When someone is tailgating you, it is easy to imagine that the person is being reckless or aggressive. Maybe you think they are tailgating you on purpose because they are unhappy with how you are driving or they want you to speed up.
This certainly could be the case, but it is important to remember that many drivers are simply unaware of what a safe following distance looks like. Part of the reason for this is that they do not realize how long it will actually take them to stop the car. They may think that they are driving safely and appropriately when you feel like they are driving recklessly.
The 1.5-second delay
Authorities caution that you cannot stop a car immediately, and that drivers do not even start hitting the brakes right away. People often think that that is how it works, but the reality is that there is about a 1.5-second delay.
There are two parts to this delay. The first is that a driver has to cognitively perceive changes in the traffic ahead of them. That means realizing it is time to hit the brakes. They have to see and understand that traffic is slowing down, that another vehicle’s brake lights are coming on or that a traffic signal has turned red. This takes about three-quarters of a second, even if it feels instantaneous.
Next, it takes another three-quarters of a second for the driver to physically move their foot to the brake pedal and push it down. It is best for drivers to use just one foot, alternating between the gas and the brake. But this means that, even once they have realized that it is time to hit the brakes, they cannot do it immediately.
At highway speeds, most vehicles will travel well over 100 feet before the driver even starts slowing down. That is why their following distance is so important. If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver, you may deserve financial compensation for medical bills and more.