How to keep a safe distance when walking in the street?
If you do not keep a safe distance, you may crash into the car in front when the car in front stops suddenly.
According to regulations, when driving on the road, drivers must keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Where there is a sign "Minimum distance between two vehicles", drivers must keep a distance not less than the value indicated on the sign.
On roads without signs regulating safe distances, drivers must maintain distances as prescribed in Article 11, Circular 31/2019/TT-BGTVT. Specifically, in dry road conditions, safe distances are prescribed as follows:
- If the speed is 60km/h, the minimum safe distance is 35 meters.
- If the speed is from 60 - 80km/h, the minimum distance is 55 meters.
- If the vehicle speed reaches over 80 - 100km/h, the minimum safe distance is 70 meters.
- If the speed is above 100 - 120 km/h, the minimum safe distance is 100 meters.
- When driving at speeds below 60 km/h, such as in crowded streets, drivers must proactively maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. This distance depends on vehicle density and actual traffic conditions to ensure safety.
According to Article 12, Circular No. 31/2019/TT-BGTVT, in bad weather conditions such as rain, fog, slippery road surface, winding terrain, limited visibility... drivers must adjust the appropriate safe distance to be greater than the above distance.
Tips for determining safe distance from experienced drivers
When driving on the road, it is difficult for drivers to determine the exact distance from the vehicle in front. Calculating the distance is only relative, mostly based on experience.
On the corridors of some highways today, there are signs marked 0 meters, 50 meters, 70 meters, 100 meters... This can be considered a "measuring ruler" to help drivers determine the distance from the vehicle in front, thereby adjusting the safe distance accordingly.
For example, at the same time, the car behind is passing by with a license plate of 0 meters, and the car in front is passing by a license plate of 100 meters, then the distance between the two cars is equivalent to 100 meters.
A tip that many experienced drivers use to keep a safe distance is the "3-second" rule. The way to determine this is quite simple: the driver takes any landmark on the road such as a sign, bush, electric pole... The time difference between the car in front and the car behind when passing that landmark is equal to or greater than 3 seconds.
Research shows that 3 seconds is the necessary and sufficient time for a driver to stop the car safely after applying the brakes.
