KEIGHLEY motorists are being urged to back off!

An association is campaigning to crack down on tailgating, which it says is causing needless crashes and injuries.

"Driving too close to the vehicle in front – or tailgating – is a bad habit of which many drivers are guilty," said Brett Dixon, of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

"It is incredibly dangerous, as well as anti-social, and can be really intimidating for other motorists.

"When in traffic, drivers are advised to leave enough space so that they can see the road between their car and the vehicle in front.

"In the UK we have 50 per cent more traffic per kilometre than the European average and this, coupled with bad driving habits, could cause needless collisions.

"Some injuries could easily be avoided if drivers backed off and left a bit more room."

The association – which has staged an Injury Prevention Day focussing on tailgating – says that last year, more than 480 motorists were given penalties by West Yorkshire Police for offences related to bad driving.