[MTVN]

Not sure if this is true but my driving instructor told me that the biggest cause of accidents on motorways was actually tailgating not speeding. Really it's not that dangerous to drive at 80mph on the motorways, cars safety features have improved a lot over the years and it would definitely help ease conjestion. And Omah you might say that drivers are just as bad as ever but I'm not sure that's true, it now requires a lot more learning and tuition to pass your test now and they really make sure that you are a safe enough driver. The average amount of time to take to pass your test is apparently over 40 hours of lessons and 20 hours of private driving, that's a hell of a lot more than used to be required

[Omah]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Not sure if this is true but my driving instructor told me that the biggest cause of accidents on motorways was actually tailgating not speeding.

He/she's right :

http://www.rtaconsult.co.uk/motorwayaccident.php

Below represent the main causes of accidents on our motorways today:

1. Following to closely to the car in front
2. Weather conditions
3. Tiredness or a lack of concentration
4. Problems associated with breakdowns

But ..... if you "tailgate" at 30 and collide, you'll have some bent metal and a bit of whiplash - if you "tailgate" at 90 and collide (due to driver error), you, your car and many of those around you will probably be crushed, mangled and burned beyond recognition .....

Really it's not that dangerous to drive at 80mph on the motorways, cars safety features have improved a lot over the years and it would definitely help ease conjestion.

"Dangerous" is a subjective term which the cocoon of car safety relegates to the back of most drivers' minds .....

YOUR car may be in perfect condition, but the idiot behind you may be driving a car with bald tyres, poor brakes and a steering wheel that comes off in his hands .....

Congestion is nothing to do with speed - it's caused by traffic build-up :

Traffic on motorways has grown faster (27 per cent) over the last ten years than any other road type.

Source: Department of Transport

And Omah you might say that drivers are just as bad as ever but I'm not sure that's true, it now requires a lot more learning and tuition to pass your test now and they really make sure that you are a safe enough driver. The average amount of time to take to pass your test is apparently over 40 hours of lessons and 20 hours of private driving, that's a hell of a lot more than used to be required

Some drivers don't takes tests, some took one years ago and some forget the lessons as soon as they get in their hot hatch :

Driver error is present in 90% of motorway accidents (with mechanical failure accounting for only 10%).

Source: Smart Driving 2008