What is the safe distance to maintain when walking in the city?
If you don't maintain a safe distance, you're very likely to crash into the car in front if it stops suddenly.
According to regulations, when driving on public roads, drivers must maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Where there is a "Minimum distance between two vehicles" sign, drivers must maintain a distance no less than the value indicated on the sign.
On roads without signs specifying safe distances, drivers must maintain the distance as stipulated in Article 11 of Circular 31/2019/TT-BGTVT. Specifically, under dry road conditions, the safe distance is defined as follows:
- If the speed is 60 km/h, the minimum safe distance is 35 meters.
- If the speed is between 60 and 80 km/h, the minimum distance is 55 meters.
- If the vehicle speed is above 80-100 km/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 congested city streets, drivers must proactively maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. This distance depends on the density of vehicles and the actual traffic situation to ensure safety.
According to Article 12 of Circular No. 31/2019/TT-BGTVT, in adverse weather conditions such as rain, fog, slippery road surfaces, winding terrain, limited visibility, etc., drivers must adjust the appropriate safe distance to be greater than the distance specified.
Tips for determining a safe distance from experienced drivers.
When driving on the road, it is very difficult for drivers to determine the exact distance to the vehicle in front. Judging distance is only approximate and mostly relies on experience.
Along some highways, there are signs indicating distances of 0 meters, 50 meters, 70 meters, 100 meters, etc. These can be considered "measuring tools" to help drivers determine the distance to the vehicle in front, and adjust to a safe distance accordingly.
For example, if at the same time the car behind is 0 meters ahead of the license plate, and the car in front is 100 meters ahead of the license plate, then the two cars are approximately 100 meters apart.
One tip used by many experienced drivers to maintain a safe distance is the "3-second rule." The method is quite simple: drivers choose any landmark on the road, such as a sign, bush, or lamppost. The time difference between the car in front and the car behind when both pass that landmark is equal to or greater than 3 seconds.
Studies show that 3 seconds is the necessary and sufficient time for a driver to safely stop a vehicle after applying the brakes.
