![New Study Shows Tailgating Drivers Are Actually Making Traffic Worse](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2017/08/traffic-jam.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
New Study Shows Tailgating Drivers Are Actually Making Traffic Worse
A study out of MIT shows that drivers who tailgate are actually causing traffic delays and lengthening commutes during peak hours. Traffic Engineer Laurence Lambert of Vectura Consulting says the closer you drive, the more erratic your reactions become.
"What happens is that people have perception reaction times, so the closer they are to a vehicle, the harder they're going to hit their breaks," said Lambert.
The study modeled traffic during peak hours to determine the effects of various driving decisions and determined that aggressive driving does not get you home faster. Lambert says the study shows that tailgating actually causes previously non-existent traffic jams.
"There's really nothing there," said Lambert.
Lambert says that new technology has potential to alleviate the problem.
"Adaptive cruise control, so that they are set to the parameters in the study," said Lambert.
Researchers suggest the best course of action is to maintain an equal distance from both the car in front of you and the car behind you.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Donald Trump Has Made His Vice Presidential Pick](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2159730000.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Wins $100,000 With Lottery Strategy From Watching ‘Lottery Changed My Life’](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2022/04/attachment-giorgio-trovato-BRl69uNXr7g-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana to be Prominently Featured at Republican National Convention](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-RNC-LOGO.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![What We Know About the 20-Year-Old Man Who Tried to Assassinate Donald Trump](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161922154.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Local Officer Encountered Gunman Just Before He Shot Toward Trump at Rally](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161922387.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Man Killed at Trump Rally Identified as Former Fire Chief, ‘Girl Dad’ who ‘Died a Hero’](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-14T144115.615.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UPDATE: Trump Safe, Shooter Neutralized After Shots Fired at Rally](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Shooting-Trump-Rally-Pennsylvania.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Did Authorities Spot the Loch Ness Monster On a Texas Highway?](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Screen-Shot-2024-07-09-at-8.07.05-AM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘Birds Aren’t Real’ Movement Claim Birds Are a Government Conspiracy](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/06/attachment-Birds-Arent-Real-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)