Tailgating biggest bugbear for drivers, says AA

Tailgating irritates drivers the most (29%), followed by both middle-lane hogging and talking on the mobile phone while driving (both 21%), according to new research from AA Accident Assist.

Women are most annoyed by a vehicle that is too close to their back bumper, with 34% identifying it as the most irritating driver behaviour compared to 27% of men.

The poll of 13,400 drivers also found that that a third (32%) of drivers are unaware of or choose to ignore the two-second rule.

Driver’s lack of adherence to the two-second distance rule has particularly negative consequences in the winter as data shows that accidents caused by cars driving too close to vehicles in front and failing to stop in time increase by a quarter.

Furthermore, more than 10% of rear-end crashes lead to concertina shunts, involving at least three vehicles.

Data from the Department of Transport (DfT) appears to support this, with a fifth of car drivers driving unsafely and irresponsibly by ignoring the Highway Code’s two-second rule for a safe distance between cars.

“We’re coming to the time of year where playing fast and loose with a safe distance from the vehicle in front is much more likely to end in disaster,” said Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist.

“And, if you crash into the back of someone or hear a vehicle being hit further behind, we now know that there is more than a one in 10 chance that the impact will lead to a shunt down a line of cars.

“Applying the handbrake when stationary is the companion to following the two second rule. Both prevent needless damage and injury, particularly whiplash and worse for older and more fragile car occupants.”