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The 2-Second Rule

  • 05-07-2012 9:14pm
    #1
    Motorist
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 892 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Is the 2-second rule, which indicates the time gap that should be left between you and the car in front, sufficient for eg. a 15 year old car with cheap tyres following a high performance Mercedes with four-wheel disc brakes? If travelling at 70mph and the car in front slammed on the brakes executing an emergency stop, would they easily out brake a lesser car following.

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    starlit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,349 ✭✭✭✭starlit


    Its the safe headway distance between you and the car in front of you. If they pass a certain point or landmark/sign and it takes you two seconds to get to that point then you are at a safe distance from the car in front of you. Say to yourself 'only a fool breaks the two second rule'

    Though saying that the two second rule applies to dry road conditions. Its four second rule if it wet conditions, its more in ice and snow though.

    The rule is explained in the rules of the road book, you can get it online - RSA

    Think there is an ad on TV on it.

    http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/speed-limits/speed-limits_2-second-rule.html


  • #3
    realgirl
    Closed Accounts Posts: 212 ✭✭realgirl


    Motorist wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Is the 2-second rule, which indicates the time gap that should be left between you and the car in front, sufficient for eg. a 15 year old car with cheap tyres following a high performance Mercedes with four-wheel disc brakes? If travelling at 70mph and the car in front slammed on the brakes executing an emergency stop, would they easily out brake a lesser car following.

    Thanks

    I understand where you're coming from. My car is 17 years old and the brakes are absolutely not as reactive as in the more modern cars. I try to make sure I maintain more than a two second gap from the car in front in dry conditions to be safer.


  • #4
    fricatus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,081 ✭✭✭fricatus


    Motorist wrote: »
    Is the 2-second rule, which indicates the time gap that should be left between you and the car in front, sufficient for eg. a 15 year old car with cheap tyres following a high performance Mercedes with four-wheel disc brakes? If travelling at 70mph and the car in front slammed on the brakes executing an emergency stop, would they easily out brake a lesser car following.

    The idea of the two-second rule is that if the car in front came to an immediate halt (e.g. if it hit a heavy plant machine coming out of a side road for example), you would still have your two-second gap in which to stop. Normally the car in front will take its own time to stop, and if your braking performances are the same then you will continue to be two seconds behind the other car as you both slow.

    The idea is that you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear, so you will have to adjust your speed for other traffic and also for bends (especially if you do any rural driving). It's unbelievable the number of people in this country who seem to be able to see around bends and know that the way is clear, because at the speed they're driving, if there was a car in the ditch or a biker on the ground, they'd plough right in.

    Motorist wrote: »
    ...a 15 year old car with cheap tyres...

    It's one thing having a 15-year-old car, but never, ever, skimp on tyres. Buy the best.


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