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You are here: Home / Driving / Defensive Driving: Knowing Your Vehicle Bubble

Defensive Driving: Knowing Your Vehicle Bubble

Published September 26, 2008 By Mick Farmer

To drive in such a way as to avoid being involved in an accident regardless of the action of other drivers or adverse driving conditions.

An Example

You are driving in a queue of traffic travelling at about 10 kph. All of a sudden, a vehicle hits you from behind. Legally, whose fault is it? The person who’s behind you all say. You would be right.

BUT … Defensive drivers are always trying to be aware of what is happening in and around their “vehicle bubble”. This space is defined as being 25 metres 360 degrees around a vehicle.

Space management, as it is officially known, is an important part of defensive driving and security awareness. Once you are aware of what is happening in and what is going on around your “vehicle bubble” you can then start to make a plan.

Vehicle Bubble Illustration

 

Rewind

So let’s look at our scenario again. By being aware of what is happening in your immediate environment and leaving yourself “an out” (enough room between you and the vehicle in front so as you can exit the queue of traffic) you can possibly avoid the MVC.

The rule of thumb for leaving yourself an out is to be able to see the rear tyres of the vehicle in front touching the road. So, don’t let yourself get boxed in and remember if you do not see it, you can not react to it!! Avoidance through awareness. Be proactive!!

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Filed Under: Driving Tagged With: driving

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About Mick Farmer

For the last 20 years, I have been the lead trainer /director for OnCourse. Have played a leading role in developing their courses into, probably, the best off road training courses, globally.

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