He said tail-gating as in 3-4 car lengths. Admittedly, that is tailgating for a vehicle that takes forever to stop; but, this isn't the big scary monster right behind you situation. They're further back, but just as unable to stop

I once saw something quite the opposite. Some ditzy woman in a tiny car changed lanes right in front of a huge tractor-trailer. It was an urban situation and a light just ahead just turned red. So she immediately braked.

The cut-off truck behind her slammed on his brakes and swerved into the other lane and jackknifed in a huge cloud of tire smoke. But he did it, his cab wound up beside her and totally missed her car. He didn't turn her econobox into a grease spot.

I was too stunned to remember what happened afterward. But I think the woman just obliviously drove off when the light changed. She never realized just how close she came to dying that day.