Traffic experts say you might think the car behind is closer than you’d like, but the following driver might think otherwise and that’s why he’s sitting on your boot.

In fact, there’s one theory that an aggressively-styled car like a HSV Commodore, a GT Falcon or a bull-barred tradie’s ute translates to ‘get out of my way’.

Not all tailgating comes from hostility, although some drivers are deliberately aggressive and do it to intimidate.

Research shows 17 per cent slow down, 12 per cent tap the brakes, 12 per cent speed up and 5 per cent flip the bird, all risky manoeuvres.

If the car behind you is too close, resist the temptation to look on them as some sort of an opponent or, worst of all, somebody who needs a belt under the ear.

The fine for tailgating is $448 and loss of three demerit points.

RMS figures show crashes resulting in moderate or minor injury in Orange in 12 months totalled 66, but it’s a wonder there’s not more.

WITH all the federal chaos in Canberra last week it’s interesting to note there’s a bit of nonsense going on in the Orange State electorate with people voting in March.

The Nationals have been announcing every piece of new roadwork, grants and everything that moves through their parliamentary secretary Rick Colless and bypassing our member Philip Donato.

The council also appears to be dealing with him and not our member, which is poor protocol and not a good look.

For those interested, parliamentary secretaries are appointed by the Premier to assist ministers with their portfolios, but they have no powers.

They’re not members of the Executive Council and can’t perform ministerial functions required under legislation.

Rick Colless was appointed in February, 2017 and has the title Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW but there’s no minister for Western NSW. His term finishes on March 1 next year.

SO much for Channel 9’s political editor Chris Uhlmann.

He made lots of personal comments about the election of a new PM but when the studio asked him on a TV cross what an absolute majority was, he didn’t know.

Maybe he should go back to the ABC.

A YOUNG girl on Prime’s Little Big Shots the other night gave an excellent performance of balancing acts on a pushbike that included riding it sitting backwards.

The difficult feat brought to mind what Orange pilot Max Hazelton did back in the 1950s when promoting his new aviation business.

If charter was slow he often flew his Auster on barnstorming trips around country shows on weekends taking people on joyflights for 10 shillings each.

Because kids swarmed all over his aeroplane he offered them a free flight if they could ride their pushbikes for 10 yards sitting backwards.

Max, whose favourite transport around his Cudal Airport was always on a bike, knew how to ride it backwards but no kids could ever do it so there were no free flights.