By making little changes when you drive, you can make a big difference to reducing congestion, avoiding collisions, and making journeys safer.
What little things can I do?
When traffic conditions allow, drive in the left-hand lane
Lane hogging is when motorists remain in a middle lane longer than necessary. Driving in a middle lane is considered poor driving behaviour and is illegal. The middle lanes are for overtaking or providing more space for those who’ve stopped on the hard shoulder. Staying in a middle lane disrupts traffic flow and can be dangerous, causing congestion and increasing the risk of a collision.
Keep at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front
You may not think tailgating is as risky as other driving behaviours, but it’s a contributing factor in 1 in 8 motorway collisions. It's essential to keep a safe distance behind the car in front, to protect yourself and other road users. To keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, use the two-second rule. This means leaving a gap of at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one in front. In bad weather or when towing a trailer, the gap should be four seconds. If someone is tailgating you, it's best to safely move to the left lane and stay a safe distance from other road users.
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