The practice of more mindful driving does not come without its frustrations.

I am having particular trouble lately with tailgaters. I can come up with logical explanations, but in all truth I do not understand the phenomenon. Are folks in such a hurry that they have lost all semblance of regard for me and other drivers ahead as well as their own safety, that of their passengers, and anyone else on the road?

I drive the speed limit or slightly over. It doesn’t matter. Invariably, there will be a glare in my rear view mirror. Annoying!

Aggressive tailgating is one characteristic of aggressive driving which is listed as one of the six most common causes of traffic accidents. Most rear end collisions are caused by following too closely.

Don’t know whether you are following too closely? In driver’s ed, I was taught to keep one car length for every 10 miles an hour between me and the car ahead. Now if that seems a little hard to visualize, try the “Three Second Rule.” Pick an object beside the road; a sign, mile marker, etc. Start counting as soon as the car ahead passes the object. Count “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.” If you reach the object before you finish counting then you are following too close. The distance should be greater during bad weather or poor driving conditions.

90% of traffic accidents are avoidable.

And tailgating is “a major cause of car crashes that result in serious injuries.”

I have a theory that tailgating not only causes frustration in the car ahead but it also increases the frustration of the driver doing the tailgating.

So back off. Take a deep breath. Light some inner incense.

And both of us will arrive at our destination happy and safe.