Stay Safe on the Road: Tips for Maintaining a Safe Following Distance

Driving is a risky endeavor, though the amount of risk varies depending on different factors. The way you drive and your willingness to follow the traffic rules play an important role in reducing the risks associated with driving.

One of the most basic traffic rules that can reduce the risk of collisions is maintaining a safe following distance. It is one of the first things that driving schools teach the students in their initial driving lessons.

But, after getting their driving licenses, most people forget all about this rule in their arrogance. To reduce journey time, people often take risks like reducing following distances and driving recklessly. This is neither advised nor allowed. Indeed, breaking this rule results in a penalty and allocation of demerit points in Australia.

Hence, it is always better to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front to reduce risk as well as avoid penalties. Here are some tips to maintain an acceptable following distance when driving in Australia:

According to the 3-second rule, you should be at a distance of 3 seconds from the vehicle in front of you. The best way to find out if you’re at a safe 3-second distance is to use a method to check your position. To do this, you should select a stationary object on the road ahead as your point of reference. When the vehicle in front of you passes this object, start counting in your head until you pass the same reference object. If you pass it before reaching three seconds, you need to increase your distance.

If you’re experiencing bad weather or other difficult conditions while driving, it is important to keep a longer following distance. In snowy conditions or wet roads, the wheels don’t get enough traction on the road. That’s why vehicles need more time and distance to stop compared to normal road conditions. To account for this, try and keep a distance of 4-6 seconds in bad weather or road conditions.

Distractions can cause you much harm while driving. Avoid any activity that takes your focus away from the wheel, whether it’s eating, listening to music, or adjusting the navigation. When on highways and freeways, try to maintain a longer following distance as the vehicles are driving at high speed. Similarly, keep longer distances when driving in the city to account for the frequent starting and stopping of vehicles ahead. Even potholes on the road or other obstacles can affect your speed so maintaining a longer distance is safer. You can go for a Safer Drivers Course to learn more about driving safely and reducing risks when on the road.

Your vehicle’s size and capabilities are also important factors that determine the correct stopping distance. For example, a truck requires more distance to stop compared to a car. Similarly, if you’re carrying a huge load, you should opt for longer following distances. Big vehicles have bigger blind spots which should also be considered when deciding on the appropriate following distance.

The main reason for keeping a comfortable distance from other vehicles is to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions and keep ample time to stop safely if needed. However, there’s another reason why maintaining a safe distance is always advised. If you reduce the distance between vehicles, it can also be considered tailgating. Usually done when an individual is in a hurry or frustrated, tailgating can have adverse effects. It puts pressure on the driver ahead of you and also decreases your time for reacting to a hazard. Driving schools often focus on encouraging new drivers to avoid tailgating to prevent accidents or road rage cases.

The best thing to do when trying to keep a safe following distance is to adapt your driving according to the traffic flow. Pay attention to the speed and behavior of other vehicles around you along with the road environment and adjust your distance accordingly.

Checking your mirrors, both rear view and side-view ones, regularly will help you stay aware of the traffic behind you. It will also alert you of any tailgaters and help you to maintain a safe gap from the vehicles behind or ahead of you.

One of the most important aspects of safe driving is keeping a safe following distance. Not only does it prevent you from becoming a tailgater, but it also reduces the risk of accidents significantly. Safety is not just one person or organisation’s responsibility. Everyone on the road has to maintain and improve road safety. Driving Schools like Onroad try to tailor their lessons to emphasise safer driving practices and instil a safety-first approach in new drivers. Let us all work together to make our driving better and our roads safer!