Tennessee law dictates that you are tailing too closely if another vehicle like yours cannot safely switch lanes to get between you and the vehicle in front of you. Although Tennessee law does not dictate safe following distances specifically, you can be charged with careless driving for following too closely behind another vehicle. In most circumstances, when a car is hit from the rear, the driver in the rear is charged for the accident.
Besides a moving violation and a Class C misdemeanor charge, you could also seriously injure yourself or others by tailing too closely. To allow for adequate stopping times, you should always leave a minimum of 2 car lengths between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Allow for even more space between vehicles during inclement weather. If you fail to do so, you face the following dangers of tailing too closely:
Not only must you account for your own braking time, but you need to allow adequate time for the car in front of you to brake. If a vehicle in front of you brakes suddenly, and you hit that vehicle, you will likely be charged with careless driving for tailing too closely. Allowing enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you will also allow you to see two or three cars ahead, providing you with even more information on surrounding traffic behavior and how to safely maneuver through it.
If you manage to avoid a fender bender while tailing to closely, you could still lose control of your vehicle. Many drivers tend to swerve to avoid hitting a vehicle that has stopped in front of them suddenly or if they don’t have time to brake. Even if you avoid hitting another car or truck, you can still skid off the road into ditches or hitting trees, guardrails, or buildings. It is also possible that your vehicle can roll over from sudden last-minute maneuvers trying to avoid a crash.
While tailing too closely, if you cannot brake in time to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of you, not only are you at risk of crashing, but you could be at risk for getting stuck under another vehicle. It is not unheard of for drivers of smaller cars to become completely decapitated after their vehicle crashes into a truck or large SUV.
Tailing too closely can put you at risk of whiplash or other serious injuries after braking suddenly. Airbags can deploy even when an actual crash does not occur, and this, in itself, can cause serious injury. Strained or pulled muscles, broken bones, and even flying through the windshield are all possible, even without an accident.
The dangers of tailing too close range from ticketing to a misdemeanor charge to serious injury or death. Larger vehicles and inclement weather make following too closely even more hazardous. Although you can defend tailing too closely in court, it is always a hazard best avoided. If you’ve been charged with careless driving for following too closely, contact your insurance provider, and then contact us to discuss your circumstances.
After spending his secondary years of study at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, G Turner Howard III earned his BA at Tulane University. A member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Before becoming an attorney, he earned a Master’s and Doctor of Divinity at Andrews Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary. He also served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. With more than 20 years of experience, his firm has helped clients receive millions of dollars for personal injury, and in many cases, much faster than they ever expected.
