There are many actions you may take when driving that could put yourself and others at risk in Texas. Some habits you may have could be very dangerous. One of those is following too closely to the vehicle in front of you on the roadway, which you may know better as tailgating. Tailgating is a very hazardous practice.
The Texas Department of Insurance warns that tailgating prevents you from having the ability to stop quickly enough to prevent a rear-end collision. It may also lead to other types of accidents. The main issue is you simply do not have enough reaction time. You need at least two second in good conditions. If the weather is bad, such as heavy rain, you need even more time.
When you follow too closely, you do not have as much time to stop or even perceive what is happening. It is incredibly likely that you will run into the vehicle in front of you because you cannot react fast enough. It is physically impossible, so every time you tailgate, you put yourself and those around you at risk.
Your best choice is to stop this dangerous behavior. You should allow at least two second between you and the person in front of you. As mentioned, if the weather is bad, it is dark outside or if traffic is heavy, you may want to increase the distance.
Tailgating is often linked to people not planning ahead and rushing to get somewhere. So, to avoid the urge to do it, you should make sure to give yourself extra time when traveling. This information is for education and is not legal advice.