600 serious accidents on motorways caused by tailgating in 2020: drivers support fines for offenders

Almost 90 per cent of motorists support plans to fine fellow drivers for tailgating on the motorway according to a new poll by Motorpoint.

The online survey revealed that 87 per cent of drivers back proposals that would see other drivers fined £100 if found to be tailgating on the motorway. Some 1,665 people took part in the study.

The Government has recently been trialling new technology on parts of the M1 in Northamptonshire that detects whether drivers are maintaining a minimum of a two-second gap between the vehicle in front.

During the trail late last year some 26,000 people were caught out.

Tailgating has been listed as the cause in almost 600 serious accidents last year, 28 of which resulted in someone being killed.

Motorpoint chief executive Mark Carpenter said: “Tailgating has become commonplace on our roads in recent years and we are delighted to see the Government finally taking action to address something that can quite literally cost people their lives.

"The issue of tailgating extends far beyond just motorways, and this step won’t solve the problem overnight, but at least it is a move in the right direction.”