To
calculate a two-second space, follow these steps:
- Mark a point 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".
- When the front of your vehicle reaches the marker,
stop counting. If you reach the marker before you count
"one thousand and two," you are close and
need to maintain more distance.
Depending upon the weather and traffic conditions, try
to maintain more than two-second space. If a lighter vehicle
is ahead of you it will take lesser time to stop while
if a heavy vehicle is ahead of you it would be blocking
your view of the road ahead.
The factors that affect the stopping distance are load,
condition of the road surface, tyres, brakes, driver skill
and type of vehicle.
The vehicle travelling at a higher speed will take longer
distance to stop.
Drivers have to understand that however good a driver
they think they are and however good their car is, a vehicle
at a higher speed will take much longer distance to stop.
Safe Stopping Distance
Speed |
Thinking
distance |
Braking
distance |
Total stopping
distance |
| 40 kmph |
8 meters |
14 meters |
22 meters |
| 60 kmph |
12 meters |
30 meters |
42 meters |
| 90 kmph |
16 meters |
72 meters |
88 meters |
|
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