SPACE DRIVING TACTICS

I this film will run 15 minutes in this quarter hour within the United States alone there will be over 300 motor car accidents about 30 people will be seriously injured and Italy is going to be killed where you see there are 1800 automobile accidents every hour forty 3200 accidents every day most accidents happen because the drivers involved have neither the space nor the time to avoid trouble space is simply an interval between two points of time don't get caught in the middle you're probably a fairly good driver no matter what you drive but it is a mistake to think that all other drivers are your equal and will react as you were the difference between being safe or being in danger depends on a space-time relationship that is constantly changing the factors of space and time are dependent on speed your relation to other drivers your ability to react and if you can't pay strict attention to the business of driving you need that extra cushion of space that added fraction of time let's assume you're an average driver just how much space will you need to avoid trouble will demonstrate with a driver reaction braking test a patrol car has been equipped with a device that will mark the pavement first when a signal shot is fired and then again when the driver hits the brakes the shot is his cue to react we'll make a run at 30 miles an hour 30 miles an hour may not seem fast but we're traveling at the rate of two and one-half times the length of the car each second 44 feet per second the driver reacts brakes reaction time normal three quarters of a second flares will pinpoint the powder marks on the pavement at 30 miles an hour with a car traveling 44 feet a second the time from signal to brake application took 33 feet but then it required another 45 feet to break the car to a stop or 78 feet in all yes 30 miles an hour is faster than you think obviously this drivers to close in trouble should there be a panic stop so she drops back 30 miles an hour should mean a following interval of three car lengths or about 60 feet meanwhile back on the desert we'll run the same test again this time at 50 miles an hour that's 70 feet a second once again good reaction time slightly less than three quarters of a second but with the increase in speed the driver traveled 55 feet before hitting the brakes it took another critical 133 feet to break to a stop reaction distance plus braking distance equaled 188 feet in these tests the brakes were in very good condition worn or faulty brakes or bald tires would add to these distances and the addition could be fatal our driver was alert anticipating a breaking signal whereas lack of sleep illness certain prescription drugs or a few drinks would add to the reaction distance and the result could be disastrous space is the cheapest insurance a driver can buy it costs him nothing and we always need extra space because none of us can be alert all of the time in bad weather when the roads are slippery when you can't see as well slow down a bit you may need that extra time the more extensive cushion of space afforded by slower speeds the space ahead is the easiest space to control under normal traffic conditions what happens when you don't allow enough to answer this question we set up a special test hear the famous edwards air force base under officials supervision the California Highway Patrol has closed a four mile stretch of desert road will photograph the test from many vantage points including a special boom and a helicopter the drivers are checked out the breathing is over the Highway Patrol sets the pace 47 miles an hour the cars identified as a b c and d are roped together with a variety of following distances ranging from 100 feet to only 30 feet the signal for a panic stop now let's see what actually happened prior to running the test we had assumed d would hit c CB and so on to simulate a chain reaction collision it didn't work that way but then it doesn't on the highway either the answers are never packed and predictable see had lost its power the mechanical brakes weren't enough and it smashed into B D with only 30 feet to react impacted see a might have remained in the clear the combination however of older cars Warren brakes and burying reaction times trapped hey in the forces of the moment and all four met disaster the ambulance and the fire truck move in are the drivers okay the men are in fine shape the cars are not what can we learn from this test that demonstrates the dangers of following too closely the average American car is just under 20 feet long here is a good rule to follow for every ten miles an hour showing on the speedometer allow a following distance of at least one car length or about 20 feet two lengths at 23 at 34 at 40 at 50 miles an hour this would be 100 feet space behind you is harder to control but try to avoid persistent tailgaters at the first opportunity to change lanes let him pass space of the side is more difficult to maintain especially in heavy traffic but think in terms of having an escape route can you change lanes is there room to escape to the right or to the left can you avoid the opening car door the jaywalk keep checking the situation and filing the changing information the most dangerous and foolhardy violation of the space-time principle is passing on the hill you can't see over or the curve you can't see around your escape route could be by the skin of your teeth yet if there isn't enough space escape could be permanent you must be prepared for anything drivers are different in every accident the drivers involved had neither the space nor the time to avoid trouble could it happen to you most of the 300 motor car accidents that have taken place during the running of this film could that have been avoided many of the 30 people who were injured need not have been hurt at all and perhaps no one would have been killed we're selling insurance and the insurance is free it is the insurance of space space to react to take action space to stay out of trouble