all had someone sit way too close behind us on the motorway. It’s annoying, it’s dangerous… and a lot of us are guilty of doing it ourselves.
A new study has revealed that a third of UK drivers either ignore or don’t know about the two-second rule, the basic bit of driving advice that says you should leave at least two seconds between your car and the one in front.
If you don’t, you’re not just annoying other drivers, you’re putting yourself at serious risk. That two-second gap gives you time to react if the car ahead suddenly brakes. And if you're not leaving it, you're tailgating, which is one of the top causes of crashes on UK roads.
In fact, Highways England says one in eight casualties on major roads are caused by tailgating. Yet despite that, a recent AA Accident Assist survey of over 12,500 drivers found that 25% admit to ignoring the rule, and 1 in 20 didn’t even know it existed.
And here’s the real cost: in 2024, over half of crash repairs involved new bumper replacements, according to AA data. Modern bumpers are packed with tech like parking sensors and radar for adaptive cruise control, so repairs are more expensive and take longer than ever.
Plus, tailgating kills your fuel economy. Constant braking and accelerating wastes fuel, and it could drive up your insurance if you end up in a bump. So yeah, it’s costing you more than you think.
Tim Rankin from AA Accident Assist summed it up: “It seems driver behaviour towards tailgating remains unmoved, with it being an all too regular experience on the roads. Regardless of motorways or local streets, drivers feel intimidated by others following too close behind."
He recommends, "By allowing at least a two-second gap between yourself and the car in front, you significantly reduce the risk of crashing into that vehicle.
"Similarly, if you are being tailgated, where safe to do so, pull over and let them pass. It is better to cut them loose rather than feel frustrated and try to slow them down."
The reality of tailgating in numbers:
- Over 100 people are killed or seriously injured every year in crashes caused by tailgating
- More than 4,000 tailgating-related crashes happen annually
- Over 6,000 injuries result from those crashes
To try and get the message across, Highways England launched a campaign called ‘Don’t Be a Space Invader’, using the classic arcade game theme to call out bad habits. It’s even got F1 legend Nigel Mansell fronting it, who said:
"Tailgating is a driving habit I utterly deplore. Not only is it aggressive and intimidating, but it can lead to a crash with a tragic outcome."
So next time you’re out on the road, think twice before sitting on someone’s bumper. You’re not saving time, you’re risking lives.
