How closely can you follow a car in Washington state? Here’s what law says
You’re driving along a Washington state highway when someone start following you a little too closely.
This is known as tailgating, and it can be annoying when you’re on the road.
Washington state has strict rules about how closely cars can follow each other on the road.
How much space should there be between vehicles? And what should you do if you catch a driver creeping up on you?
Here’s what to know:
How closely can you follow a car under Washington law?
In Washington state, a driver must not “follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway,” the law says.
When driving on roads outside of business or residence districts, drivers must “leave sufficient space” that other vehicles can “enter and occupy such space without danger,” the Revised Code of Washington.
However, this rule doesn’t apply to funeral processions.
How can I tell if I’m following too close?
When you’re driving, it’s important to leave “two seconds” worth of space between you and the next car, according to Direct Auto Insurance.
That’s the equivalent of one vehicle length for every 5 mph you’re traveling, the insurance company said.
According to Direct Auto Insurance, here’s how the time-lapse method works:
- Select a roadside object such as a light pole, telephone pole or traffic sign to use as a marker.
- Once the rear end of the vehicle in front of you passes this object, begin counting to two.
- If you pass the marker before you finish counting, you are too close. Slow down.
“Tailgating is an aggressive maneuver that puts others’ safety at risk,” Olympia law firm Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys said on its website, leading to an “increased chance of rear-end collisions” and potentially triggering road rage.
What are penalties for tailgating in Washington state?
Under Washington state law, fees for traffic infractions cannot exceed $250 per offense.
The base penalty for “following too close” is $48 according to Washington state’s Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions.
However, you can expect to pay an additional fine if you’re caught tailgating a “vulnerable user of a public way” such as a pedestrian, a bicyclist or a motorcyclist, state law says.
Can I brake check a driver who’s following too closely?
Brake checking “is when a driver suddenly and intentionally slams on their brakes in front of another vehicle without a valid reason,” according to The Jones Firm in Bellevue.
It’s illegal to slam on the brakes in front of a tailgating driver, McClatchy Media previously reported.
You’re not allowed to “stop, stand or park a vehicle” except when it’s necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic,” Washington state law says, or you’re following the directions of a police officer or traffic control device.
“As troopers, we see many collisions occur because a driver did not provide enough following distance,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Kelsey Harding wrote in an email to The News Tribune. “If insufficient following distance is provided, a driver had less time to react when vehicles slow [or] stop for traffic or a vehicle in front has to make a sudden evasive maneuver for blocking debris.”
What should I do if someone is tailgating me?
If you find yourself being followed a little too closely, Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys recommends taking these steps:
- Stay calm
- Focus on your driving
- Slow your speed
- Move out of the way
- Avoid speeding
This story was originally published February 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How closely can you follow a car in Washington state? Here’s what law says."