Safe Distance to Drive behind/ Away From Other Vehicles

Tailgating is a dangerous yet common practice that is seen in most drivers. There is an ideal distance that should be left between your car and the one in front and behind you. In this article, we are going to discuss the safe distance to drive behind and away from other vehicles in various situations and conditions.

The safe following distance is determined by several factors. One of the most important is speed. This goes hand in hand with the distance you will take for your car to come to a stop in case of an emergency.

The higher the speeds the longer distance you will need to stop the car.

3 Second Rule

Driving at a speed of 60 km/ h, it would take you about 100 meters to come to a stop which mostly takes 3 seconds.

This is the safest speed limit and distance when following a car. The following distance is not always the same. There are various situations and conditions that will require a cross around a larger distance.

Safe Following Distance When the Road Is Wet

A wet road means that it will be difficult to slow your vehicle to a stop. This means that you need to maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one behind or in front of you.

When you step on your brake pedal on a wet road your vehicle might skid and this can make it hit the one in front of you causing accidents. It is therefore important to leave enough space in such a situation.

In Australian, the safe following distance when the road is wet is the 4-second rule. This rule helps create crash avoidance.

The Safe Following Distance at a Corner

When negotiating a corner, it is the best practice to maintain a safe distance to avoid collision it emergency breaking. The 3-second following distance is recommended where the road is not straight or at a corner.

When you maintain this distance it will be easier for you to stop the car when the car in front of you breaks at a corner of when something suddenly emerges from the bend.

The Safe Following Distance at a Crest

When approaching the top of a hill or a crest, it is always important to be careful and mind cars coming over the other side.

When driving downhill, you will need more distance to stop your car. When moving uphill maintain a safe distance especially during wet periods because the vehicles can skid or slide backwards.

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