MOTORISTS have been warned they must improve their driving habits to make the UK roads safer and help traffic move more efficiently.

The advice comes on the back of the launch of a campaign by Highways England that revealed one in eight serious injuries on major roads are caused by tailgating.

The practice of driving too close to the car in front claims 100 lives each year, according to their research. Ninety per cent of drivers say they have been victim of the dangerous manoeuvre.

Now motoring experts at breakdown specialists 24|7 Vehicle Rescue have revealed a host of other poor decisions made behind the wheel that not only cause accidents but also see traffic grind to a halt.

Ranjen Gohri from 24|7 said: “We all know the roads in this country are busy and often plagued by works to patch them up.

“We see plenty of examples of potholes and poor carriageways causing problems for drivers.

“But while all this is true, it is also a fact that motorists often don’t help themselves by doing things that make the experience of traveling by car extremely frustrating for their fellow road users.

“A few simple changes can have a huge positive impact on journey times and safety on the highways.”

Here are 24|7 Vehicle Rescue’s top tips on how you can keep the traffic moving:

Tailgating

The statistics from Highways England show the danger driving too close to the car in front can cause – it is responsible for 100 deaths a year.

Even if it doesn’t lead to an accident, looking in your rear view mirror and seeing the bumper of another vehicle edging closer and closer can be upsetting and unnerving.

But tailgating is also the cause of major traffic problems. By driving within yards of someone it means that if the car in front applies the brakes then you have to slam on the anchors too.

This has a ripple effect as everyone behind has to brake hard which means that a distance further back – even up to a mile – traffic can grind to a halt.

Maintain a consistent speed

Obviously driving requires you to apply the accelerator at different rates according to the situation.

But if you can drive as smoothly as possible it will make a massive difference.

If there is congestion on a motorway you will often see cars speeding up dramatically once it clears and then slowing down when it builds up again.

This stop-start action decreases the overall traffic speed, so it is definitely something to avoid.

Rubbernecking

This can take a few different forms. Maybe you spy slow traffic up ahead and try to work out which is the best lane to be in.

But when you approach the problem you realise it’s due to an incident on the other side of the road and you then stare at it as you crawl past, making the likelihood of bumping into someone much higher.

The problem also arises if there is something on the hard shoulder – a breakdown or police incident – that takes your attention away from the carriageway in front.

Anything that distracts you is dangerous and raises the possibility of having to slam on the brakes and therefore causing hold-ups behind.

Concentration levels

Despite the increased speed limits, motorways should in many ways be safer than other roads.

They are usually pretty straight and you don’t have to negotiate junctions or roundabouts.

But one of the most common pitfalls is allowing this lull you into a false sense of security, thereby making it easier to switch off.

Losing concentration and letting your mind wander to thinking about your job, family, finances and all the rest of it is potentially lethal.

Instead, keep your wits about you and make sure at all times you know what is in front, behind and to the side of you.

This makes overtaking and lane management much simpler than just reacting to situations as they occur – leading to less congestion.

Lane hogging

Like tailgating, driving in the wrong lane on a motorway is dangerous and foolish.

It is bind-boggling that some drivers still don’t understand that the two outside lanes are for overtaking only. You should move back into the inside lane as soon as sensibly possible after you have completed a manoeuvre.

Sitting in the middle or fast lane while traffic backs up behind can lead to other drivers carrying out dangerous undertaking which obviously increases the risks of accidents and therefore traffic chaos.

Weather conditions

Driving in rain or snow requires extra care and journey times are usually longer as a result.

But we’ve all seen motorists who seem to completely disregard their commonsense and keep the pedal to the metal even when the risk of skidding is much higher.

You need to be aware of how much less grip there is on the road surface and, by driving at speeds as if it was dry, how much more likely you are to lose control and cause major problems.

Monitor tyres, oil and coolant

While all of these things are crucial to keep on top of, tyres should definitely top of your list.

Having a blow-out on the motorway can be catastrophic and is often caused when tyres heat up due to not having enough air in them – so keep a constant eye on the pressure and check them at least every two weeks.

If you’re heading out on a long trip, give them an extra check just to make sure they are correctly inflated.

Oil and coolant levels should also be regularly checked to make sure you are not left stranded with a cloud of steam rising from under the bonnet.

If you do break down in a dangerous place it is worth knowing that it is possible to move your vehicle even if it won’t start.

Put it into first or second gear and turn the ignition, which will see your car jerk forward thanks to the starter motor.

This should be enough to get you up to a few metres are out of harm’s way.