The most common type of car accident is a rear end collision. These can be caused by several different things. Typically, rear end accidents will happen when a driver doesn’t have enough time to react to a car in front of them. By putting enough distance between yourself and the car in front of you, it can help provide more time to react.
What is the 3 Second Rule?
The 3 Second Rule is a safety tip that helps to give drivers the time they need to stop if something in the road happens quickly in front of them. Applying the rule is easy. While following a vehicle, pick out a marker such as a tree, overhead road sign or other roadside sign. Watch when the vehicle passes the marker then count how long it takes you to pass the same spot (count 1-1000; 2-1000; 3-1000). If you count less than 3, you should back off a little bit to provide more space.
The 3 Second Rule also helps to prevent tailgating. Many people feel threatened when someone is closely tailgating them and it can be seen as an aggressive maneuver that is mistaken for or sparks road rage. By keeping a safe distance from the driver in front of you, they will see that you’re not doing anything that may endanger them on the road.
3 seconds is not always enough time
While this is a helpful tip, it’s not a hard and fast rule. When weather conditions are less than ideal, you will need more than 3 seconds to stop in front of you. This could be due to reduced visibility or the road being slick. It may even be best to double or triple the 3 Second Rule so as to help buffer against the natural conditions.
Even when using the 3 Second Rule, any distractions within the car can negate its use. A simple distraction that takes your eyes off the road could possibly take away all of the 3 seconds you’ve allowed yourself.
While stopped at traffic lights
Obviously, the 3 second rule wouldn’t apply to being stopped at traffic lights. However, it’s a good idea to keep enough space to see the wheels of the car in front of you on the ground. Even when stopped, intersections can be dangerous.
All drivers must be aware of their surroundings and have enough space to react in case something goes wrong in front of them.
Sometimes it’s impossible to prevent a car crash. You can be driving as safely as you can, but someone else’s negligence ends up being the cause of the collision. Even if your accident seems relatively minor, it’s extremely important to seek immediate medical care. Your health is the most important thing. And if you find out later down the road that you had unknown injuries but didn’t get medical care, it may prevent you from getting any damages from the insurance company at all.
There are many myths about hiring a car accident lawyer and what they can or can’t do. We are only here to help. If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, give us a call. We offer free and friendly advice and case evaluations at no cost to you. We can be reached at (916) 619-5452, online through our form, and by email at info@hanecaklaw.com.
