Patent ID: 7446649

Claim:
A method for monitoring and detecting a tailgate event between two vehicles moving in a forward motion, the two vehicles comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle, one of the two vehicles being an offending vehicle and the other of the two vehicles being an affected vehicle, the method comprising: determining a distance between the two vehicles, the first vehicle in front of the second vehicle; calculating a safe distance range between the two vehicles based upon weight and at least one of speed and safe braking range values of at least one of the two vehicles; comparing the distance and the safe distance range; and based upon the comparing, activating a recording device on the affected vehicle if the distance is less than the safe distance range indicating an unacceptable distance range value, the offending vehicle being responsible for causing the unacceptable distance range value; wherein the weight of the offending vehicle is transmitted via a transceiver thereon, and wherein further, responsive to receiving the weight at the affected vehicle and determining a distance between the vehicles, the affected vehicle uses the weight to calculate a safe braking distance.