Thousands of UK drivers are risking their safety and that of other road users by driving too close to the vehicle in front, according to new research.

A third (32%) of drivers are unaware of or choose to ignore the two-second rule on tailgating

Analysis by AA Accident Assist found a third (32%) of drivers are unaware of or choose to ignore the two-second rule on tailgating.

Statistics by the Department of Transport support this finding, showing that a fifth of car drivers are driving unsafely and irresponsibly by ignoring the Highway Code’s two-second rule for a safe distance between cars.

That’s despite a poll of 13,400 drivers by AA Accident Assist revealing that drivers are most annoyed by tailgating (29%), followed by both middle-lane hogging and talking on the mobile phone while driving (both 21%).

Women are most irked by a vehicle that is too close to their back bumper, with 34% identifying it as the most irritating driver behaviour compared to 27% of men.

The business is now warning drivers of the particularly negative consequences in tailgating in the winter. Its data shows that accidents caused by cars driving too close to vehicles in front and failing to stop in time increase by a quarter over the cold season. Worse still, more than 10% of rear-end crashes lead to concertina shunts, involving at least three vehicles.

“We’re coming to the time of year where playing fast and loose with a safe distance from the vehicle in front is much more likely to end in disaster,” said Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist.

“And if you crash into the back of someone or hear a vehicle being hit further behind, we now know that there is more than a one in 10 chance that the impact will lead to a shunt down a line of cars.

“Applying the handbrake when stationary is the companion to following the two-second rule. Both prevent needless damage and injury, particularly whiplash and worse for older and more fragile car occupants.”

The Highway Code tells drivers to allow at least a two-second gap between them and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap should be wider as speeds increase. It rises to 2.4 seconds – about 53 metres – when driving at 50mph and 3.1 seconds – or 96 metres – at 70mph. Furthermore, the gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads.