Safe distance in driving<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
We are still concerned with the low quality of drivers in our
\ncountry. I once witnessed a chain of collisions which later
\nresulted in a long-winded debate as the driver who rammed his car
\ninto the car in front of him blamed the driver of this car for
\nbraking suddenly. In fact, the driver in the rear position should
\nbe held responsible for keeping a safe distance between his car
\nand the one in front of his in accordance with the speed of the
\ncar he is driving. It is universally agreed that a car in the
\nrear position is always fully responsible for this safe distance.<\/p>\n
Many drivers do not recognize the importance of this safe
\ndistance. Just see, for example, the rather obscure traffic signs
\nalong the toll road: "Keep a safe distance; avoid collisions from
\nbehind." What is this safe distance actually?<\/p>\n
Drivers' perception of this distance vary. In a developed
\ncountry, for example, it is stipulated that a distance is
\nconsidered safe if it allows for 60 percent of the speed of a
\nsedan and the like, and 80 percent of the speed of a vehicle
\ncarrying heavy loads such as a truck or a bus where the
\npassengers are not required to put on their safety belts, though
\nthe drivers are.<\/p>\n
It is strange in this country, though, that if you keep a safe
\ndistance, the horn of the car behind you will blare, or the car
\nitself (about three meters behind you) will get closer to yours
\nor this car will turn on the high beam while getting closer and
\ncloser to yours. If you, who happen to be in front, do not give
\nway, the car behind you will cut up your car from the left-hand
\nside and fill the safe distance you are keeping between you and
\nthe car in front.<\/p>\n
This shameful act reflects the quality of drivers in our
\ncountry. Automatically, the safe distance we have been keeping
\nwill no longer guarantee safety and we have to set a new distance
\nof safety. Unfortunately, another car from behind will again
\noccupy this safe distance and this pattern of events will be
\nendlessly repeated.<\/p>\n
It is very surprising that no law enforcement action has been
\nseen. I pass the Jagorawi toll road about 636 times a year and
\nhave never seen any stern measures against violations of the safe
\ndistance stipulation along the toll road. In a developed country,
\nboth road users and law enforcing apparatuses as well as highway
\npatrols pay great attention to discipline in complying with the
\nsafe distance stipulation.<\/p>\n
It is a good idea that all drivers should be able to estimate
\ntheir own safe distance. If one drives at 100 km\/hour the safe
\ndistance will be 60 meters. Everyone who has had some schooling
\nmust be able to estimate how far this 60-meter distance is. Small
\ntraffic signs along the Jagorawi toll road indicate that 100
\nkm\/hour = a safety distance of 100 meters. Obviously these
\ntraffic signs are not clearly visible and do not hold much
\nsignificance, legally speaking. Therefore these signs must be
\nchanged for bigger and more visible ones so that they will exert
\na bigger impact.<\/p>\n
The solution is actually not difficult. The most important
\nthing is how to ensure that road users have a high sense of
\ndiscipline. To attain this objective will not incur great expense
\nnor entail the procurement of a lot of sophisticated equipment.
\nThe equipment and regulations now available will do. Law-
\nenforcing agencies can in fact gain additional income and do not
\nhave to set aside extra money to buy gasoline for patrol jobs.
\nEverything will be financed by the fines imposed on those
\nviolating the traffic regulation on safe distance.<\/p>\n
Civilian automobiles and unmarked police cars (the officers
\nwill be wearing badges) will be very effective in monitoring the
\nbehavior of road users. In this way, immediate action can be
\ntaken against those who speed and fail to keep a safe distance as
\nrequired.<\/p>\n
HENDRO OTTO<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/safe-distance-in-driving-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }