Inventor aims to beat tailgaters

A motorist doing 70mph who can read the plate's 7 should slow down

A simple device warning motorists when they are "tailgating" other cars has been developed by a retired scientist.

Brian Clifford's "back off" plate is designed to combat a practice which surveys say is many drivers' pet hate.

The plate, based on opticians' eye charts, shows numbers of varying sizes. If a driver behind can read them, they are too close to the car in front.

Dr Clifford, of Aberystwyth, mid Wales, will put it on display at the British Invention Show in London next week.

I'd like to think that most drivers are trying to be sensible and I see this as an aid to help them do that Brian Clifford

The yellow triangular plate would be attached to a car by either screws or adhesive and in the UK would display a large "7", and a "5" and "3" in decreasing size.

A driver who can read the 7 while travelling at 70mph is too near. The same goes for 50mph with the 5, and 30mph with the 3.

Dr Clifford, 66, worked at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station in Aberystwyth before retirement, concentrating on ways of making plants naturally resistant to diseases.

Dr Clifford enlisted his optician daughter-in-law's help

He turned his hand to different research after becoming increasingly concerned about tailgating.

But after toying with the idea of electronic devices, he drew upon the experience of his daughter-in-law, an optician, to work on a simple visual indicator.

"I worked out what would be the size of these numbers you could see at safe stopping distances," he said. "So at 70mph it's 96m (315ft), at 50mph it's 53m (174ft) and at 30 it's 23m (75ft).

"I've been machinating on this for so long, but I do honestly feel it's got some value."

Research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists this year found that tailgating and using mobile phones are considered the most dangerous activities on the road.

Some 60% of women said tailgating was the worst, as did 47% of men.

Tailgater: The view no driver likes to see in the rear view mirror

Dr Clifford said: "I'd like to think that most drivers are trying to be sensible and I see this as an aid to help them do that."

He hopes his idea could be picked up by motoring organisations. With the help of the Wales Innovators Network he developed it and applied for a patent, and said: "I can't thank them enough".

It will be on display at the British Invention Show at Alexandra Palace, London, from 20-23 October, along with more than 350 other innovations from all over the world.

The event allows inventors to showcase their products and negotiate potential licences for their goods.