During which condition is tailgating most likely to occur?

Tailgating is most likely to occur on highways primarily due to the higher speeds and the flow of traffic that can lead drivers to maintain less following distance than they would in other conditions. On highways, the speed limit is usually higher, and drivers sometimes feel a sense of urgency to maintain their speed or close the gap with the car in front of them, which can result in reduced reaction time and pressure to stay close to other vehicles.

In contrast, during heavy rain, drivers tend to increase their following distance to account for reduced visibility and longer stopping distances, making tailgating less likely. In traffic jams, vehicles are often moving slowly or at a standstill, which can also encourage maintained space between cars. While tailgating can occur in clear weather, it is generally on highways where the combination of speed, traffic flow, and the desire to maintain velocity leads to this behavior most often. Properly evaluating the dynamics of highway driving illustrates why this is the best choice in understanding circumstances that encourage tailgating.