As many as 45% of all vehicle crashes might be related to tailgating, which is when one person drives too closely to the car in front of them [1]. Some tailgaters drive so closely to the vehicles ahead of them that, if the latter stopped abruptly, the tailgater would likely crash into them because they did not leave enough space. Whereas most drivers know (or should know) that tailgating behavior is dangerous, a study found that 86% of drivers said that other drivers sometimes or often tailgate them [1].
Drivers who engaged in tailgating tended to do so during their commuting times in the morning or evening, then during general driving and on freeways, motorways, and dual carriageways at speeds of 60 kilometers per hour or more [1]. Such drivers indicated that they tailgate others because of congestion, or feeling that they are under pressure to do so from other drivers, which suggests that some people feel a sense of social identification with other drivers and imagine that keeping distances between cars small will help everyone else get to their destinations faster. Of course, it can be annoying when drivers leave massive gaps ahead of them in heavy traffic, but tailgating does not necessarily help the community because of its inherent risks.
Other reasons given by tailgaters included wanting to prevent other drivers from entering their lane, which highlights selfish or competitive behavior.
If you are wondering whether you drive competitively, a 2016 study tested a measure that drivers can use to assess themselves [2]. The study concluded that the following are key signs that someone is a competitive driver:
In short, competitive drivers act as though they are on a Formula One circuit rather than driving on an ordinary road with ordinary drivers, and they perceive the act of staying ahead of other drivers as some sort of victory.
The study about tailgaters found that some indicated that they do it to make other drivers go faster or get out of the way [1], which is common among those drivers who think they are more entitled to the road than other people. This is often observed among those driving expensive vehicles – which tends to make one feel superior or more entitled, or makes them imagine that they are like some sort of James Bond character driving an Aston Martin through suburbia.
Research has found that some tailgaters use this behavior as a way of intimidating drivers whom they find annoying [1], which indicates that tailgating behavior can be an indicator of passive-aggressive drivers. Research has found support for the theory of planned behavior, which means that drivers are perfectly capable of not tailgating others or driving competitively if they plan not to do so because these tend to be intentional, planned behaviors. If you or someone you know tends to tailgate or drive competitively, remember that conscious efforts to stop can help and that the other drivers are people just like you trying to get along on their journey somewhere.
References
[1] Too close for comfort: A mixed methods study to understand self-reported tailgating using the theory of planned behaviour
[2] The Theory of Planned Behavior and Competitive Driving in China
[3] Headway on urban streets: observational data and an intervention to decrease tailgating
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