Media have reported about an accident which occurred on the Bangalore-Mysore highway on 17-5-14, in which several cars ran into each other. It appears that the cars were travelling close to each other and when the first vehicle applied the brakes, this multiple-car accident occurred.
Driving too close to the car in front (also known as "tailgating") is a major cause of road accidents worldwide. Many western countries have laws against such dangerous driving practice (See for example). In most of these countries, you are expected to leave at least 2 seconds distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Violations of this rule are punishable as dangerous driving. But in India, dangerous driving (Secs. 183-184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988) does not include tailgating.
Many accidents in the city are caused by tailgating, but since the speeds are low, the only damage caused is a dent in the vehicles. But on highways, tailgating poses a serious danger to life and limb. It is imperative that tailgating must also be brought within the ambit of dangerous driving.
Vishwas
Driving too close to the car in front (also known as "tailgating") is a major cause of road accidents worldwide. Many western countries have laws against such dangerous driving practice (See for example). In most of these countries, you are expected to leave at least 2 seconds distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Violations of this rule are punishable as dangerous driving. But in India, dangerous driving (Secs. 183-184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988) does not include tailgating.
Many accidents in the city are caused by tailgating, but since the speeds are low, the only damage caused is a dent in the vehicles. But on highways, tailgating poses a serious danger to life and limb. It is imperative that tailgating must also be brought within the ambit of dangerous driving.
Vishwas