MIDLAND POLICE TO CONDUCT

TAILGATING TRAFFIC CAMPAIGN

March 12, 2010 – The Midland Police Department will focus its next traffic campaign (March 14 – 27) on vehicles that are tailgating.

Patrol crews will monitor motorists’ driving patterns in the city and enforce State law on tailgating. The Michigan Motor Vehicle Code (Section 257.643 (1)) states: "The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicles and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the highway."

One of the most common collisions the police department handles is rear-end collisions. These and other types of collisions are often caused by drivers following the car in front of them at too close a distance.

To reduce the risk of collisions, motorists must maintain a safe and appropriate distance between their vehicle and the vehicle traveling in front of them. In normal traffic under good weather conditions, a following distance of 2-3 seconds is safe. During inclement weather such as snow, ice, and rain, following distance will increase according to road conditions.

Below are tips for staying 2-3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you:

· Choose a fixed road mark, such as a pavement crack, then start to count when the vehicle ahead passes that road mark.

· You should be able to count 1,001 ... 1,002 ... 1,003 before passing the road mark.

Tailgating is punishable by a $100.00 fine and two points on your driver’s license.

The Midland Police Department’s Traffic Safety Team is dedicated to reducing motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths in Midland through a variety of safe driving and traffic enforcement campaigns. For more information on the department’s Traffic Safety Team, call 989-839-4714 or visit the City’s website, at www.midland-mi.org.

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