Tailgating

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For socializing before a sporting event, see Tailgate party.

Tailgating is the practice of driving on a road too closely behind another vehicle, such as less than the travel distance in two seconds or, equivalently, one vehicle-length for every 8 km/h (5 mph) of the current speed.

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[edit] Causes

There can be several reasons for tailgating:

  • a driver travelling at a higher speed reaches a car traveling in the same direction at a lower speed, and the faster driver may tailgate while awaiting the first opportunity to overtake. Such expressions of impatience may be conscious, unconscious, and/or dangerous.
  • a driver may switch into a lane in front of another driver, but without adequate clearance. The second driver is now unintentionally "tailgating" the first driver, although this is due to the first driver's unsafe behavior.
  • in its worst form, it can be a particularly virulent form of road rage and a form of intimidation. This is where the tailgating driver (the driver in the following vehicle) can threaten damage to the leading vehicle and its occupants by driving aggressively (perhaps also with use of headlights and horn) to encourage the leading vehicle's driver to do something to placate the tailgater (often illegal, like increasing speed beyond the speed limit or changing lanes without due regard for safety). However, it can also be dangerous to the tailgater as well, especially if he or she is driving closely behind a large vehicle (such as a tractor-trailer, or gas tanker). If the leading vehicle decelerates suddenly (such as when encountering a traffic jam, avoiding pedestrians, etc.), the tailgater has a high risk of causing a rear-end collision.
  • Tailgating can also occur because of a lack of perceived risk in so doing. Thus, it is done unconsciously or negligently, very often by people who consider themselves safe drivers and generally obey the other rules of the road. Approximately one third of rear-end collisions involve tailgating.[1]
  • a form of deliberate tailgating known as "draft-assisted forced stop" or "draft-assisted forced auto stop" (D-FAS) is a technique which has been used by people known as hypermilers to achieve greater fuel economy. D-FAS involves turning off the engine and gliding in neutral while tailgating a larger vehicle, in order to take advantage of the reduced wind resistance in its immediate wake.[2] Note that this practice is highly dangerous: while tailgating itself is inherently risky, the danger of collision is increased with D-FAS as power for power brakes can be lost after a few applications of the brake pedal and, with older cars, the pressure that causes power steering to function can be lost as well.[3]
Cyclist tailgating in a keirin.
Cyclist tailgating in a keirin.
  • There are cycling disciplines in which the cyclist pedals around the velodrome track tailgating a motorbike that removes air resistance, enabling much higher speeds than in normal cycling. The most popular discipline is Japanese keirin.

[edit] Strategies for reducing risks of tailgating

  • The safest solution is to yield to the other driver. Slower traffic should move to the outside lane (if one exists), or as far to the outside as is safe to do so.
  • If you cannot yield then leave more room in front of your vehicle to allow for safe (i.e. longer) stopping distances for you and the tailgater behind you.
  • Try to encourage a tailgating driver to overtake if it is safe to do so.
  • Let the tailgating driver pass in some other way, for example, by pulling into a layby, or going twice round a large roundabout.
  • Slow slightly below the normal flow of traffic speed. This allows the tailgater more room to pass, and your slower speed makes it easier for him to do so. It also allows more room in front of your vehicle to stop safely if required.
  • Unsafe practices such as braking to force the tailgater to retreat or slowing down to "punish" the tailgater are sometimes practiced by aggrieved motorists and may lead to an escalation of road rage. Tapping the brake pedal (without braking) to illuminate the brake lights or displaying hazard lights to bring the tailgater's attention to the fact that his or her driving is causing concern may also aggravate the situation.

[edit] Other uses

[edit] Finance

In finance, tailgating means the action of a broker or adviser purchasing or selling a security for his or her client(s) and then immediately making the same transaction in his or her own account. This is not illegal like front running, but it is not looked upon favorably because the broker is most likely placing a trade for his or her own account based on what the client knows (like inside information).

[edit] Building security

In the context of building security, the term "tailgating" is used to describe the situation where one or more people follow an authorized person through a secured door or other entrance when the authorized person opens the door legitimately. This can be either with or without the authorized person's knowledge and/or consent. A "tailgater" can be an unauthorized intruder, but can also be a normally-authorized person who has forgotten or lost their access key, pass or token, or finds the access procedure inconvenient. High-security buildings typically use secure revolving doors in order to prevent tailgating. Such doors may have smaller segment space between the door leaves, and can also be fitted with electronic sensors which cause the door's powered rotation to reverse if more than one person is detected in a segment space.

[edit] External links