RSS helps to tackle tailgating on
UK's roads

Road Safety Support (RSS) is assisting the Highways Agency (HA) with a scoping study to tackle “tailgating” on the UK’s roads.
RSS is supporting Dr Jamie Uff, of transport consultants Arup/URS, who is leading the project, in a bid to reduce the number of collisions caused by vehicles close following.
Figures show that close following costs the UK an estimated £141m a year, with 29% of crashes occurring on motorways and 22% of incidents occurring in roadworks.
Typical senarios that can lead to collisions are conflicts between cars and HGVs, the car in front failing to keep left and aggressive driving.
Currently there is no defined offence for close following in the UK; offences are either treated as careless or dangerous driving.
RSS has been exploring the possibility of creating a new offence for close following, and has been researching technology that can help with detection.
Manufacturers have been asked to demonstrate technology that could help to enforce close following by providing clear evidence of an offence.
RSS has also been in touch with safer roads partnerships on Dr Uff’s behalf to seek their feedback as part of the study.
Trevor Hall, Managing Director of RSS, said: “We are delighted to be assisting the Highways Agency with such an important project.
“We are hopeful that this study will help to find a solution to tackle close following and in turn reduce deaths and injuries on our roads.”