Study to uncover the psychology of tailgating
If you’ve ever felt frustrated on your daily commute, been a little too reactive behind the wheel or even been guilty of tailgating, a new study is set to understand why.
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According to RACQ's latest road safety survey, tailgating is Queenslanders' top “pet peeve”, with more than 95% of motorists listing it as an on-road annoyance.
Tailgating is also illegal. So why do we do it?
It’s this question that will be examined in an upcoming study by the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (CARRS-Q) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The aim of the project is to understand how Queensland drivers think, what beliefs and attitudes they have, and how they perceive risk behind the wheel.
Principal Researcher from QUT, Dr Natalie Watson-Brown said the study is designed to make drivers analyse their own behaviours on the road.
“The survey will ask about participants’ understanding of what a ‘safe’ following distance is and what their behaviours on the road are,” Dr Watson-Brown said.
“We are interested in understanding the reasoning behind why a driver may not leave a safe distance such as when distracted, in a hurry, or when the vehicle in front is not doing the speed limit.
“The study will include questions about what is considered risky behaviour on the road and whether Queenslanders believe their driving skills may be better than others.”
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Dr Natalie Watson-Brown is the Principal Researcher on the project.
Dr Watson-Brown also said the research will help determine the biases for why drivers think certain following distances are safe or unsafe.
“The results will be used to inform future safety campaigns as well as how we train learner drivers to adopt safe driving behaviours and reduce their risk of being involved in a crash,” she said.
RACQ’s advice is to always maintain a safe following distance of at least two seconds in good weather conditions, and at least four seconds in wet conditions, or when towing.
Keeping a safe distance between you and the car in front is not only good road etiquette, but also crucial to reducing your chances of a crash and getting home safely.
If you’re a Queenslander, driving a car and/or heavy vehicle and are 17 years or older, you can participate in the upcoming survey, here.
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