If the attorneys at Hardee, Massey & Blodgett, LLP told you there was a way you could drastically reduce your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, would you do it? Well there is, and it’s easy to use. You probably were taught it in your driver’s education class, the 3-second rule.
Transportation safety experts agree that following the 3-second rule can enhance the safety of those who follow it.
Think about time, not distance!
Drivers may think in terms of space when they think about stopping their vehicles. But, according to insurance industry analysts and national safety organizations, what really matters is time.
The 3-second rule is where you leave 3-seconds of time between your car and the car in front of you.
The reason 3-seconds is the magic number is because it takes approximately 1.5 seconds to notice a risk in front of you, and then another 1.5 seconds for a driver and car to take action – braking and/or slowing down.
How do you use the 3-second rule?
The 3-second rule is very easy to execute.
First, wait for the car in front to pass an object, like a light pole, tree or road sign.
Then, once the car passes the object, you start counting: “one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one-thousand three.”
If you reach the object before you get to three, then you are too close to the car in front of you and you should slow down.
When is 3-second rule not enough time?
There are three variations to the 3-second rule.
- When driving an SUV, you need 5-seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
- If you are driving a commercial truck (tractor-trailer), you need to allow 6-seconds between the truck and the vehicle in front of you.
- Lastly, in inclement weather, you should add at least one more second between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
Vehicles are loaded with safety features, and that’s wonderful, but you can never be too careful when you are on the road. At Hardee Massey & Blodgett. LLP we encourage you to use the 3-second rule, but want you to know that if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident due to the fault of another we are here to help. Give us a call 24/7 for a free consultation at 252-378-2525.