Your Vehicle Bubble
By Mick Farmer.
Defensive Driving: "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."
The "Vehicle Bubble" - A Typical Accident Scenario: 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.
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 accident.
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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