The Two-Second Rule
Pick a fixed point on the road. When the vehicle ahead passes it, count two seconds. You should not pass the same point before the count is complete. In rain, ice, or fog — double or triple the gap.
Stopping Distance at Common Speeds
Total stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance.
- 50 km/h — ~14 m reaction + ~14 m braking = ~28 m total
- 70 km/h — ~19 m reaction + ~28 m braking = ~47 m total
- 90 km/h — ~25 m reaction + ~46 m braking = ~71 m total
- 110 km/h — ~31 m reaction + ~69 m braking = ~100 m total
These figures assume dry roads and an alert driver. Wet or icy conditions add significantly more.
Hazard Perception
Good drivers scan 12–15 seconds ahead rather than just at the car in front. Look for:
- Brake lights appearing further ahead in traffic
- Pedestrians near kerbs or between parked cars
- Cyclists wobbling or approaching junctions
- Animals near the road edge — particularly moose at dawn and dusk in Sweden
- Children — unpredictable and easy to miss near parked vehicles
Defensive Driving Principles
- Always have an escape route — a space you can move into if the car ahead brakes suddenly
- Avoid spending extended time in another vehicle’s blind spot
- When being tailgated, increase your own following distance — you need an extra buffer
- In urban areas, slow down past parked cars — a door may open or a pedestrian step out
Key Takeaways
- Minimum 2 seconds gap in dry conditions; more in wet or ice
- At 90 km/h, reaction time alone covers 25 metres
- Scan far ahead — not just the car in front
- Always have a plan B — an escape route