Up close and (not so) personal.

Following distance....

The next time you are on a Motorway, Dual Carriageway or any road that carries faster moving traffic, check out the distance between you and the vehicle in front. 

Ask yourself........Could I Stop if........?

Many collisions on roads carrying faster moving traffic are attributed to driving   

too close.

So, why do people drive too close? 

• They are unaware of the recommended following distance
• They do not appreciate the danger's involved
• They place too much trust in their vehicle's safety equipment
• They place too much trust in their own reaction times
• They are rushing to get to their destination
• They do not want others to move into their space 
• They may want others to move out of their way
• They may be lacking concentration
• They may be involved in a road rage situation

First, let's clear up a motorway misconception....

" If I leave a 2 second gap another driver will move into it and I end up dropping back and losing time"

You do not lose any significant time by keeping your distance! 

If a driver moves into the space you are keeping you will obviously ease of the accelerator to maintain your safe distance, but over the course of your journey (10 miles or 100 miles) the time lost is insignificant.

In fact, by keeping your distance at all times you are in a better position to plan well ahead, which results in well timed decisions, especially when overtaking on motorways and dual carriageways.

So, what are the advantages of keeping your distance?

• You get to your destination safely
• You get to your destination!
• You can look and plan further ahead
• You can help to avoid motorway hold-ups.
• You feel much less tired and stressed
• You save fuel
• You save on vehicle maintenance costs
• Your passengers feel safe
• You are more visible to drivers' of larger vehicles
• You understand your vehicle's capabilities
• You understand reaction times
• You understand your vulnerability

How do we judge a safe distance?

You should allow a gap of at least 2 seconds (in good conditions) between you and the vehicle in front. This can be achieved by waiting for the vehicle in front to pass a stationary object such as a lamp-post, road sign or bridge etc. Then counting SLOWLY to three.

Or by reciting: 'One thousand and twenty one, one thousand and twenty two'.

You need to double this distance in wet weather conditions and leave up to ten times this distance if conditions are severe (snow, ice and fog)


Drivers of larger or heavier vehicles need to increase their following distance.

Your optimal following distance will soon become second nature after observing this advice.

And finally, some facts and visual conversions:

• Average driver reaction time is 0.7 seconds (alert and well rested)

• At 60mph you will travel 88 feet per second (26.82 metres)
• At 70mph you will travel 103 feet per second (30.48 metres)

• Overall stopping distance at 60 mph is 240 feet (73 metres)
• Overall stopping distance at 70 mph is 315 feet (96 metres)

• 315 feet relates to just over the distance between two countdown markers on a motorway or dual-carriageway slip road exit

• An average driver travelling at 70mph and reacting to slow or stationary traffic ahead will have used up a third or more of the distance between two countdown markers before beginning the process of braking!                      

Distance between each marker on approach to slip roads is 100 yards (300 feet)

Source: Highway code

                 Brake

                 RoSPA

                 

  

Under Pressure

How often do you check your tyre pressures?


Tyre pressures should be checked at fortnightly intervals and always before a long journey. 
Info for the correct pressures for your vehicle can be found in the vehicle handbook or very often on the inside of the driver or passenger door. Some vehicles have the info inside the fuel filler flap.
Check pressures when the tyres are cold (before a journey).
Don't forget to check the spare!


Under inflated tyres will:

• Heat up more quickly resulting in a possible blow-out!
• Reduce the tyre's contact patch on the road
• Increase your stopping distance
• Not perform as designed for wet, dry or icy conditions
• Increase your risk of aquaplaning
• Increase your risk of skidding
• Affect steering control and suspension
• Wear more quickly around the edges
• Use more fuel due to increased rolling resistance
• Increase the risk of a puncture

Over inflated tyres will:

• Reduce the tyre's contact patch on the road
• Increase your stopping distance
• Not perform as designed for wet, dry or icy conditions
• Increase your risk of aquaplaning
• Wear more quickly around the centre
• Affect steering control and suspension
• Put more stresses and strains on suspension
• Increase wheel, tyre and suspension damage from potholes
• Result in an uncomfortable ride

Check the diagram below to see the difference.

The tyre contact patch (the area that's in contact with the road) in an average car, with the correct pressures, is roughly equivalent to the size of a CD case.

If you can visualise this then you can see how under or over inflation can have a huge impact on your safety.

Visit http://www.tyresafe.org/ for more info or download the tyresafe app for iPhone to find the correct pressures for your vehicle.

Correct tyre pressures will keep you safe and save you money!

Tyre Talk.

New EU Tyre labelling


From 1st November 2012 a new EU tyre labelling system comes into force. 
This will allow you to choose tyres for your vehicle based on these three key areas:

• Wet braking performance
• Fuel efficiency
• External noise  

The labels will use the same format as those used on white goods, such as washing machines and fridges. 
It will be the responsibility of tyre distributors to ensure labels are either clearly visible to the end user or supply the information to users' themselves.
The main factor to consider here is safety versus cost! 

Driving on four tyres that are rated 'A' for wet braking performance will stop you up to 18 metres shorter (should you need to brake in an emergency) than four tyres that are 'G' rated.  


For fuel efficiency, choosing four 'A'-rated tyres over four 'G'-rated tyres
could reduce your fuel consumption by up to 7.5%.

Choosing tyres with the safety aspect and fuel efficiency in mind could save you more in the long run than buying cheaper alternatives.


You can find more details at:  

http://www.tyresafe.org/tyre-safety/tyre-labelling-information

White lines.

The next time you are out driving check out the length of the white lines in the middle of the carriageway. Longer white lines with shorter gaps are known as hazard warning lines and are used to help a driver identify hazards ahead such as bends and junctions or when approaching the brow of a hill.
Shorter white lines with longer gaps generally indicate a safer stretch of road; however, this is where oncoming vehicles could decide to overtake so look well ahead and try to anticipate other road users' intentions.

Country road observations

During the summer months, and especially after the recent rain many roadside verges are overgrown, which restricts our ability to make effective observations. 

Make sure you double check before committing to emerge and make a point of checking for motorcyclists who are extremely vulnerable at road junctions.

Wind down windows to improve your ability to assess the situation.

Try to anticipate the types of road users who are likely to be using country roads more frequently in good weather conditions.