Two seconds - or too close

I first posted this in 2011 -  after 14 years, nothing has changed. Although not one of what a current campaign calls "The Fatal Five", following too close is a significant cause of accidents, and woud be classed as careless driving. (The Fatal Five are listed as: drink/drug driving, careless driving, speeding, using a mobile phone or other distraction, not wearing a seat belt).

"Only a fool breaks the two second rule." Read on ...

Of all road accidents, around 97% are caused by driver error - following too close is one of the errors most often cited.

 

So what's all this stuff about the 'two second rule'?

At 30 miles an hour, a car travels 88 feet (26.83 metres) in two seconds.

A fit, alert and attentive human being, concentrating on the road ahead and the traffic around them would have a reaction time of at least 0.6 second. This means, if the brake lights of the car in front come on, it takes 0.6 second for your eyes to tell your brain to apply the foot brake, and for your foot to start lifting off the accelerator. Next, your foot has to travel from the accelerator and across to the brake pedal, before you can apply pressure and slow the car.
At 30 mph, you are already nearly 30 feet (9 metres) closer to the car in front.

Once you've applied pressure to the foot brake and the brake pads start to bite against the discs the car will begin to slow down and eventually stop. When it does it will have travelled another 46 feet (14 metres).

The above figures are the best case scenario. If your car's brakes are poorly maintained, or tyres not in tip-top condition, or the road surface is wet or greasy, the distances mentioned above will be greater; much greater.

So, if you are travelling two seconds behind, you should have a pretty good chance of not running into the back of the car in front.

How do I know when I am two seconds behind?

Pick a mark on the road, say a bridge's shadow, or manhole cover. As the car in front crosses the shadow, say to yourself, "Only a fool, breaks the two second rule." This should take you about two seconds. If you cross the same mark before you have completed the sentence, you are too close. Aim to be far enough behind to complete the sentence before you reach the mark. Easy.


But what if I am travelling faster than 30, will the two second rule still work?

Yes, it is a useful guide. The faster you go, the greater distance is covered in two seconds; 176 feet (54 metres) at 60 mph. But, the Highway Code suggests that stopping distances get proportionately longer - 240 feet, 73 metres - so, speak more slowly.

When you are next on the motorway, check to see if you are complying with the Two Seconds Rule, and if not ... Back Off!

Just for fun you can test your reaction time here:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/games/reaction-time.html

... and check out stopping distances here:

http://www.passingplacedriving.co.uk/stoppingdistances.html

Choices

 There are many things to consider when driving on our roads. Speed, weather, road conditions, other motorists, pedestrians, animals, time of day, the list goes on. If you are concentrating fully on your driving then all should go according to plan ... should.

Unfortunately, there are drivers out there who; are not concentrating on their driving, don't care about their driving, whose confidence exceeds their ability, whose vehicle is in an unsafe condition, are drunk or drugged, using a cell phone, who are just bad drivers. 

This German registered Tesla driver fell in to one, or more, of the above considering, too, that he is in a foreign (to him) country, for example: driving too fast for the conditions, overtaking in an unsafe manner, failing to observe the junction ahead, driving too close to the vehicle ahead. 

Having done all that, he found that some of the lanes in Devon are, shall we say, constricted. We watched as he had to reverse and send his passenger go guide him through the gap - then rushed off, in an embarrassed huff, once he had cleared the parapet.

So, the simple advice regarding road safety, when you have to choice of being a Tom, Dick, or Harry - don't be a dick!

Two years!

 Well. there's a thing, as my old gran used to say! I haven't posted here for two years. I've been so busy!

The previous post was a moan about cyclists abandoning their vivid yellow clothing in favour of camouflage greens, browns, and blacks. Nothing's changed there. They still don't want to be seen, yet whinge when you don't.

I'm still driving the Dacia, now with 146,000 on the clock, and still doing 60mpg (on summer grade diesel).

Electric cars continue to improve, especially range-wise, but are still not a really viable alternative for high mileage rural dwellers - yet.

And it's been 11 years since I passed advanced riding tests for both IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) and RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). They completed my set with the IAM car test in 1982. How time flies.

But what does the future hold? Who knows - except I will soon have to renew my driving licence, as us old farts have to do that more often. There are supposed to have been some rule changes to cater for the diminishing abilities of older drivers. When the reminder arrives I'll see what is required. I still have my original licence with entries dated 1972, but I don't think they'll accept that.

Until then I'll keep burning rubber! Keep it shiny side up, folks!