M4 motorists 'worst for driving too close'

The M4 in Wales was the worst spot for tailgating, with more than 50% of drivers venturing too near to the car ahead of them, a survey by motoring organisations found.

Produced for the start of the 2006 'National Motorway Month' campaign, the poll showed that the next- worst tailgating motorway was the M42 in the Midlands, followed by the M9 in Scotland.

The best motorway behaviour was found on the M5, where just one in 12 drivers were tailgating, followed by the M20 and the M2.

More than 22,000 vehicles were surveyed earlier this summer by researchers from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) who fed data to the RAC Foundation for analysis.

The foundation, the IAM, the Freight Transport Association and BSM Driving Schools are jointly promoting National Motorway Month throughout August.

Two-second rule

The organisations highlighted tailgating as the number one driver error on the UK's motorway network. Highways Agency research into safe driving found that tailgating contributed to 29% of all injury accidents on the network.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "It's obvious that too many drivers simply forget their speed, regardless of the conditions on the motorway or what is in the lane ahead of them. They then follow other vehicles as if they were travelling much more slowly.

"So they are ignoring the two-second rule - designed to help you leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops."

Motorways are the safest roads in the UK but with there are still more than 8,000 drivers killed or seriously injured on the network each year. More than 42% of crashes occur within about half a mile (1km) of a junction.

Motorway adverts

Meanwhile, the Government has vowed to tackle another major motorway irritation and potential danger - roadside advertisements.

Announcing the start of a consultation on revised regulations on outdoor adverts, planning minister Yvette Cooper urged councils to take a tough stance against those who try to get around planning rules by putting unauthorised adverts in fields.

She also called on councils to work closely with the Highways Agency to ensure that roadside advertising is appropriate to the landscape and does not pose a hazard to those using the roads. In addition, the Government is writing to councils asking them to improve enforcement, and for information to help build up a database of persistent offenders for displaying illegal adverts.

Yvette Cooper said: "Too many of our motorways are now strewn with illegal trailer adverts, which cause hazards for drivers and are unsightly too. Just because the ads are parked on trailers doesn't mean they should be able to dodge proper planning and safety rules."

The consultation period will last until 18 September and regulations are expected to come into force in April 2007.