THE 3 SECOND RULE APPLIES

Many accidents occur every year due to drivers not leaving enough distance between themselves and the vehicle in front.

Braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point the brakes are applied to when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Road conditions, speed and weather conditions can all affect the time it takes for your car to come to a complete stop. Many cars have ABS antilock brakes which helps decrease braking distances on most road surfaces in most weather conditions, it prevents tyres locking and the car skidding. However, in order to get the most out of antilock brakes, you must know how to use them.

The thinking time that it takes an individual to respond to a hazard is the same regardless of speed. If you were in a car travelling at 60mph it would take around 4.6 seconds for you to stop the car. Therefore a 3 second rule applies. Guidelines suggest that you leave at least a 3 second gap between you and the car in front and even more of a gap when the weather is bad.

It is recommended that you get your car serviced regularly to make sure that your car is in good working order, particularly the brakes.

It is also recommended that drivers take the occasional refresher lesson with a qualified driving instructor, to get the most of out their driving ability and to eradicate any bad habits they may have picked up. This of course is something that Britannia can provide.

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