An important factor in avoiding a car accident is to maintain the correct safety distance between 2 vehicles. Here's how to put one together for use with your guide.

The traffic code (COKE) in Article 19,
paragraph 2 states that:

The driver must adjust the speed of his vehicle constantly taking into account the prevailing conditions, especially the terrain, the condition and characteristics of the road, the condition and load of his vehicle, weather conditions and traffic conditions. in such a way that it is able to interrupt the course of its vehicle in the face of any obstacle that may be encountered and which is located in the visible front of the road. He is also required to reduce the speed of his vehicle and, if necessary, to interrupt his course when circumstances so require.

What is considered the correct safety distance and what is the correct stopping distance of a vehicle?

The situation in which a driver is at any given time can change the time it takes to react properly and avoid a possible collision with some obstacles.

Time translates to vital car immobilization measures.

Have you ever wondered how many meters the car travels per second?

For example, if you drive at 50 km / h you drive 13,9 meters per second, while if you drive at 100 km / h you drive 27,8 meters per second.

But what is the right safety distance between two vehicles?

The correct safety distance between two vehicles is at least two (2) and more seconds.

However, in order to maintain the ideal safety distance as much as possible, you must keep the following in mind:

During driving, the human brain processes and classifies a wealth of information that it receives from the environment. (images, sounds, etc.).

Once the average driver sees one or more obstacles, it takes some time to realize the danger and react.

So it takes extra time for the brain to transfer the right commands to the upper and lower extremities and make the necessary manipulations.

From the time the brake command is transmitted to the driver's foot to the brake pedal and pressure, it also takes time for the vehicle's braking system to fully respond.

So in case the vehicle in front suddenly brakes (panic wheel brake), then we must have a distance of at least equal (> =) with the one passing the car in a second with the speed moving at that time.

Eg: If you are moving at 100 km / h then you are obliged to be 28 meters away from the vehicle in front.

Of course, this is never enough, as you have to take another second into account (ie according to the above example another 28 meters), which you need from the moment you realize the danger, until the moment you press the pedal pedal.

Therefore, reasonable reaction time is required.

So in total this translates to two (2) seconds at least or based on the above example at a distance of 56 meters from the vehicle in front, if you want to be safe and have the right stopping distance to avoid a possible car accident.

The above calculations for the correct stopping distance are general and do not apply in each case.

Important factors, such as the condition of the road, the tires and each car, vary depending on the circumstances.

Weather conditions are paramount in the whole situation
(cf.Learn the 2 basic precautions before driving on wet roads.).

At this point it should be emphasized that the above reasonable reaction time is not always the same especially when driving at night. (cf. 5 Reasons why night driving is considered the weakest link at your helm) or while driving under the influence of alcohol (cf. 5 Truths about alcohol consumption that will make you think again before driving) where visibility is significantly reduced.

Even if the brakes of your vehicle are top notch as well as your tires if the correct safety distance is not observed, it is almost a given that you will stop at the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

The required braking distance is relative and depends on many factors, which constantly change as vehicles move.

Specialist German scientists in traffic accident analysis and analysis ( DEKRA is one of the leading companies in matters of know-how) managed to divide the behavior of the drivers in the following time phases:

- Up to 0,48 seconds it takes the driver to realize the danger.

- An additional 0,45 seconds is required until he can move his foot off the accelerator pedal and move it left to the foot brake.

- After 0,19 seconds the foot comes in contact with the foot brake and begins to push it down.

- 0,17 seconds until the car starts to brake.

While it may seem ridiculous that whole research and analysis is done on fractions of a second, you should seriously consider that it often depends on the guilt and innocence of a driver, because they are one of the most basic criteria for whether there was a possibility of avoidance. of a car accident.

When the car's speed is doubled, the stopping distance is quadrupled.

Therefore, maintaining the correct safety distance while driving protects you from getting involved in a car accident.