Tailgating technology trials

Tailgating is a major contributor to road trauma in Queensland and is commonly reported as a 'pet peeve' for Queensland motorists.

To address this, the Queensland Government trialled Behaviour Awareness Monitoring (BAM) technology in 2025 to test the impact of real-time feedback on tailgating drivers.

In an Australian first, the BAM trial aimed to improve road safety using new camera technology to detect drivers following too close and prompt them to rectify this behaviour.

Similar to the 'Speed Awareness Monitors' (SAMs) that notify drivers in real-time when they are speeding, BAM technology detected driver behaviour and provided real-time feedback via a variable message sign (VMS).

The BAM trial was delivered on the our network at Deagon, Stapylton and Willowbank in partnership with Acusensus Australia Pty Ltd, who designed and developed the technology solution, and the Queensland University of Technology who supported evaluation.

Safe following distance

Although there is no specific law or road rule that sets a minimum following distance, a driver must keep a 'sufficient distance' behind a vehicle travelling in front of them so they could stop safely to avoid a crash.

For the purposes of this trial, if a driver was detected travelling within two seconds of the vehicle in front, the driver received a red, ‘Too Close’ message as a real-time reminder to keep a safe distance. If they were travelling two to five seconds apart, a green ‘Safe Gap’ message was displayed.

Trial results

With 1.69 million vehicles successfully tracked, the BAM trial demonstrated this application of ‘nudge theory’ is effective in positively influencing safer following behaviour.

Of the drivers who received a ‘Too Close’ message, 31.4 per cent increased their following distance.

Future initiatives

Improving road safety and driving behaviour requires more than just enforcement. The BAM trial is part of a broader approach to educating and guiding drivers to reflect on their behaviour through both positive and negative reinforcement in real-time.

This trial was an important step towards developing technologies that can encourage safer driving behaviour. We are promoting the findings to government, research and industry partners to increase awareness and support collaborative efforts to address tailgating.