Tailgating might be fun at football games, but on the road? Not so much.
Still, a new survey from ICBC shows that most BC drivers are doing it anyway.
According to the survey, 77% of drivers in the province admit they’ve tailgated or followed someone too closely at some point. But when the tables turn, 86% say they feel frustrated, scared, angry or even intimidated when someone’s riding their bumper.
It’s the kind of “do as I say, not as I drive” behaviour that’s all too familiar on the road.
When asked why they tailgate, most drivers blamed slow traffic, especially in the fast lane. Some admitted they do it to stop others from cutting in, while others were simply in a rush.
City streets, highways, HOV lanes—you name it, tailgating happens there. The survey even found drivers reporting tailgating in school zones and construction areas, which is not exactly the place you want to be pushing the limits.
Kathleen Nadalin, ICBC’s road safety program manager, says it’s time to back off—literally.
“Tailgating isn’t just aggressive, it’s dangerous,” she said. “It cuts your reaction time, increases your risk of a crash, and puts pressure on the driver ahead. A safe following distance isn’t just a courtesy—it’s critical.”
Last year alone, ICBC received reports of more than 57,000 rear-end collisions, with tailgating often playing a role. And while some drivers claim it doesn’t bother them, most say being tailgated triggers a pretty emotional response—ranging from straight-up frustration to full-on fear.
So what do people do when someone’s glued to their bumper? Some switch lanes. Some slow down to send a message. A few pull over to let the tailgater pass.
And yes, some speed up to get away—which might make things worse.
The irony? Most drivers say they know how to keep a safe following distance. In ideal conditions, they say they’re likely to leave two to three seconds of space between vehicles. When the weather turns, most say they increase that gap. But clearly, knowing and doing aren’t always the same thing.
ICBC’s advice is simple, take a deep breath, give yourself more time, and leave enough room so you’re not putting someone else—or yourself—at risk. Because let’s face it, the only thing worse than being tailgated… is being the one who caused the crash.
