what is a safe crash avoidance space Page 459

A “safe crash avoidance space” is the bubble of room you deliberately keep around your car so you’ve got options when physics starts throwing elbows.

Think at least a three‑second following gap in the dry, stretching to four–six seconds in rain, at night, or when towing, plus a clear “escape route” to one side.

Scan about 12 seconds ahead, don’t sit beside other vehicles, and stop at lights so you can see the tyres of the car ahead touching the road—room to steer out if things go pear‑shaped.

If you’re being tailgated, resist the heroics: increase your gap in front and let the muppet go by; at 100 km/h you’re chewing through roughly 28 metres per second.

It’s defensive driving 101: create space, keep scanning, and avoid joining the panel-beating economy.