(COLO) – Seeing a driver following your vehicle too closely can be unnerving. When a driver fails to maintain a safe gap between vehicles, it becomes difficult to stop safely if the vehicle ahead suddenly stops. Professional drivers have appropriately nicknamed these drivers “bumper stickers” because the person committing the aggressive maneuver of following too close or tailgating increases his or her risk of causing a rear-end collision.
Last year, Colorado State Troopers investigated 2,795 crashes, which they determined were caused by following too closely. Over 90% of those were property damage crashes; however, 217 people were injured or killed in these crashes.
“In most cases, tailgating won’t make traffic move faster,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “All it really does is raise the risk of a crash. Take a minute to come back to your senses by backing off and slowing down.”
With the biggest concern of tailgating being a crash, troopers are sharing some strategies for drivers to consider when faced with this aggressive maneuver in their rearview:
- Keep calm and continue at the speed limit
- Consider switching lanes when it is safe to do so
- Resist the urge to drive aggressively, including speeding ahead or swerving
- Gently apply the brakes if you need to slow down or stop (do not hard-brake)
- Give the following driver as much space as possible
Although you may be intimidated and aggravated at being tailgated, keep your cool and your distance when possible. The worst choice is to respond aggressively. If you can get information, including a license plate, make, and model of the vehicle, as well as its direction of travel, pull over and call *CSP (*277) to report the unsafe driver.
“Drivers can experience road rage for seemingly insignificant reasons, so training yourself to think about safety over making an equal aggressive response is key,” cautioned Col. Packard. “Take hand gestures as a compliment that you are likely driving the speed limit, and the driver's actions likely have nothing to do with you. Instead, keep your eyes focused on the road ahead of you. Your life is always more important.”
Troopers are taking a low-tolerance approach to the top fatal crash factors, including lane violations and speeding, while launching a three-month campaign called “Stop Speeding.” This campaign wants every Colorado driver to break the myth that speeding is a “victimless crime” and encourages you to drive like a trooper is riding with you.
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Since our origin in 1935, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has focused on preserving human life and protecting property within our communities. Our 1,100 members embody the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect in their daily jobs. In addition to our expertise in motor vehicle safety on the state’s roadways, the CSP is responsible for the protection of the Governor and other dignitaries, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials, homeland security, communications, investigative services, criminal interdiction, community education, aviation operations, and more. For additional information, visit us online at Colorado State Patrol or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook.