Whilst people may be thinking about the rules surmounting covid, people may also want to be thinking about the rules of the road with drivers being issued a warning about a "common" mistake.
In January, the Highway Code was updated with big changes being introduced.
But now a fresh warning has been launched against those who driver a little too close to others - a harmful action that could result in a hefty fine.
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Rule 126 has been amended to add that tailgating will be enforced by police, as a dangerous and careless driving offence.
The rule reads: "Tailgating is where the gap between you and the vehicle in front is too small for you to be able to stop safely if the vehicle in front suddenly brakes. Tailgating is dangerous, intimidating and can cause collisions, especially when driving at speed.
"Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front gives you time to react and stop if necessary. Dangerous and careless driving offences, such as tailgating, are enforced by the police."
Anyone caught tailgating can be hit with a £100 fine and three points on their licence.
But this isn't the worst part of it as according to Confused.com, if your tailgating were to result in a serious accident, it could also land you a driving ban - or even a prison sentence.
National Highways' (NH) 'Stay Safe, Stay Back' campaign says tailgating is a factor in one in eight collisions and during their research, they discovered that one in four drivers admitted driving too close to the car in front.
Because of this, if they needed to break in an emergency, it would be difficult to stop and may end up in a fatal crash.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) Chief Driving Examiner, Lesley Young, said: "Keeping a big enough stopping distance is crucial to staying safe, particularly in fast moving traffic when you have less time to react. Always allow at least 2 seconds from the vehicle in front, and at least double this in bad conditions.
"Not doing so could have tragic consequences. If in doubt, remember the saying, ‘only a fool breaks the 2-second rule’. In dry conditions, drivers are advised to keep a 2-second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front. An easy way of doing this is by remembering ‘only a fool breaks the 2-second rule’."
NH has issued the following advice for diving safely if you are tailgated or want to avoid being tailgated...
The 2-second rule
According to the UK Government, the phrase takes about two seconds to say, so if you pass the same fixed point before you’ve finished saying it, you’re too close and should leave more room.
In wet conditions, this gap should be at least doubled to four seconds whilst this needs to be increased further in icy conditions to allow plenty of space should you lose control of your vehicle.
If you are being tailgated you should:
- Ease your foot off the accelerator
- Move into the inside lane, if it is safe to do so – make sure to apply the two second rule to any vehicle you move behind
What drivers should do amid a Highway Code update
Just drive normally
According to the Liverpool Echo, the key is to not let the tailgater's poor behaviour negatively influence your own driving. Simply continue to drive safely and cautiously, aware but not affected by their presence.
Allow them to overtake
Keep a steady speed so they may overtake. Alternatively, pull to the side of the road, or turn off at a petrol station, but only if it is safe to do so.
Clearly signal
Ensure the tailgater has a clear idea of your intentions by signalling early and changing your speed well in advance of a turn off.
Keep left
Keep in the left-hand lane unless overtaking. Some tailgaters argue that ‘middle-lane hoggers’ cause tailgating. Don’t give tailgaters an excuse.
What drivers shouldn't do amid a Highway Code update
Don’t speed up
Generally this will encourage the tailgater to speed up behind you. Continue to travel at a safe speed. Do not allow the pressure from the tailgater to influence you to drive unsafely.
Don’t slow down
Intentionally slowing down to irritate the close follower or tapping the brake lights can trigger road rage and cause more dangerous scenarios to arise.
Don’t stare in the rear-view mirror
It can be tempting to stare at the driver behind but this can cause you to lose focus on what’s in front of you.
