Do you know there is a way to always ensure that your car is at a minimum safe distance from the car in front of you? This space, also called “following distance” is vital when you are driving, to ensure enough stopping time in instances of emergency braking. As a rule, your stopping distance is equal to your reaction time added to the braking distance. When you maintain an adequate following distance or safe driving distance, chances are high that you will be able to avoid rear-ending the car in front, or even an outright collision.
Like many driving rules, this one means the difference between safety and danger, and in extreme cases, the line between life and death. In Nigeria, tailgating, or cars following “bumper to bumper” is a very common phenomenon. It is the cause of daily accidents especially in crowded cities like Lagos. You can always get useful safe driving tips at Naijauto’s safe driving section.
Adequate following distance increases safety margins when on the road
Several factors may affect the determination of what is a safe follow distance. They include:
- Speed (of both cars)
- Individual reaction times of drivers
- Type of vehicle (the heavier the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop)
- Road conditions
- Weather conditions (which can affect traction or grip, and visibility)
Many factors affect the ability of your car to make an emergency stop
You need to add one second for bad weather such as rainfall, and two seconds for extreme weather like a really heavy thunderstorm. Sometimes, even the condition of the vehicle itself can be an element in ensuring good safety limits. Naijauto offers great bargains for cars for sale as well as up-to-date maintenance advice online. That way, your vehicle is always ready to meet any and all road challenges.
It's your responsibility to make sure you have enough space all around you
Previously, the standard for following distance or safe driving distance used to be 20 feet for every 10 miles or 16 kilometers. This was about the period of the 60s. Later this was modified to the more practical 2-second rule. The 2-second rule basically said that at whatever speed you were driving, you needed to put a 2-second space/distance between your car and the one in front. It was based on the notion that 2 seconds would be adequate time to avoid a collision. This rule however failed in cases of speeds above 35 mph or 56 kmph. Subsequently, the variable following distance became the standard to measure safe distances between cars. This is still the standard today, and it adjusts the time lapse between cars according to incremental speed. In effect, under the variable rule, the faster you are travelling, the more time you need to allow between your car and the one in front.
Variable Following Distance Calculation:
| Speed | Follow Distance |
| 0-35mph / 56kmph | 2 seconds |
| 36-60mph / 58-96kmph | 3 seconds |
| 61mph / 98kmph and above | 4 seconds |
Methods to calculate the seconds rule
While driving, it’s not always practical to glance at a stopwatch in order to accurately determine you are spot on with the adequate second rule. There are other ways to do this that are still reliable:
- Time lapse: To do this, select a stationary object some distance in front. When the rear of the car in front of you passes that spot, start a measured count down in seconds until you arrive at that same spot. You will be off by a few nano-seconds, but it’s quite okay and still very reliable. If you hit the spot before your allotted seconds then you need to slow down to allow more of a gap between.
- Judging by eye: Only experienced drivers should attempt this, and even then it is a hit or miss. You can basically estimate the distance with your eye, based on how fast you and the car in front are travelling.
Stopping distance is equal to reaction time plus braking distance
Determining safe followig distances is easy using the tips above.
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