Recently, a video appeared on social networks that captures the moment when a scooter rider failed to brake in time and almost ended up in the trunk of the car in front of him.This incident, fortunately, did not result in injury, but it points to the serious problem of not keeping a safe distance on the roads..
According to the Police of the Slovak Republic , failure to maintain a safe distance is one of the main causes of traffic accidents.The general recommendation for drivers of vehicles up to 3. 5 tons is not defined by exact distance, but by time.This is a two second rule that gives the driver enough time to react.Under optimal conditions, one second is used for the reaction itself and the second for performing a maneuver, such as braking or going around an obstacle.
However, this rule is not limited to cars.It is important to keep a safe distance even when riding a bicycle or scooter.A video circulating on the Internet is a demonstration of what can happen when the necessary distance is not observed.
The benefits of keeping a safe distance
- Safer Overtaking – greater distance from the vehicle in front of you increases visibility and allows better planning of maneuvers.
- Smoother shifting of vehicles – especially in connecting lanes, this improves traffic flow and reduces the risk of collisions.
- Smoother driving in urban environments – ‘brake-accelerator’ dynamics is a frequent cause of traffic jams.If drivers keep their distance, they can simply take their foot off the gas to slow down without braking, eliminating the chain reaction of braking the cars behind them.
How to easily estimate a safe distance?
An easy way to check that you are keeping enough distance is to use the three second rule.When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed point (such as a traffic sign or tree), count to three.If you reach that point before three seconds have passed, you need to increase the distance.
However, it should be noted that this recommendation applies under optimal conditions.In case of reduced visibility, wet road or other adverse conditions, the distance should be even greater.
