[Road safety tips] How to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you?

Do you know that tailgating is a dangerous practise? According to recent research, tailgating is a contributing factor in more than one third of all crashes on the road and is one of our top causes of car accidents. 

Tailgating is when a driver follows the car in front too closely. It's important to always keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front because:

• You get a good view of the road.
• You are less likely to slam on the brakes when the vehicle in front stops suddenly.
• You will be able to see whether it's safe to overtake.

The following video was caught on BlackVue DR590-1CH, it shows that the driver was unable to stop in time as he is following too close to the truck in front. This resulted a crash with a serious damage to the vehicle with broken windscreen. 

A simple way to ensure a safe gap between you and the vehicle in front is to use the ‘two-second’ rule. As the vehicle in front of you passes a stationary object, such as a lamp post on the side of the road, start counting to yourself ‘one-thousand-and-one, one thousand-and-two’. This will take you 2 seconds. If you reach the same spot before you finish these eight words, you are following too closely and it is necessary to slow down. This rule will keep you at a safe following distance and will apply to all types of vehicles at any speed.

If the road condition is wet, it is recommended to keep a further distance with four-second rule so you are able to stop safely since the braking distance will increase. 

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