Near Spanbroek you are driving behind a van. Your passenger asks how much distance the law says you must keep from that van. What do you answer?
- Exactly two seconds; that number is written literally in the law
- ✓ No fixed number: I must be able to stop within the clear road I can see ahead
- A fixed distance in metres, the same at every speed
Correct answer: No fixed number: I must be able to stop within the clear road I can see ahead
Explanation
False — a safe distance grows with your speed. The law names no fixed distance; with the rule of thumb (speed divided by 2, plus 10%) it is 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 55 m at 100 km/h
Why learners get this wrong
- Wrong: the law names no number. The law requires that you can stop within the distance you can see and that is clear; two seconds is the practical rule of thumb to achieve that
- Wrong: a safe distance grows with your speed. The law names no fixed distance; with the rule of thumb (speed divided by 2, plus 10%) it is 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 55 m at 100 km/h
Topic: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
Read the rule: Core: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
Sections
- Challenge: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- The model: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Core: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Why it matters: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Active recall: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Teach back: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Memory hook: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula