The M1 near Leeds has declareed the UK's number one tailgating hotspot, according to a new survey.

Using traffic flow data from nearly 6500 HA motorway sites, insurer Direct Line found that 49% of all vehicles were found to be leaving less than the recommended two-second gap. A further 17% were found to be travelling less than a second away from the vehicle in front of them. The other big problem areas include junctions 7-6 northbound on the M42 near Solihull and junctions 7-5 on the M27 going westbound. See the table for the full top ten.

Based on cars travelling between 60-69mph, the study found that 78% of cars had gaps that were less than the calculated stopping distances (73-94m), while 54% were in gaps half of the suggested stopping distance.

According to police data, up to 15% of all injury collisions (including five fatalities) each year on the nation's roads are caused by tailgating. Young drivers are the most likely to be involved, with 37% of all tailgating incidents involving under 30s.

"All drivers have a responsibility to keep a safe distance between their vehicle and others on the road," commented Rob Miles, director of car insurance at Direct Line. "Tailgating is extremely dangerous and also against the law, regardless of whether it's done intentionally or in ignorance,"

"Often people can find themselves too close to other vehicles on motorways as they rush to their destination or try to keep up with traffic flow," added Miles. "We'd urge drivers to keep their stopping distances in mind, as these are often forgotten in times of haste or frustration,"