6.4 Avoiding Problems on the Road

Hazards on the road are inevitable. Although you may do everything right to be a defensive driver, you cannot control what the drivers around you may do. Keeping this in mind, we will examine different precautions that you can take to help eliminate the dangers that could be caused by other drivers.

Maintaining a Safe Following Distance

Most rear-end collisions are caused by drivers following too closely. Although you may feel in control of your vehicle, you cannot control sudden breaking by the car in front on you. For this reason, you should always maintain a safe following distance.

To create the proper distance between you and the vehicle ahead, use the “three-second-rule.” When the vehicle ahead of you passes a reference point, such as a sign, count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three.” If you pass the reference point before you finish counting, you are following too close.

You should allow a four-second cushion when:

Being crowded by a tailgater.
Driving on slippery roads.
Following motorcyclists on wet or icy roads, on metal surfaces, and on gravel. Motorcyclists can fall more easily on these surfaces.
The driver behind you wants to pass. Allow room in front of your vehicle so the driver will have space to move in front of you.
Towing a trailer or carrying a heavy load. The extra weight makes it harder to stop.
Following large vehicles that block your view ahead. The extra space allows you to see aroud the vehicle.
You see a bus, school bus, or a placarded vehicle at railroad crossings. These vehicles must stop at railroad crossings, so slow down early and allow plenty of room.
Merging onto a freeway.

At faster speeds, the distance you travel will be greater, but the ‘count’ will stay the same. At 35 mph, you will travel 50 feet per second, so three seconds would be about 150 feet. At 55 mph you will travel 80-feet-per second, so three seconds will be about 240 feet.

Increase this following distance to four seconds when driving in adverse conditions, when following a potentially drunk driver, when following a truck or motorcycle, or when you encounter any unusual situations.

Never stop your vehicle on a roadway and block the normal movement of traffic when you are attempting to increase your following distance, unless it is necessary for safe operation, or in obedience to a law, or emergency situation.

Allowing More Space Behind Motorcycles

When driving near a motorcycle, you should respect the motorcyclist. Remember, motorcycles are vehicles with all the privileges of any vehicle on the road. Also, keep in mind that motorcycles fall more often on wet or icy roads, on metal surfaces, such as bridge gratings or railroad tracks and on gravel. As a result, you should give the motorcyclist the full lane of travel and increase your following distance behind them.

A motorcycle rider has little protection from being struck by another vehicle. As a driver, you have the ability to help protect their safety by following these tips:

Signal and execute your maneuvers well in advance to communicate your intentions to the motorcycle rider.
Watch for motorcycles on the highway, at intersections, and when they make left turns or lane changes.
Allow enough room for motorcyclists to take evasive actions.
Anticipate a motorcyclist’s maneuvers, such as traveling between lanes of traffic.

Avoid Driving in Blind Spots of Other Vehicles

The space to the side of your car is also important. While you cannot control another vehicle, you can control where you are in relation to the other vehicle. Never place your car in a position where the other driver cannot see you in his mirrors or drive in the other driver’s blind spot.

When driving on the roadway with large trucks, you should keep in mind that if you cannot see the driver in his mirror, he cannot see you. Although trucks are equipped with up to eight mirrors, it is still easy for a car to be in their blind spot. You should also use the same precautions with large recreational vehicles (RV’s).

Tips to consider when sharing the road with trucks:

Do not travel in a truck’s blind spot, especially if you drive a small car. This means you should avoid driving along the right or left of the truck.
The blind spot on the right is particularly large. A truck driver will probably not be able to see you at all if you drive near the right front tire.
When you tailgate a truck, you are also in its blind spot.

If you plan to pass a large truck, you should start your pass farther back than you would when passing a car. You will need the extra room to complete the pass because of the truck’s length. Also, be sure you have a clear path in the road ahead, with plenty of space to spare. Keep as much distance from a truck as possible when one is passing you, or you are passing the truck.

Large trucks have a harder time braking on a slippery surface due to their size. Also keep in mind that your vision may be impaired by spray from a passing truck, if there is standing water on the road. For this reason, you should maintain as much distance from the truck as possible, while staying your lane.

If you are traveling down a mountain road or long downgrade, and a truck comes up behind you at a high speed, get out of the way as soon as possible. They truck may have lost its brakes and could potentially collide with you if you do not move.

When driving next to a large truck, always keep in mind that due to their size, they will need to make a wide turn when making a right turn. When a large truck signals to make a right turn, they might start moving to the left. Avoid driving close to their right side and stay out of their way. If you are not careful, you may collide with their trailer if you get caught between the truck and the curb.

Planning on an Evasive Action

To be a defensive driver, you must manage the space between yourself and other drivers. This will ensure you have room to make changes in maneuvering and to react to changes in traffic around you. You should look far ahead of and behind you, and plan lane changes and turns well ahead of time.

To ensure that you have enough time to react to changes in the traffic ahead, use the three-second-rule for following distance. Also, you should allow for adequate visual lead-time, usually about ten to fifteen seconds, to ensure quick identification of potential dangers on the road ahead. You can also prevent collisions by keeping your eyes moving, continually scanning your driving environment.

Elements to Consider

Things often found on or near the road can also limit what you see. Watch for any obstruction on, or near the highway where you have less than full vision. When vision is limited, prepare yourself by covering your brake and be ready to stop. Objects of almost any size may hide hazards from your view. Some examples include:

A tree, shrubbery or truck could hide a pedestrian.
A collision up ahead or other collision potentials.
Signboards or buildings can also block a large vehicle or other hazards.

As you drive, search the road for hazards that might cause a problem and plan your moves in time to avoid a collision with cars around you. Always check your mirrors and look over your shoulder when making a lane change. While driving, watch the road and the vehicles around you, also taking into consideration the conditions of the road and environmental hazards, so that you are prepared to respond safely.

Daytime Headlight Usage

It is the law that you must turn on your low- beam headlights whenever you are using your windshield wipers. This increases the visibility of your vehicle to other drivers. Even on clear and sunny days, driving with your low-beam headlights on increases your vehicle’s visibility. Driving with headlights on during the day reduces your chance of collision by about 25%, because other drivers can see you from at least 1/2 mile ahead.

Avoiding Lane Changes Near Intersections

Although it is not a violation of the Vehicle Code, changing lanes within or near an intersection is a dangerous maneuver. Other vehicles may be preparing to make a turn and can get confused if you change lanes in an intersection.