Driving a vehicle involves a series of responsibilities to ensure the safety of road users as much as possible. The safety distance is one of the most important elements for this.
When we circulate with a vehicle, we must take into account at all times not only the vehicles that are around us, but also the characteristics of the road and our own vehicle.
It is not the same to drive with heavy traffic on a wet highway and with a truck than to do it alone on a secondary road on a sunny day with a car. In both cases we must adapt our driving to the circumstances to circulate safely and without mishaps.
To avoid a hit, it takes at least two seconds between vehicles, which the driver can calculate by pronouncing “1101, 1102”
In that sense, safety distance it is vital and, furthermore, it depends on all these factors. The safety distance between vehicles is a protective separation that prevents collision in an emergency.
Let’s take as an example that we are driving on a highway at about 100 km / h on a rainy day and, suddenly, there is a braking in front. If we have not respected the necessary safety distance, We will collide with the vehicle in front or we will get off the track trying to avoid it.
To calculate the safety distance that we need at all times, we must take into account the following aspects:
- Type of road: the worse the visibility and the road surface, the greater the safety distance must be.
- Track speed: the higher the speed, the greater the safety distance to compensate for the increased stopping distance.
- Asphalt condition: the more irregular, dirty and wet, the worse our vehicle will brake and the greater the safety distance we must respect.
- Car type and driver capacity: heavy or loaded vehicles take longer to brake, although they tend to go slower. This combination must be carefully considered, in conjunction with our own reaction capabilities.
How to calculate the safety distance
You are not always aware of whether the safety distance you keep with respect to the preceding vehicle is sufficient. Not surprisingly, annually rear and multiple collisions cause more than 20,000 accidents, with hundreds of deceased people.
As explained by the DGT, to avoid a reach, at least two seconds of difference between vehicles are necessary, which the driver can calculate by pronouncing “1101, 1102” relative to a fixed point on the road.
But be very careful: two seconds may be insufficient when braking very hard, in bad weather or wet asphalt and, in these circumstances, you will have to extend the distance to three or more seconds. At 120 km / h, on a dry road, the safe separation is 144 meters. With the wet road, it is double: 288 meters.
In addition, when we are driving on a road with one lane in each direction and we do not intend to overtake other vehicles, we must leave more safety distance with the one in front so that others can perform the maneuver Safely.
Fine for not respecting the safety distance
The penalty for not respecting the safety distance is one of the highest collected by the Traffic Law. And it is that they can fine us with 500 euros economic fine, also withdrawing six points driving license.
Thus, if your own safety and that of the rest of the road users do not finish making you aware of the importance of respecting the safety distance, think about the serious damage that a fine of this type will cause to your pocket.