Six in 10 UK drivers admit to risky tailgating despite 95% saying they are sometimes concerned about vehicles travelling too close behind them, a survey has revealed.

The survey of 1000 drivers also showed that 60% said they break the speed limit by 10MPH or more on motorways and dual carriageways.

‘Risky tailgating’ is defined as drivers leaving less than a two second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front. More than four in ten (44%) are concerned about tailgating most when they drive on motorways.

Road safety charity Brake spokeswoman Julie Townsend said: “There are no two ways about it: ignore the two second rule or the speed limit on motorways and you're putting yourself and others at risk of a horrific crash.”

Brake has urged the Government to nationally promote the importance of the so called two second rule and keeping within posted speed limits on motorways, as well as extending the roll out of average speed cameras across the UK motorway network.

The charity added that crashes on 70MPH roads are more than twice as likely to result in a fatality as crashes on roads with lower speed limits.

The survey was carried out by Brake in association with motor insurer Direct Line.

(Photo: Highways Agency)

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