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Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Driving instructor's top tip to stop tailgaters without having to break
Irish drivers are being warned about the serious risks of tailgating - a dangerous practice that can lead to road collisions. Whether you're a seasoned motorist or newly licensed, having another car drive too closely behind you isn't just annoying, it's a genuine safety hazard. Tailgating reduces the crucial stopping distance needed in an emergency, putting everyone on the road at risk. With road safety a growing concern across Ireland, experts are urging drivers to take simple steps to avoid crashes caused by tailgaters - and reminding them that getting caught can result in fines, penalty points or worse. Driving instructor Annie Winterburn, who runs Spot On Driving, says many motorists are unsure about how to respond when being tailgated, especially since slamming on the brakes can be dangerous. She told Birmingham Live: "If the car behind is too close to you and you have to brake suddenly, that car behind you will crash into the back of you. So you have to make sure you don't have to brake suddenly." To help reduce the danger, Annie advises: "Leave a bigger gap between your car and the car in front of you." By increasing the space in front, you give yourself more time to slow down gently if needed, helping prevent a tailgater from crashing into the back of your vehicle. Annie also points out that this advice regularly comes up in theory tests, highlighting how important it is for drivers to remember. The motoring expert said: "You should leave at least a 2-second time gap, on dry roads, between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This is doubled to 4-seconds on wet roads and is ten times the gap on icy roads. Ten times the gap is 20-seconds." Tailgating isn't just bad driving etiquette - under Irish road laws it can be classified as careless or dangerous driving, depending on the circumstances. If you're caught driving too closely behind another vehicle, a Garda may determine that you are "driving without reasonable consideration". This can result in two penalty points and an €80 fine, rising to €120 if unpaid after 28 days. If the case goes to court, you could face a larger fine and receive four penalty points upon conviction. When tailgating leads to a serious incident, the penalties become much harsher. A conviction for careless driving can carry a fine of up to €5,000. In more severe cases - such as careless driving causing death or serious injury - the maximum penalty increases to a €10,000 fine and up to two years in jail. For the most serious offences, a dangerous driving conviction could mean a fine of up to €5,000, a prison sentence of up to six months, or both. If dangerous driving causes death or serious harm, the fine can reach €20,000 and imprisonment can be as long as 10 years. For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Driving expert's clever trick to stop tailgaters without having to brake
Being tailgated is a regular occurrence and a dangerous one, but there is a simple solution to deal with it without causing a potentially fatal collision, according to a driving expert Most motorists will have encountered the irritation of another vehicle following far too closely behind them. Beyond being annoying, this poses a serious safety risk, as any sudden braking could result in the trailing car crashing into you. This perilous behaviour is frequently employed to pressure drivers ahead to shift out of the way, yet it places both parties at considerable risk. Maintaining a safe gap between vehicles is essential and varies depending on speed, visibility, and various road conditions. It's perfectly reasonable that many drivers won't be certain how to handle being tailgated. Applying the brakes might trigger a crash, while pulling over to allow them past may not be feasible. It comes after a man dies after wife runs him over in car park in 'tragic accident'. However, a driving instructor has outlined a straightforward method to use if anyone tailgates you, reports Birmingham Live. Annie Winterburn, who operates Spot On Driving, explained: "If the car behind is too close to you and you have to brake suddenly, that car behind you will crash into the back of you. So you have to make sure you don't have to brake suddenly." To deal with tailgaters safely, Annie recommends you should "leave a bigger gap between your car and the car in front of you". This strategy allows you to decelerate smoothly should the vehicle ahead stop abruptly, permitting the tailgating motorist to slow down safely too. She noted that this advice regularly features in theory tests and represents an effective method for handling tailgating situations. Annie advised: "You should leave at least a two-second time gap, on dry roads, between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This is doubled to four seconds on wet roads - and is ten times the gap on icy roads. Ten times the gap is 20 seconds." The DVLA has also highlighted the serious consequences of "driving without due care and attention", such as tailgating. Drivers found too close to the vehicle ahead may be slapped with a fine starting at £100 and three points on their driving licence. In graver cases, culprits could face disqualification or even imprisonment if their actions lead to a major accident. According to the Highway Code, motorists should maintain at least a two-second distance from the car in front, extending this buffer in high-speed areas and tunnels where sight might be compromised. The government's website provides further insight into safe following distances: "The gap should be wider as speeds increase. It rises to 2.4 seconds - about 53 metres - when driving at 50mph and 3.1 seconds - or 96 metres - at 70mph." Jason Wakeford, from Brake, the road safety charity, underscored the significance of adhering to these guidelines. He stressed: "It's vital that drivers leave enough distance between the vehicle in front in order to react in time to any sudden dangers. We'd urge everyone to respect the two-second rule to keep them, and others on the road, safe."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
What to do when being tailgated - driving instructor shares how to prevent smash
Tailgating is not only annoying, it is also a safety hazard playing a part in one in eight accidents on major roads Whether you're an experienced motorist or just starting out, having someone riding your bumper can be absolutely maddening. However, it's far more than just an irritation; it poses a genuine safety risk by removing the vital stopping distance required should you need to brake unexpectedl y. Tailgating ranks among the leading causes of road crashes and can result in serious injuries or even deaths in extreme cases. So what's the best course of action when you discover someone glued to your rear bumper? Annie Winterburn, who owns Spot On Driving, highlights that numerous motorists remain uncertain about tackling this problem, since stopping sharply could trigger a crash. The motoring expert recommends: "If the car behind is too close to you and you have to brake suddenly, that car behind you will crash into the back of you. So you have to make sure you don't have to brake suddenly." For handling tailgaters safely, the expert proposes to "leave a bigger gap between your car and the car in front of you". This approach enables you to reduce speed gradually should the vehicle ahead halt suddenly, allowing the tailgater to slow down without mishap. The driving instructor noted that this regularly appears in theory examinations, underlining its significance for British motorists. She went on to explain: "You should leave at least a two-second time gap, on dry roads, between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This is doubled to four seconds on wet roads and is ten times the gap on icy roads. Ten times the gap is 20 seconds.", reports the Daily Record. The DVLA has reinforced the legal consequences of 'driving without due care and attention', such as tailgating. Offenders caught too close to another vehicle risk a minimum fine of £100 and three penalty points, with more severe cases possibly leading to court action. In response to tailgating contributing to one in eight accidents on England's motorways and major A roads, National Highways launched a campaign in 2022. The Highway Code recommends keeping at least a two-second gap from the car in front, particularly where speeds are higher or visibility lower, like in tunnels. Further details on the government's website clarify: "The gap should be wider as speeds increase. It rises to 2.4 seconds - about 53 metres - when driving at 50mph and 3.1 seconds - or 96 metres - at 70mph." Brake's head of campaigns, Jason Wakeford, emphasised the importance of maintaining safe distances: "It's vital that drivers leave enough distance between the vehicle in front in order to react in time to any sudden dangers. We'd urge everyone to respect the two-second rule to keep them, and others on the road, safe."
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Driving instructor shares simple way to stop tailgaters with no braking
Tailgating is a common feature on roads, but there's a way to deal with it safely Most drivers will have experienced the frustration of another car following you far too closely behind. Apart from the annoyance, it's also a serious safety hazard as if you need to brake suddenly, it's likely the vehicle will crash into you. It's a dangerous habit which is often used to encourage drivers in front to move out of their way but it puts both parties in significant danger. A safe distance between vehicles is crucial and varies depending on speed, visibility and other road conditions. It is understandable that many motorists won't know what to do when confronted by someone tailgating them. Braking could cause a collision and moving over to let them past might not be an option. But a driving instructor has detailed an easy way to cope with this situation, reports Birmingham Live. Annie Winterburn, who runs Spot On Driving, said: "If the car behind is too close to you and you have to brake suddenly, that car behind you will crash into the back of you. So you have to make sure you don't have to brake suddenly." To manage tailgaters safely, Annie says you should "leave a bigger gap between your car and the car in front of you". This approach enables you to reduce speed gradually should the car ahead halt suddenly, allowing the tailgating driver to slow down safely as well. She said that this guidance frequently appears in theory examinations and is a good way to deal with tailgating. Annie explained: "You should leave at least a two-second time gap, on dry roads, between your car and the vehicle in front of you. This is doubled to four seconds on wet roads - and is ten times the gap on icy roads. Ten times the gap is 20 seconds." The DVLA has also reinforced the legal implications of 'driving without due care and attention', such as tailgating. Motorists caught too close to the car in front could face a fine starting at £100 and three penalty points on their licence. In more serious instances, offenders face a ban or even a prison sentence if a serious collision occurs as a result. The Highway Code's recommendation is for drivers to keep a minimum two-second gap from the vehicle ahead, a distance that should be increased in high-speed zones and tunnels where visibility can be reduced. Further details on the government's website clarify the recommended distances: "The gap should be wider as speeds increase. It rises to 2.4 seconds - about 53 metres - when driving at 50mph and 3.1 seconds - or 96 metres - at 70mph." Jason Wakeford, head of campaigns at Brake, the road safety charity, emphasised the importance of this advice. He added: "It's vital that drivers leave enough distance between the vehicle in front in order to react in time to any sudden dangers. We'd urge everyone to respect the two-second rule to keep them, and others on the road, safe."
