FOLLOWING DISTANCE – STOPPING ABILITY

A lot has always been made about speeding, which of course is a factor in a lot of accidents, particularly with regards to keeping the vehicle under control.

But also an element which hardly gets a mention and is just as important in many accidents is ‘DISTANCE’ between vehicles.

Whenever there is a ‘pile-up’ on a motorway or dual-carriageway it very rarely involves just two vehicles. It’s more often than not 3, 4, 5 or more vehicles involved, but normally for just one specific reason….driving too close to the vehicle ahead. Of course there will be other factors such as not fully concentrating on driving, fiddling with the radio, CD player, Sat-nav, texting or talking on the mobile phone etc.

The general rule is normal and dry conditions are to keep a minimum of TWO SECONDS from the vehicle in front, preferably more. To calculate this, just look for a fixed landmark at the side of the road such as a tree, road sign, bridge or something similar and once the vehicle in front of you passes the landmark just say “Only a fool, breaks the two second rule”. You should not have passed the landmark before finishing the sentence. If you have, you are too close! If you are further back, then even better.

In wet conditions you need to be a minimum of FOUR seconds but again, preferably more – so then you say this sentence TWICE! Again, you should not have passed the landmark by the time you finish saying this for the second time.

Do not over estimate your ability to stop the car in time when driving within the 2-second or 4-second rules. Many think that they are able to stop in the event of an emergency but only realise that they are to close a split-second before impact.

In ice and snow, then the following distance needs to be extended to a minimum of TEN seconds, but preferably more. It may seem a little extreme until you need to stop and you find your sliding and sliding closer and closer to what you’re trying to avoid.