Car seized after uninsured driver tailgated and sped past a marked police vehicle in Northampton

A 22-year-old man was caught speeding and tailgating other vehicles on the A45 from Riverside to the Queen Eleanor restaurant on Wednesday (November 11) at around 6.15pm.

Northamptonshire Police spotted the driver of a white Audi A5 S-Line tailgating other vehicles and then speeding in front of a marked police Armed Response Vehicle.

The driver, when questioned by officers, initially gave his father’s name and date of birth. When challenged, the driver gave a different date of birth. After being arrested - however - his name then changed.

This continued until the driver was identified.

The 22-year-old man was issued with a ticket for having no insurance and his car was promptly seized.

New cameras that detect tailgaters are currently being tested by Highways England. Almost 10,000 vehicles were caught tailgating in the first two weeks of the new cameras being tested.

Highways England’s head of road safety, Jeremy Philips, said: “These new cameras have, sadly, highlighted just how many people are driving too close on our roads.

“We understand that most tailgating is unintentional by drivers who are simply unaware they are dangerously invading someone else’s space. But not leaving enough space between you and the vehicle in front can be very frightening and intimidating – it could also prove fatal.

“We are trialling the new cameras to make drivers aware of their behaviour and encourage better driving. We are also using the Space Invader video game character as a quick reminder to drivers of the risks of tailgating. Our message is simple – Don’t be a Space Invader, Stay safe, stay back.”

A survey conducted by Highways England found that while more than a quarter of drivers admitted to tailgating, nearly nine in 10 people say they have either been tailgated or witnessed it.

Pc Dave Lee of Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team who are supporting the trial, said: “Motorists who experience tailgating can often feel intimidated and put under pressure to increase their speed in a bid to create more space between them and the offending vehicle.

“However, we have seen first-hand the devastating consequences which tailgating can cause. People who carry out this extremely dangerous behaviour are not just putting themselves at risk, but the lives of other road users.

“Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on our county’s road network remains a policing priority for the Force, which is why it is important to work with our partners on such campaigns in a bid to save lives by making our roads safer.”