New motorway cameras could be used to dish out £100 fines for people that are tailgating in a bid to reduce the number of fatal crashes.
The system may be implemented after a successful trial caught 26,000 tailgaters in just two months on a stretch of the M1 near Northamptonshire.
Trials of the technology were conducted between the beginning of October and ran through to the first week in December 2020.
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The cameras work by measuring the distance between two cars and working out how close one is to the other.
But don't worry - they will be able to tell the difference between a tailgater and someone who has had to suddenly break or move from one lane to another.
According to a report in the Times, of the people caught (26,000) a total of 3,700 were repeat offenders with some tailgating up to a dozen times on the same stretch of road.
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Estimations by Highways England suggest that tailgating is responsible for around one in eight of all the accidents that happen on the motorway.
The penalty could be a £100 fine and three points on the offender's license but there's no indication they will be used for prosecutions.
Speaking to the Times, Highways England said: "The results will then be analysed to see if it does lead to a change in drivers' behaviour and reduced incidents of tailgating. If successful, the cameras may be rolled out to other areas."
The two-second minimum limit allows for 'thinking' time in case of an emergency and gives drivers time to do something about it. Any closer than that and you put yourself, your passengers and other road users in needless danger.
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Not being foolish is one of the most important things to remember on the road, and tailgating the car in front is foolish behaviour.
Andy Watson, Chief Executive of insurers Ageas, said: "A bump won't just damage your vehicle, it's likely that it will also hit your pocket when it comes to renew your insurance. So we urge all drivers to follow the advice of Highways England and back off from the driver in front."
Highways England have a campaign called 'Don't be a Space Invader' on the subject of tailgating. Click here to see the campaign and order your free bumper sticker.
Featured Image Credit: PA