Bumper to bumper driving can be a danger not only to yourself but to others around you. As part of practising safe driving its essential to leave plenty of space between you and the other cars out on the road. This is where the three second rule comes into play; the three second rule can be applied by finding a stationary object on the road and counting the seconds from when the car ahead of you passes the object. The aim is for your car to pass the same object at least three seconds later so that there is plenty of time and space for you to stop safely should the unexpected occur.

When driving in the dark or when out on the roads in adverse weather conditions, drivers will want to bump up the three second rule to leave six seconds between your vehicle and those up ahead. Those six seconds in icy or wet weather can truly make all the difference when it comes to applying the brakes and stopping safely without touching another car.

The three second rule may seem tricky to grasp at first, but with plenty of behind the wheel experience under your belt this will soon become second instinct and you will know intuitively when it’s time to fall back. Driving round bends, cruising up and down side streets and heading for intersections are the times when you need to be savvy about practising the three second rule.

So why is the three second rule so important? The truth is that out on the road you never know what to expect. Sometimes even if you are driving slowly, safely and in complete awareness of what is going on around you, other drivers can be problematic. Leaving plenty of distance between you and the flow of traffic can ensure that should a car ahead slam on the brakes or make a sudden turn that you have plenty of time to stop without being involved in a collision.

Leaving plenty of room on the road is without a doubt one of the safest ways to drive and will also help quell the nerves of other drivers, especially new drivers. We have all been in that scenario where another car gets to close and tailgates and we all know how uncomfortable that can be. Tailgaters can cause accidents as they push other drivers into making moves they don’t want. When it comes to your own driving don’t let other drivers bully you into speeding up and putting your own life at risk.

Even in heavy traffic the three second rule should always be at the forefront of your mind as you never know when someone will need to slam down on the brakes. The three second rule can help everyone on the road to avoid the domino effect and reduce the risk of bumper to rear collisions. For drivers who want to play safe the three second rule should be your gospel and if everyone would take on the responsibility of not following too closely, the roads could become a calmer place for all.