One of the most common types of car crashes are rear-end crashes, which often occur when one driver is following the vehicle in front too closely. When the forward vehicle has to stop suddenly, the vehicle in the rear does not have enough time to brake without crashing into the back of the forward vehicle.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, in 2016 traffic accidents caused over $4 billion dollars in estimated loss when factoring in property damage, medical costs and lost wages. SCDPS reported that there were 10,000+ collisions caused by following too close and 3,000+ resulted in injury and 3 deaths.
This unnecessary cause and effect impacts Municipalities on many levels.
Following too closely, also called tailgating, is a dangerous habit, and some drivers tailgate without realizing it. However, some drivers who habitually engage in tailgating behavior are often aggressive drivers who frequently display road rage. They are also impatient drivers who seek to intimidate the vehicle in front of them to drive faster.
This video exhibits the method of a 3 second rule with a fixed object can be a tool that can be practiced to avoid rear end collisions.
