New Tool to Prevent Tailgating
Dec. 6, 2006 — -- Frustrated, distracted and angry drivers cause 6 million accidents a year by speeding and falling asleep at the wheel.
According to public safety officials, tailgaters are particularly dangerous.
"Tailgating is the No. 1 cause of accidents," said Del Lisk, vice president of safety services for DriveCam, a developer of car safety technology. "Part of the problem is that people don't even know that they're doing it."
In Phoenix, highway patrol officers are aggressively attacking the problem by using a special laser device called a LIDAR, which stands for Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging.
The device works like a radar speed gun but measures the distance and time between cars.
"Inside the unit, it will do calculations and tell me exactly how fast the vehicle was going and the distance between the front bumper of the first car and the front bumper of the second car," police Officer Anthony Gardinier said of the LIDAR.
"Good Morning America" went on patrol with Gardinier as he used the LIDAR to pull over tailgater Chris Houston.
Houston was issued a fine of $115 and could get traffic violation points on his license.
"I guess I'm just going to have to be aware of it," Houston said after getting his ticket.
Police Detective Tim Mason says the LIDAR makes officers' jobs easier and says violators are less likely to fight their tickets.
"It makes it more concrete for the judges and court system," Mason said. "We have something that's irrefutable."
To avoid getting hit by the LIDAR on the road, stay at least three seconds behind the car in front in front of you.
Doing so could prevent a ticket or a fender bender, and it could also save a life.
Related Stories
ABC News Live