The 2-second rule is indeed a rule as it states you should maintain a distance of AT LEAST 2 seconds between yourself and the vehicle in front. It is a recommendation for a minimum safe stopping distance. In some conditions it's even recommended the this distance is doubled. Many thanks for the excellent videos. They are thoroughly enjoyable. I wonder if Mrs. L is an advanced driver?
Interesting to watch oncoming traffic in this video, where i'd suggest a large majority of cars are following each other at around HALF the distance you were following the white car ahead.............
Yes that's right but even his distance was not enough and if the car in front had come to a sudden and unexpected halt ahead of him without braking he would have had difficulty in stopping in time to avoid hitting him. TAILGATING is more common than people think and many don't even know of it or think that it is at all dangerous , possibly because they have been taught wrong whilst training for the test. Its 'the elephant in the room' which most people see but don't recognise possibly because being run in the back is called a mere 'shunt' and therefore is not dangerous, But it can and does kill.
I can think of a few other advantages of keeping a good following distance and not driving too close. It helps both you and the driver in front remain more relaxed; it sets a good example to drivers following you, so they're more likely to maintain a good distance as well, as most drivers are like sheep; and it helps other road users and pedestrians ahead get an earlier view of you. Also, at night your lights will not fill the mirrors of the vehicle in front.
He was the A59 travelling east and times he was as close as one lamp post to the car in front. That would be ok if doing 40 mph but that road tho it has some 40 mph limits is generally a 50 and 60 mph road so when the speed increases so should the distance and by being two lamp posts apart it means a much better view of the road circumstances ahead of the car in front that one could see more and also that others could could see you better as well. So the giving of space is a win win situation and we don't then get TAILGATERS but safer roads and travell for everyone.
I have subscribed and I think the Reg Local videos are extremely good. I have one question please. I was taught NEVER to stick my thumbs THROUGH the steering wheel, but always to locate them along the front of the upright of the steering wheel itself (assuming a 10 - 2 hold). This was because if you ever have a sudden front wheel puncture the road wheel can deflate very sharply and the steering wheel could "snatch" thus breaking your thumb. Could you please comment.
First of all the 2 second rule is only a guide line and in the H.C it does say that its a minimum guide line and that infers that at times like at higher speeds it should be more than the 2 second rule and so it could be 3 seconds or indeed more It could be anything greater than 2 or 3 seconds,. the more space the safer one will be. We are then asked to look for anything ????that we can see in which we can start a 2 second count ie 'only a fool breaks the two second rule ' and whilst he says that or something similar we should not be distracted from driving specifically we must look for something like a shadow ? etc. Why and what on earth for. All this time we are on a road with lamp posts on one or either side of the road and on the pavement. They are large things that stick out of the ground vertically and cannot be missed. They are designed to throw a consistent light down onto the road surface and therefore they are generally evenly spaced out with some slight exceptions for junctions etc when they could vary by a few metres but no more. . So we need to look no further for something to count to from one to another. In towns street lighting is not as far apart but still at 30 mph it's quite an adequate distance and is a good guide to the distance one should keep at that speed., Look at all the lamp posts on the video Lamp posts are generally 40 to 50 metres apart and so one can keep one lamp post apart at speeds of 30 and 40 mph. On main arterial roads leading out of towns etc there are still lamp posts and they again are similar distances apart give or take few on corners or bends etc and so one can give the space of two lamp posts at speeds of 50 and 60 mph. If on a motorway then there are the small distance markers painted white with some blue and red on them and they are all numbered and visible on the side of the hard shoulder and they are evenly spaced out also at 100 metres apart and that is about the stopping distance at 70 mph or if there are lamp posts then the distance to be given can be slightly more than two, so maybe at 2 and half would be a better distance to be safe. There are also the three blue and white marker posts for leaving the motorway and those again are spaced some 100 metres apart. There is some confusion with the chevrons painted on the motorway carriageways and as these are only 40 metres apart then one should be able to see and count 4 chevrons and therefore 3 distances between them adding up to 120 metres.and not just two to be a safe distance as 80 metres doesn't give enough safe stopping distance for vehicle traveling at 70 mph especially when some drivers are doing 80 or 90 mph plus on the motorways.
Hi Reg, lots of great info here and in the other video's. You mention about the 2 second following distance for light vehicles and then mention about HGV's which you don't follow up on. What is your safe following distance for HGV's and why? Thanks in advance, Paul.
Unfortunately i have many times experienced an overtake on a motorway and then when only some 20/30 feet ahead of me the overtaking vehicle has pulled back into my lane with or without indication and in front of me cutting me up and now i am tailgating him by being only 30 ft behind him and we are doing over 60 mph when the safe stopping distance should be some 240ft. Why do they do that even when there is no other traffic on the road except us two.??????
Reg, I’m curious why you advocate a 2-second gap except towards the exit of a right-hand bend (one and a half seconds). You explained the many advantages of a ‘following position’ two seconds behind the target vehicle. So, why would you sacrifice half a second of your safety bubble on the exit of a right-hander?
Mark, the best opportunity for an overtake is coming off a right-hand bend. Closing up slightly on approach, combined with a move to the nearside allows you to maximise your view & take the earliest opportunity to overtake when it presents itself. It’s only a momentary closing of the gap, followed either by an overtake, or immediately dropping back to 2 seconds.
@@RegLocal Unfortunately what you are doing is actually TAILGATING as you cannot guarantee to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear [ against the golden rule of driving at a speed and at a distance being able to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear and on your side of the road.] One must always keep a distance and at a speed that you can stop in that distance and on your side of the road.If not its an offence under S.2 or 3 of the RTA 1960. Too many drivers are taught to move closer to the vehicle in front to be overtaken and more particularly more dangerous when closer behind on bends as our brakes don't work as efficiently and if we need to emergency brake we are more than likely to cause an accident and that not right.
REMEMBER THE 2 SECOND RULE DOES NOT APPLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. ONE MUST THEN ADOPT A MORE THAN THE TWO SECOND RULE AND BE AT LEAST 3 SECOND BEHIND OR 2 LAMP POSTS APART. Being 2 seconds is not enough safe space to stop in at higher speeds.
The 2-second rule is indeed a rule as it states you should maintain a distance of AT LEAST 2 seconds between yourself and the vehicle in front. It is a recommendation for a minimum safe stopping distance. In some conditions it's even recommended the this distance is doubled. Many thanks for the excellent videos. They are thoroughly enjoyable.
I wonder if Mrs. L is an advanced driver?
During this video, especalily when approaching the ATC, would you have used hazard indicators as a indication to following traffic ?
Interesting to watch oncoming traffic in this video, where i'd suggest a large majority of cars are following each other at around HALF the distance you were following the white car ahead.............
Yes that's right but even his distance was not enough and if the car in front had come to a sudden and unexpected halt ahead of him without braking he would have had difficulty in stopping in time to avoid hitting him. TAILGATING is more common than people think and many don't even know of it or think that it is at all dangerous , possibly because they have been taught wrong whilst training for the test. Its 'the elephant in the room' which most people see but don't recognise possibly because being run in the back is called a mere 'shunt' and therefore is not dangerous, But it can and does kill.
I can think of a few other advantages of keeping a good following distance and not driving too close. It helps both you and the driver in front remain more relaxed; it sets a good example to drivers following you, so they're more likely to maintain a good distance as well, as most drivers are like sheep; and it helps other road users and pedestrians ahead get an earlier view of you. Also, at night your lights will not fill the mirrors of the vehicle in front.
He was the A59 travelling east and times he was as close as one lamp post to the car in front. That would be ok if doing 40 mph but that road tho it has some 40 mph limits is generally a 50 and 60 mph road so when the speed increases so should the distance and by being two lamp posts apart it means a much better view of the road circumstances ahead of the car in front that one could see more and also that others could could see you better as well. So the giving of space is a win win situation and we don't then get TAILGATERS but safer roads and travell for everyone.
I have subscribed and I think the Reg Local videos are extremely good. I have one question please. I was taught NEVER to stick my thumbs THROUGH the steering wheel, but always to locate them along the front of the upright of the steering wheel itself (assuming a 10 - 2 hold). This was because if you ever have a sudden front wheel puncture the road wheel can deflate very sharply and the steering wheel could "snatch" thus breaking your thumb. Could you please comment.
Me too, never put thumbs around the wheel, advanced police training in the 1960s.
Another great video to go with your great books.
First of all the 2 second rule is only a guide line and in the H.C it does say that its a minimum guide line and that infers that at times like at higher speeds it should be more than the 2 second rule and so it could be 3 seconds or indeed more It could be anything greater than 2 or 3 seconds,. the more space the safer one will be. We are then asked to look for anything ????that we can see in which we can start a 2 second count ie 'only a fool breaks the two second rule ' and whilst he says that or something similar we should not be distracted from driving specifically we must look for something like a shadow ? etc. Why and what on earth for. All this time we are on a road with lamp posts on one or either side of the road and on the pavement. They are large things that stick out of the ground vertically and cannot be missed. They are designed to throw a consistent light down onto the road surface and therefore they are generally evenly spaced out with some slight exceptions for junctions etc when they could vary by a few metres but no more. .
So we need to look no further for something to count to from one to another. In towns street lighting is not as far apart but still at 30 mph it's quite an adequate distance and is a good guide to the distance one should keep at that speed., Look at all the lamp posts on the video Lamp posts are generally 40 to 50 metres apart and so one can keep one lamp post apart at speeds of 30 and 40 mph. On main arterial roads leading out of towns etc there are still lamp posts and they again are similar distances apart give or take few on corners or bends etc and so one can give the space of two lamp posts at speeds of 50 and 60 mph.
If on a motorway then there are the small distance markers painted white with some blue and red on them and they are all numbered and visible on the side of the hard shoulder and they are evenly spaced out also at 100 metres apart and that is about the stopping distance at 70 mph or if there are lamp posts then the distance to be given can be slightly more than two, so maybe at 2 and half would be a better distance to be safe. There are also the three blue and white marker posts for leaving the motorway and those again are spaced some 100 metres apart.
There is some confusion with the chevrons painted on the motorway carriageways and as these are only 40 metres apart then one should be able to see and count 4 chevrons and therefore 3 distances between them adding up to 120 metres.and not just two to be a safe distance as 80 metres doesn't give enough safe stopping distance for vehicle traveling at 70 mph especially when some drivers are doing 80 or 90 mph plus on the motorways.
I've just been down the A59 this afternoon and there was plastic fencing across the road at the Clitheroe roundabout to close it off. Now I know why.
Hi Reg, lots of great info here and in the other video's. You mention about the 2 second following distance for light vehicles and then mention about HGV's which you don't follow up on. What is your safe following distance for HGV's and why? Thanks in advance, Paul.
It depends on the size of the vehicle - the larger the vehicle, the longer the following position should be to avoid losing your view ahead.
just wondering what is your definition of extended following position and can you clarify the overtaking position ? Cheers. Great content !
Can I offer a 6th?
If a following vehicle overtakes, THEY have somewhere safe to go with minimal if any effect on you.
Unfortunately i have many times experienced an overtake on a motorway and then when only some 20/30 feet ahead of me the overtaking vehicle has pulled back into my lane with or without indication and in front of me cutting me up and now i am tailgating him by being only 30 ft behind him and we are doing over 60 mph when the safe stopping distance should be some 240ft. Why do they do that even when there is no other traffic on the road except us two.??????
I think that was the second RTC in the past week at that junction.
Reg, I’m curious why you advocate a 2-second gap except towards the exit of a right-hand bend (one and a half seconds). You explained the many advantages of a ‘following position’ two seconds behind the target vehicle. So, why would you sacrifice half a second of your safety bubble on the exit of a right-hander?
Mark, the best opportunity for an overtake is coming off a right-hand bend. Closing up slightly on approach, combined with a move to the nearside allows you to maximise your view & take the earliest opportunity to overtake when it presents itself. It’s only a momentary closing of the gap, followed either by an overtake, or immediately dropping back to 2 seconds.
@@RegLocal Unfortunately what you are doing is actually TAILGATING as you cannot guarantee to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear [ against the golden rule of driving at a speed and at a distance being able to stop in the distance that you can see to be clear and on your side of the road.] One must always keep a distance and at a speed that you can stop in that distance and on your side of the road.If not its an offence under S.2 or 3 of the RTA 1960. Too many drivers are taught to move closer to the vehicle in front to be overtaken and more particularly more dangerous when closer behind on bends as our brakes don't work as efficiently and if we need to emergency brake we are more than likely to cause an accident and that not right.
REMEMBER THE 2 SECOND RULE DOES NOT APPLY AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. ONE MUST THEN ADOPT A MORE THAN THE TWO SECOND RULE AND BE AT LEAST 3 SECOND BEHIND OR 2 LAMP POSTS APART. Being 2 seconds is not enough safe space to stop in at higher speeds.
Is overtaking a vehicle safely a skill you need to show on the test? Sorry if that's a silly question.
th-cam.com/video/iilcpg9RQe4/w-d-xo.html
Only a fool breaks the two second rule.
If it's wet on the floor increase to four.
To avoid a shunt don't drive like an idiot.