When distracted or drunk drivers cause fatal car accidents, they often receive lots of press coverage. However, people in Connecticut may be surprised to learn that tailgating causes more than 40 percent of car accidents in the New Haven area. Especially on the highway, where speeds exceed 55 mph, it is important for drivers to make sure they are driving at a safe distance from the car in front of them.
The high number of traffic accidents related to tailgating has caused law enforcement in Connecticut to increase its efforts to discourage drivers from driving too close to another vehicle, which sometimes provokes road rage and leads to devastating accidents. Connecticut drivers may notice new billboards on state highways that warn them to keep their distance from the vehicle in front of them. If they fail to heed the sign’s warnings, they could be pulled over for tailgating and receive a $132 ticket.
Tailgating has always been illegal, but now the authorities are using new devices to measure the distance between vehicles. With this information, law enforcement is pulling over more violators, who may be required to pay the $132 fine even if they haven’t caused a car accident.
Hopefully, the efforts will reduce the number of car accidents in the state. If the campaign is successful, other states may run similar campaigns. When tailgating, distracted driving, or other behavior causes a fatal car crash, it is devastating to the victim’s loved ones. Thankfully, these family members may be able to receive compensation for the mental anguish they experienced as a result of their loss. Anyone in this situation may want to turn to an attorney for help.
