If you persistently strode six inches behind a stranger in public you could well get accused of harassment. You just wouldn’t do it. And yet, if you’re in a two ton car it suddenly seems forgiveable to drive a few feet from the car in front. Tailgating is now commonplace. Rarely a journey passes when someone doesn’t try to get into my boot.

Is it frustration with the journey or impatience that drives the behaviour of tailgaters? Do they feel invincible because they are wrapped in metal? Certainly, tailgating is fruitless as it doesn’t get the offender home any quicker.

We have the most crowded roads in Europe – our roads are 79 per cent busier than the European average. Tailgating is dangerous. It contributes to a prevalence of low speed crashes, resulting in injuries such as whiplash, along with damage to vehicles. All this expense feeds the high cost of motor premiums.

Many of these accidents are avoidable – drivers just need to back off and leave more space between them and the car in front so that they can stop safely without bashing into its bumper. No-one wants to see anyone needlessly injured, and no-one wants the hassle of getting their car repaired and going through an insurance claim. Let’s prevent the accident happening in the first place. If there is no accident, there will be no injury, and no claim. It’s as simple as that.

Whiplash claims have been falling for the past two years, but together we can bring them down even further. So, drivers – take responsibility for your own actions and just back off.

Watch our campaign video A Lesson in Social Graces here: http://bit.ly/16ljMN4.