New Zealand Police Alert 1:00pm 7 Apr 2008 Canterbury

Location of incident: Canterbury

Incident type: Following too close

Keep Your Distance!

Police are targeting the aggressive driving habits of some motorists who follow too close to the vehicle in front of them. In preparation for winter driving conditions and as a result of complaints of 'tail gating' from the public, Police are checking the following distances of cars and trucks on the North Canterbury Highways.

'Following too close is the most common cause of nose to tail crashes' stated Senior Sergeant Neville Hyland of the Canterbury Highway Patrol. He also said that many people find the behaviour intimidating and feel threatened by having another vehicle travel too close behind them. 'The general guide for following distances on dry roads and in ideal driving conditions (regardless of speed) is the 2 second rule.

This should be doubled for wet conditions.' Vehicles travelling up to 50 kmh should have 20 metres of distance between them (or 5 car lengths) and vehicles travelling over 90 kmh should have 36 metres or 9 car lengths between them. Drivers following too close to the vehicle in front run a serious risk of hitting that vehicle if it has to make a sudden stop. Over this weekend North Canterbury Highway Patrol Officers have issued 45 notices for drivers travelling too close to the vehicle in front, and the campaign is set to continue.

Neville Hyland Senior Sergeant Canterbury Highway Patrol

Issued By: Inspector Warren Kemp

ENDS

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