Arrive Alive

Safe Following Distances and Road Safety

Safe Following distances and road safety

The Dangers of Tailgating / Insufficient Following Distances

Most rear-end collisions are caused when drivers do not obey sufficient following distances. This is also known as Tailgating- often regarded as a form of aggressive driving behaviour. In South Africa, with the high prevalence of road rage, tailgating might contribute towards retaliation by other drivers and initiate instances of road rage.

Adequate following distances enable drivers to adjust in emergency situations and bring their vehicles to a stop safely - time that could mean the difference between life and death.

Total stopping distance involves the following:

Human perception time: The time required for a driver to recognise a potential hazard. This time is assumed to be approximately 0.75 seconds in normal situations

Human reaction time: Once the hazard has been perceived, the driver must respond by applying the brakes. The average reaction time is about 0.75 seconds

Vehicle reaction time: This is the time it takes for the vehicle to react once the brakes have been applied by the driver. Vehicle reaction time is very quick, usually assumed to be about 0.05 seconds.

Vehicle braking capability: This refers to the vehicle’s ability to come to a complete stop once the brakes have been applied

International studies have indicated that when a driver follows another vehicle at 100 kilometres per hour and the vehicle in front suddenly applies the brakes, the driver following will need about one and a half seconds to react. If there is not enough distance between the vehicles - the driver following would not be able to stop.

A driver should stay alert at all times as abrupt stopping could be caused by a variety of unforeseen events such as:

  • Debris on the road,
  • Pedestrians or stray animals,
  • Other drivers falling asleep, drunk drivers or drivers swerving across the road to evade hazards
  • Drivers being distracted, i.e. answering cellular telephone calls etc.


The 2-3 Second Rule:

Most International road safety campaigns refer to the “2" or "3" Second Rule” as a guideline for safe following distances. A point on the road is noted, 2-3 seconds are counted, and if that point is still visible then there's probably enough following distance.

This rule must be adjusted to 5-6 seconds when:

  • In adverse weather conditions
  • Driving on slippery roads
  • Driving at night
  • When following vehicles with different characteristics, i.e. motorcycles & trucks
  • When towing a trailer or other object

Also view:

Following Distances and Road Crashes

Loading...

Related Articles

Truck assistant left in critical condition after becoming pinned between truck and trailer

Truck assistant left in critical condition after becoming pinned between truck and trailer

Midlands EMS Rescue Medics, along with K9 Hunter and Midlands EMS Advanced Life Support paramedics and crews, were dispatched to the Nottingham Road area after receiving reports of a truck assistant who had become pinned between a truck and its trailer. On arrival, crews found the patient in a critical

Read More

ATM bombing reported at Khaya Mall in Embalenhle

ATM bombing reported at Khaya Mall in Embalenhle

ATM bombing reported at Khaya Mall in Embalenhle, Mpumalanga. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen during the bombing. No suspects arrested and a manhunt is currently on the way for the suspects that are responsible. Local authorities were on the scene for assistance and further

Read More

Occupant critically injured in collision near Margate

Occupant critically injured in collision near Margate

This afternoon a serious collision happen on Lucien Beach when a driver allegedly fell asleep, sending the vehicle they were driving, crashing onto the rocks. KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to the scene where paramedics rendered immediate medical attention to a critically injured patient. Once

Read More

One person was seriously injured in a pedestrian collision on the N1

One person was seriously injured in a pedestrian collision on the N1

Fidelity Heroes are always around when you need us the most. Over the weekend, our Cape Town North team assisted with a pedestrian collision on the N1 direction inbound. The team was on the N1 heading to the office when they noticed a male lying on the road. They stopped and immediately got

Read More

Three people were arrested for exceeding the speed limit in the Boanero Park area

Three people were arrested for exceeding the speed limit in the Boanero Park area

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) High-Speed Unit Officers, arrested three male motorists between the ages thirty and forty-five, for exceeding the speed limit of 70km/h in the Boanero Park area. While performing law enforcement duties on Great North Road, a Pro-Lazer camera high-speed

Read More

Suspects caught in action while stripping suspect stolen vehicle in the Katlehong area

Suspects caught in action while stripping suspect stolen vehicle in the Katlehong area

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Intervention Unit Officers, arrested five male Mozambican Nationals suspects between the ages of twenty-five and fifty years in the Katlehong area. Following on a tip of from members of the community about a vehicle being stripped, in a yard on

Read More

Load More Articles

Partners

View All