The 2 Second Rule - Tailgaters

Increase the following distance to reduce car insurance accident claims

The so called “fender bender” car accidents are perhaps the biggest contributor to claims from car insurance. This becomes especially evident during rainy weather on our urban roads. Why are these accidents such a big threat to vehicle safety?

When drivers follow too closely behind other vehicles, they limit their forward vision and are not able to spot potential emergencies unfolding. By the time they see the problem, it’s too late to do anything about it.



It is said that at 120km/h, the combination of a driver’s reaction time and the vehicle’s stopping distance could be as much as six seconds. Few drivers however keep an ample following distance, meaning they are unable to successfully avoid an incident like the driver ahead of them having a head-on collision.

It is advised that drivers keep at least a two to three second following distance from the cars ahead of them. This would give drivers a time cushion to swerve round someone else’s crash. A longer following distance could also allow them to use their vision creatively and to start predicting things they can’t actually see.

On the Arrive Alive website we refer to the “2 Second Rule” in a section on Following Distances and Road Safety. We would like to quote:


“The 2 Second Rule”

Most International road safety campaigns refer to the “2 Second Rule” as a guideline for safe following distances. A point on the road is noted, two seconds are counted, and if that point is still visible then there’s probably enough following distance.


The 2 Second Rule is applied as follows:

- Watch the vehicle in front of you pass a landmark – such as a sign, tree, or power pole – at the side of the road.
- As it passes the landmark, start counting “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”.
- This rule will ensure that you keep the correct following distance, no matter what speed you are travelling at.



If you pass the landmark before you finish saying all eight words, you are following too closely. Slow down, pick another landmark and repeat the words, to make sure you have increased your following distance.


The "2 second rule" helps you determine a safe following distance in ideal driving conditions. Due to slower reaction time, older drivers should use the "3 second rule".

- Pick a marker on the road ahead, such as a road sign or telephone pole
- When the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the marker, count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two and one thousand and three"
- When the front of your car reaches the marker, stop counting


Source:
- http://carinsurance.arrivealive.co.za
- http://www.mto.gov.on.ca

Unfortunately... many people don't bother... I had my share of morons ramming into my truck for the last 2 years. Each time I will claim lots of $$$$ for repairs. There will be a few who begged for mercy before reporting them the cops.

No mercy from me... regardless if u have money or not. Accident is an accident. No shortcuts.

exactly .. example http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1800371

i remember studying about this 2 second rules when I take my undang donkeys years ago, 1996 i think

doesn't they teach this anymore?
or most of the drivers nowadays just pay the kopiO to get their license?

Yeah .. but i dont think they teach or reminding new fellow drivers about this .. i remembered the instructor explained about every single aspect or road attitudes when i attain my first driver's license back in the 1996 ..

most new drivers are not aware of this and there are some with as u said above ..

The radio announcers used to mention the 2 second rule ages ago, but nowadays they don't cos ppl have 2 second attention spans.

Eitherway, in this country, rules don't exist, only loosely enforced suggestions.

Always with stupid excuse 'eh why you brake suddenly?'

So easy to get license... a driving school quoted me RM 1.9k everything and 100% guarantee pass. Cannot read also never mind and as long u can fork out the money, guarantee pass too.

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Added on March 21, 2011, 3:58 pmScold the f***er back... "Why u didn't see my car? Blind ah? My grandpa can drive better than u!"

This post has been edited by acbc: Mar 21 2011, 03:58 PM

I usually keep 1-2 car distance depending on speed and whether im sleepy or not By the way, they still teach the 2/3 second rule in driving exam when I took my exam last April.

.. 1.9k .. the time i took my B2 and D is just RM170+

Must also include tyres and brake pad.

You will be surprised how little people know that tyres are also important for braking.

hmmm this...yea it exist..but most of the time..we all do tailgating..despite the warning..= ="...

unfortunately this 2 sec. rule cannot be apply if i drive on traffic congested road, otherwise people from behind will think that i hog the road and start to overtake because they saw the gap infront of me..

i drove fast enough so that i don't have to think about distance in front.

sleepy better pull over in safe and rest... later fallasleep

agree, this could lead to accidents and casualties

I recalled paying half the quoted cost back in 1996.

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Added on March 21, 2011, 6:51 pmBetter don't drive... if not, someone might give u an air horn... of which u will panic and lose control of the car.

This post has been edited by acbc: Mar 21 2011, 06:51 PM

you are wrong.. it's measured by time... not distance...

this shows that you phail your license and physics.

if wanna tail gate, make sure ur reflex and brakes is good...

if there's no cars in front of you and the car behind is so close to you, you are hogging the road.

i see more road hogs these days than tailgaters.

mostly is uncle auntie...old type one
they're on the right side of the road and in front of them not just 2 sec...more like 1-2 min
they did it on purpose

And tats again a common sense on the road use .. and I do hate the speed of 80km/h on the fast lane .. drive slow on slow / middle lane is fine, but some motorists are ignorant and turtling in fast lane

80KM/H...80KM/H already consider fast on our road
those auntie uncle are doing 40-60KM/H on the right lane
no more than that

i hate those people where you're doing 120kph, there are tonnes of cars to your left, and then suddenly someone from damn far away doing at least 180kph and flashing madly all the way until behind you. the moment lepas the cars on the left, you have to swerve left already because the fella just isn't slowing down one second also.

most suck is, horn them and they still act like nothing happen

that's why i say they're doing it on purpose
u flash them they dn't see it's ok
but if i honk them...they can't hear is impossible...did it on purpose

120? what the heck are you doing on third lane? stick with middle lane.

damn road hogger.

second that. damn road hogger.

Hate those road hoggers as well Just morning met this car doing 60km/h at penchala link from mutiara damansara heading towards my home. Damn..that person was hogging the right lane. Overtook him from the left lane at the corner

u forgot to do something... next time show him ur middle finger too

110kmph speed limit is recipe for accident ... makes people feel sleepy ..

Don't need to follow speed limit one. But pandai-pandailah As for me , I cant do that yet, still under probation

Your reflex good, others reflex suck, still same shit.. GG.

there will be a gap if we follow this 2 sec. rule, only idiot like u will think otherwise

lol cant do anything about it
so take risk and overtake from left lo
those uncles and aunties with nissan sunny cannot be challenged
later buntut bumper gone, taulah sunny manyak keras

hey brothers, I always do 180km/h. All of you who do less than that are automatically under "road hogger" category in my definition. Go drive in left/middle lane.

This post has been edited by victor_hoh: Mar 22 2011, 09:26 PM

if they drive old car like nissan sunny...i'm fine ...maybe their car doesn't work that well
but the fact that they're driving new car like myvi, rav4, toyota camry, hilux...etc

agreed. i do drive on the middle lane. all the time.

today champion, exit NPE toll coming from Sg. Besi.. this makcik bertudung in Waja travelling damn slow in middle lane.. the car in front of her is like half a minute away... right lane clear.. so naturally i was going to overtake her at 120km/h lah. you know what she do? go to fast lane!

tailgaters is a thing of the past, welcome to 2011 where road hoggers rule the road!

wow... she thought that she was in F1 race, defending her position!

the worst about road hogger is after u flash and horn them, they try to play with you. KNN!!

just rammed their car butt