Highways England has released new footage to remind drivers of the dangers of tailgating. 

A survey by Highways England has revealed that tailgating is the biggest single bugbear that drivers have about other road users

The clip – captured by one of the dashcams in a Highways England patrol vehicle on the M6 in Cheshire – shows several cars braking sharply in response to an unrelated incident with one then being struck by an HGV.

Highways England’s head of road safety, Richard Leonard, said: “This footage is a startling reminder about the dangers of driving too closely to the vehicle in front.

“It clearly shows that if you get too close to the car in front, you won’t be able to react and stop in time if they suddenly brake.

“We also know that tailgating makes the driver in front feel targeted and victimised, distracting their attention from the road ahead and making them more likely to make a mistake.

“It is intimidating and frightening if you’re on the receiving end. If that leads to a collision, then people in both vehicles could end up seriously injured or killed. We want everyone to get home safe and well.”

Highways England has a dedicated website offering advice on how to drive safely if people find themselves the victim of tailgating.