arning: Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear. But you already know that if you spend any time on the road, risking your well-being among all the serial tailgaters out there.
The best policy, of course, is for drivers to police themselves. But in case they need some extra incentive, local law enforcement is ready to provide it. The Vancouver Police Department is the first in Washington to make use of a Distance-Between-Cars laser gun. In addition to assessing a car’s speed, the device also can measure how closely one car is following another, providing officers with some tangible evidence in such cases. You can almost hear the countywide applause, right?
As an editorial in The Columbian described it a few years ago, tailgating is defined by many motorists: “Something other people do, and by the way, what’s it gonna take to get all these slowpokes out of my way?” That pretty much sums up the problem. In their haste to get where they are going, tailgating drivers pose a risk to those around them. If only everybody else would stop doing it.
“We strongly suspect that (following too closely) is under-reported in Washington state crashes,” Dick Doane, a research investigator for the state’s Traffic Safety Commission, told Columbian reporter Laura McVicker. Still, the commission ranks tailgating as the third-most common cause of traffic accidents, behind speeding and driver inattention.
In 2008, tailgating was cited as a cause in more than 16,000 accidents in the state — more than twice as many as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Driving under the influence has been a cause célébre for nearly three decades in this country, and rightfully so. But at the same time, tailgating is typically greeted with a wink and a nod and an excuse: “I was really in a hurry” or “they were just driving so slow.”
Which, of course, is the height of selfishness, suggesting that one driver’s time or inconvenience is more important than another’s safety. And the cost can be great. Unsafe driving leads to accidents, increased insurance costs for all, injuries, and potential road rage.
Prior to the Distance-Between-Cars laser gun, police had little recourse. Charges of following too closely were destined to become a case of competing claims, with no tangible proof on either side.
“Historically, a number of courts and judges have thrown out such infractions because, in their view, police allegations of such behavior have rested almost entirely on subjective evidence,” Doane said.
Now there is objective evidence. Vancouver police Cpl. Robert Schoene told The Columbian that he tickets drivers when they are following another car more closely than 1.5 seconds behind.
Simple physics tells us that 1.5 seconds varies greatly depending upon conditions. At 30 mph, that equals 66 feet; at 60 mph, a driver travels 132 feet in 1.5 seconds. While 1.5 seconds might be the threshold for Cpl. Schoene, a gap of four seconds between cars is recommended. At 60 mph, that requires about 350 feet.
Not that drivers should be expected to carry a tape measure; nor should they be expected to estimate the number of car lengths between themselves and the preceding vehicle. No, common sense is the best device, along with a little common courtesy. Tailgating is not only dangerous, it’s annoying and can increase the tension that is inherent with driving.
This is crucial as roads turn icy at this time of year. And if you require a little reminder, Vancouver police will be happy to provide it.
