You may remember the two-second rule from driver’s education. It says that your car should be at least two seconds behind the car in front of it. For example, the other vehicle passes a road sign, and you count to two. If you got to the road sign before the time was up, you were following too closely. Here is a quick look at the importance of proper driving distance on Interstate 81.
Interstate 81 can be risky
It is well-documented that Interstate 81 is the site of many crashes and traffic backups. Many of these crashes occur in part because of rear-end collisions, and what causes these? Frequently, it is driving too quickly and/or too closely, also called tailgating. Interstate 81 has a lot of traffic and a lot of tractor-trailers. A match between a car and big rig probably will not end well.
The two-second rule is not enough
The two-second rule is easy to remember, but it has its flaws. For example, it does not take into account speed variables and weather conditions. Perhaps more importantly, two seconds is often not enough time to brake to a stop. When you are on Interstate 81, this is even truer since you could be going in excess of 70 miles per hour.
If you have been using the two-second rule to gauge safe driving distance, switch to the four-second rule. Count from “one thousand one” to “one thousand four” after the vehicle in front of you passes a marker along the road, such as a road sign. If traffic happens to be moving slowly, such as under 55 miles per hour, it is probably okay to switch to “one thousand three” instead. Use “one thousand seven” for really snowy or icy weather.
Whether you are driving for work or pleasure, being involved in a car crash can be an overwhelming time with many issues to consider. An attorney may be able to help if you have been rear-ended.