The ‘Two Second Rule’ Distance
Safe following distances when driving a car is one of the most important things to have in your portfolio of driving habits. Most rear collisions are caused by irresponsible drivers who follow too closely. This is commonly known as “tailgating.”
The safe gap between two moving cars is the minimum of 2 seconds regardless of the speed you are traveling. The faster you go longer the distance. Often we get questions from learners “isn’t is supposed to be 15 meters behind” or a similar type of comment. The answer to that it is, we never count the meterage, and it’s always the “Time-gap.”
Think about it! If you travel behind another vehicle in the car park at 5 kilometers per hour, it would be too far because you may be holding up other drivers. Whereas if you are on the Freeway and following another car at the distance of 15 meters it would be suicidal, because at 100 kilometres per hour you will probably travel 20 meters per second and you need at least 60 meters to stop.
If the vehicle in front reaches the fixed point such as a road sign or a power pole, count two seconds and see if you reach that point sooner or later. Two seconds is the minimum safe distance. It is okay to be a little further if the situation requires so.
Factors that we need to consider are as follows:
- Road conditions and visibility
- Traffic behind and in other lanes
- Overall speed of traffic
- Condition of your tires and your car
- Knowing the ability of your vehicle
- Reaction time and distance
- Braking and stopping distance
- Speed of your vehicle
- Any potential hazard ahead of others
- Posted by admin
- On May 13, 2016
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