Don’t Be That Guy: 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Tailgate
Picture this: you’re driving down the highway, minding your own business, when suddenly the car in front of you slams on their brakes. You don’t have time to react and before you know it, you’ve rear-ended them. Or maybe you’re the one being tailgated, and the constant pressure of someone riding your bumper is making you nervous. Either way, tailgating is dangerous and it needs to stop. Here are 5 reasons you shouldn’t tailgate.
1. It Can Cause an Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tailgating is one of the leading causes of accidents on the road. When you tailgate, you’re not giving yourself enough time to react if the car in front of you has to brake suddenly. And if you do rear-end them, it’s going to be your fault. Not only will you have to deal with the hassle and expense of repairing your car, but you could also end up injuring yourself or someone else. In addition to causing accidents, tailgating can also lead to road rage. If someone is tailgating you, it’s easy to get angry and lose focus on driving. This can lead to even more dangerous situations. So next time you’re tempted to tailgate, remember all the potential risks and stay safe on the road. If you get into an accident in Omaha and need towing then give us a call!
2. It’s Incredibly Annoying
Tailgating is not only dangerous, it’s also really annoying. If you’re the one being tailgated, it can be stressful and may even make you feel like the other driver is trying to intimidate you. And if you’re the one doing the tailgating, just know that everyone else on the road hates you. Seriously, nobody likes a tailgater. There’s just something about having someone breathing down your neck as you’re driving that makes the whole experience less enjoyable. Not to mention, it’s also dangerous. If you’re tailgating someone and they have to brake suddenly, there’s a good chance you’re going to rear-end them. So please, for the sake of everyone on the road, don’t tailgate. It’s just not cool.
3. You Might Get a Ticket
Here is another one of the reasons why you shouldn’t tailgate. In most states, tailgating is against the law. So if you get pulled over for tailgating, you could end up paying a hefty fine. Not to mention, getting a ticket will also cause your insurance rates to go up. If you’re caught tailgating, the best thing to do is to try and explain your situation to the officer. In some cases, they may be willing to let you off with a warning. But if you continue to tailgate after being warned, then you’re likely to end up with a ticket. So just be careful when you’re driving, and make sure to give yourself enough space between you and the car in front of you.
4. It Uses More Fuel
If you ride someone’s bumper, chances are they’re going to speed up to get away from you—and then you’ll have to speed up too. This back-and-forth acceleration uses more fuel than just maintaining a steady speed would. So not only are you being an jerk by tailgating, but you’re also wasting gas and harming the environment in the process. Win-win! In addition to being annoying, tailgating can also be dangerous. If the driver in front of you has to brake suddenly, you could end up in a serious accident. So next time you’re tempted to follow too closely, remember that it’s not worth the risk.
5. It Won’t Get You There Any Faster
We’ve all been there before. You’re stuck in traffic, and the person in front of you is driving so slow that you’re ready to pull your hair out. So you do the only thing that seems logical at the time: you tailgate them, hoping that they’ll get the message and speed up. But as it turns out, tailgating is actually counterproductive. Not only does it not make the person in front of you go any faster, but it also makes traffic jams worse for everyone involved. That’s because when everyone is zipping around at high speeds, it’s more difficult for traffic to flow smoothly. So next time you’re stuck in a traffic jam, resist the urge to tailgate. It won’t get you where you’re going any faster, and it’ll just make the situation worse for everyone involved.
The next time someone tails you or vice versa, remember these five reasons why it’s such a bad idea. Tailgating is dangerous, annoying, illegal, wasteful, and totally pointless—so let’s all agree to cut it out! We’ll all get where we’re going much safer and happier if we do. Next time you get on the road, make sure to remember the 5 reasons why you shouldn’t tailgate.