Nobody likes a tailgater
One of the most common frustrations from motorists on the road is another vehicle tailgating. Following another vehicle too closely can result in a nose-to-tail crash — at best, this is inconvenient; at worst, it can be fatal.
The ‘two second rule’ is a simple, yet effective way to gauge a safe following distance. Applying the rule involves picking a stationary object on the side of the road, such as a power pole, and counting ‘one thousand one, one thousand two’ after the car in front of you passes the object. If you pass the object before you finish counting to ‘one thousand two’, you are following too closely. This following distance should be at least doubled in poor conditions, such as wet weather or if you are towing a caravan or trailer, or driving a heavy vehicle.
While travelling behind a slower vehicle may be frustrating, don’t let impatience overtake you — overtaking can be fatal if it is not done safely. The basic rule is that you overtake on the right. You can overtake on the left if you are on a multi-lane road or if the vehicle you are overtaking is turning right or is stationary — but always remember, you may only overtake if it is safe to do so.