For years is has been taught to keep a minimum of two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you. The current recommendation is three to four seconds. The way to determine your following distance is to watch the vehicle ahead of you and wait until the rear of the vehicle ahead of you passes a stationary object like a light pole or street sign, then count how many seconds it takes the front of your vehicle to pass the fixed point. What is so important about the three second rule is what is called “perception and reaction time”. Perception and reaction time is the time it takes the average driver to perceive a roadway threat and react to the threat by applying the brakes to slow the vehicle. The standard accepted time used by law enforcement for perception and reaction is 1.5 seconds and was determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A vehicle traveling at 35 miles per hour travels 51 feet per second. During the perception and reaction time at 35 miles per hour a vehicle will travel over 76 feet. This does not include the total distance to stop a vehicle once braking is initiated. A vehicle traveling at 70 miles per hour travels over 102 feet per second. During the perception and reaction time a vehicle travels 154 feet. Another way to look at traveling distance at freeway speed is that a vehicle can easily travel the distance of a football field in under three seconds. To have a long enough stopping distance a driver should leave at least a three second following distance.
Tailgating does occur in Woodland, but I have noticed it more frequently on the freeways. I often see vehicles traveling at following distances of 50 feet or less. At that speed and distance it would be almost impossible to avoid a rear end collision if the lead vehicle were to make an emergency stop. As a driver, if you are being tailgated I recommend changing lanes or taking some other reasonable action to allow the vehicle to pass.
This is an external link to assist you in determining how many feet per second a vehicle travels at a given speed.
Another area of concern that has been brought to my attention is driver’s actions at railroad crossings. Vehicle Code section 22451 states the driver of any vehicle or pedestrian approaching a railroad crossing shall stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail and shall not proceed until he or she can do so safely, whenever the following conditions exist, (1) A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device or a flagman gives warning of the approach or passage of a train or car. (2) An approaching train or car is plainly visible or is emitting an audible signal and, by reason of its speed or nearness, is an immediate hazard. (3) No driver or pedestrian shall proceed through, around, or under any railroad or rail transit crossing gate while the gate is closed. NOTE: This includes the time when the railroad crossing lights are flashing and the arms are coming down.
All railroad crossings in Woodland are equipped with an additional sign that remind drivers not to stop on the railroad tracks. This behavior becomes increasingly dangerous when a vehicle is stopped beyond the railroad tracks and a vehicle then stops on the railroad tracks. If a train approaches the vehicle stopped on the railroad tracks may have no avenue of escape. Earlier this year a mock vehicle VS train collision was conducted in Woodland. The train was traveling under 15 miles per hour and had enough force to nearly roll the vehicle and cause major damage. Please be aware of increased risk near railroad crossing.
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