Safe distance in driving

Safe distance in driving

From Media Indonesia

We are still concerned with the low quality of drivers in our
country. I once witnessed a chain of collisions which later
resulted in a long-winded debate as the driver who rammed his car
into the car in front of him blamed the driver of this car for
braking suddenly. In fact, the driver in the rear position should
be held responsible for keeping a safe distance between his car
and the one in front of his in accordance with the speed of the
car he is driving. It is universally agreed that a car in the
rear position is always fully responsible for this safe distance.

Many drivers do not recognize the importance of this safe
distance. Just see, for example, the rather obscure traffic signs
along the toll road: "Keep a safe distance; avoid collisions from
behind." What is this safe distance actually?

Drivers' perception of this distance vary. In a developed
country, for example, it is stipulated that a distance is
considered safe if it allows for 60 percent of the speed of a
sedan and the like, and 80 percent of the speed of a vehicle
carrying heavy loads such as a truck or a bus where the
passengers are not required to put on their safety belts, though
the drivers are.

It is strange in this country, though, that if you keep a safe
distance, the horn of the car behind you will blare, or the car
itself (about three meters behind you) will get closer to yours
or this car will turn on the high beam while getting closer and
closer to yours. If you, who happen to be in front, do not give
way, the car behind you will cut up your car from the left-hand
side and fill the safe distance you are keeping between you and
the car in front.

This shameful act reflects the quality of drivers in our
country. Automatically, the safe distance we have been keeping
will no longer guarantee safety and we have to set a new distance
of safety. Unfortunately, another car from behind will again
occupy this safe distance and this pattern of events will be
endlessly repeated.

It is very surprising that no law enforcement action has been
seen. I pass the Jagorawi toll road about 636 times a year and
have never seen any stern measures against violations of the safe
distance stipulation along the toll road. In a developed country,
both road users and law enforcing apparatuses as well as highway
patrols pay great attention to discipline in complying with the
safe distance stipulation.

It is a good idea that all drivers should be able to estimate
their own safe distance. If one drives at 100 km/hour the safe
distance will be 60 meters. Everyone who has had some schooling
must be able to estimate how far this 60-meter distance is. Small
traffic signs along the Jagorawi toll road indicate that 100
km/hour = a safety distance of 100 meters. Obviously these
traffic signs are not clearly visible and do not hold much
significance, legally speaking. Therefore these signs must be
changed for bigger and more visible ones so that they will exert
a bigger impact.

The solution is actually not difficult. The most important
thing is how to ensure that road users have a high sense of
discipline. To attain this objective will not incur great expense
nor entail the procurement of a lot of sophisticated equipment.
The equipment and regulations now available will do. Law-
enforcing agencies can in fact gain additional income and do not
have to set aside extra money to buy gasoline for patrol jobs.
Everything will be financed by the fines imposed on those
violating the traffic regulation on safe distance.

Civilian automobiles and unmarked police cars (the officers
will be wearing badges) will be very effective in monitoring the
behavior of road users. In this way, immediate action can be
taken against those who speed and fail to keep a safe distance as
required.

HENDRO OTTO

Bogor, West Java