In this opinion piece, James Gibson, Road Safety GB’s executive director, explores the ‘ongoing challenge’ of getting more road users to value the importance of space when following other vehicles or passing cyclists and horse riders.
In many aspects of life getting extra space comes at a price. Think of airline seats with extra legroom, seats at the cinema or theatre with that bit more room, a higher price is always charged. Hiring a larger room for a party, buying a house with a larger garden, you name it, more space usually comes with a higher price tag. In fact some people will pay significantly more. Space has value.
In my opinion the same value isn’t placed on space on the road. Far too many drivers don’t value the importance of space when following other vehicles or passing others. Leaving more room between you and the vehicle in front is an extremely simple but highly effective way to reduce your chance of being involved in a collision. As road safety professionals we recognise this. To put it simply – space gives more time to react.
The ongoing challenge is how to get more road users to follow our advice. Long standing messages such as ‘only a fool breaks the two second rule’ are remembered by the majority but regularly implemented by the minority. What is it with some drivers and their obsession with tailgating? Where does this come from?
National Highways have run campaigns such as ‘Space Invaders’ and used lines and markings to remind drivers on the strategic network to leave safe following distances.
Space for vulnerable road users as we all know is especially important. Great strides have been made to increase the amount and quality of dedicated cycle lanes and routes. The recent changes to The Highway Code and the THINK! ‘Travel you know them’ campaign have helped to refocus the need for drivers to pass cyclists and horse riders with more room. Colleagues at the British Horse Society have run excellent campaigns, again to remind drivers of the importance to drive slowly and give lots of space. Good advice isn’t totally ignored, I see space being considered but there is certainly more for all involved in road safety to do, to impart the significant benefits of giving more room.
To conclude, space on the road doesn’t come with a financial price tag but we should all value the importance of leaving sufficient space when following or overtaking others.
To quote Oscar Wilde: “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing”.
As road safety professionals let’s keep on spreading our knowledge and getting many more to understand the true value of space on the road and the fact that it costs nothing!
With the advent of better braking systems, sometimes a vehicle separation distance of less than two seconds can be “safe” – i.e. not likely to result in an accident if the vehicle in front needs to perform an emergency stop.
Sometimes being the operative word, as I’m sure we’re all aware, conditions can change metre by metre, minute by minute. What’s safe “here” may not be safe “there”, even if “there” is just ahead of you.
And personally, I think it’s because people manage to get away with having a tight vehicle separation distance 99.99999999% of the time that lulls people into a false sense of safety.
“Oh, that was close” and then proceed to carry on with their life.
> … but what “message” will help is beyond me …
I agree. Without subjecting drivers to the actual rather awkward experience of hoping that either you, or the person behind you won’t decide to crash into something, I can’t think of anything.
It’s all about the “what if’s”.
David Weston, Newcastle upon Tyne
+5
There are multiple behaviour factors why sufficient following distances are not given. Stress is certainly one of them but, in my view, the big thing we need to undermine from a road safety point of view is that ‘if you leave a gap someone will fill it’
This is a perfectly understandable argument in a queuing situation but doesn’t stand up to any sensible scrutiny in free flowing traffic as gap filling is precisely what makes motorways and dual carriageways work so well – it’s referred to as lane changing.
Graham Mylward, Winchester
+6
The answer may be contained in here:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-integrationist/201901/outta-my-way-narcissism-is-linked-aggressive-driving
… but what “message” will help is beyond me …
Fraser Andrew, STIRLING
+5