Proposals for a fundamental change in the actions of motorists are being called for by a leading car insurer after research revealed that more drivers are bullied into speeding.

The calls were made by insurer Direct Line after recent a recent study conducted with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) revealed that more drivers are tailgating to force others to increase their speed.

As a result, the number of road traffic accidents in the UK due to tailgating has increased.

According to the research, parents with small children and the older generation are the most vulnerable.

It found that when driving with agreement to the Highway Code, 93 per cent of those observed were being tailgated by other road users.

Head of Car Insurance, Maggie Game of Direct Line warned car insurance customers about the dangers of tailgating.

She said: "Drivers need to understand that the increased stress caused as a result of tailgating can lead to volatile situations on the road and that tailgating is responsible for approximately seven per cent of road traffic accidents in the UK.”

Seven per cent of UK road traffic accidents are caused by tailgating.

"By driving less erratically, with fewer gear changes, rapid accelerations and decelerations, the average journey time is eight per cent faster overall. So, improving driving habits could actually save time and money as well as lives," she added.