There are cars driving at 100 km/h but only a few dozen meters from the car in front. But the people in the car still thought everything was completely normal.
With the news that the authorities have begun to fine people for not keeping a safe distance on some key highways, the driver community is divided into two quite distinct opinions. One side supports, the other side worries. Supporters say it's time to tighten up because tailgating on the highway is too common. Worried people ask the question: how do you know if you are 55 m or 100 m from the car in front to avoid being fined?
As someone who has had a B2 driving license since 2010 and has spent tens of thousands of kilometers on national highways and highways, I understand both of those sentiments. But what makes me think the most is not the fine, but why do we really care about safe distances until now? While that should be the first thing everyone thinks of when holding the steering wheel.
I used to think for a long time that I was a pretty good driver: I traveled a lot, drove a lot, handled many situations, and my experience grew. Like many other drivers, I used to believe that if I just concentrated, I could react promptly to any situation. Until one time I witnessed a serial collision on the highway. The distance between the vehicles then looked completely normal to the naked eye. No one thought there would be an accident. However, just one car in front suddenly decelerated, and the entire convoy behind immediately fell into chaos. The screeching of brakes, the impact, the continuous honking... everything happened in just a few seconds.
>> The 4-second rule helps me avoid safety distance errors on the highway
That day, I understood a very simple thing: a driver's experience cannot overcome the laws of physics. At a speed of 100 km/h, every second the car travels nearly 28 m. Just the time it takes to recognize danger and move your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal is enough for the car to rush dozens of meters further. People often overestimate their ability to react. But traffic accidents do not allow us to be wrong even once.
In my personal experience, the most dangerous thing on the highway is subjective feeling. Wide roads, beautiful road surfaces, clear lanes, no motorbikes, no intersections, all make the unconscious brain feel safer than it actually is. At that time, the driver begins to lower his guard. The distance between cars is getting shorter and shorter. There are cars running 100 km/h but only a few dozen meters from the car in front. But the people in the car still thought everything was completely normal.
One of the reasons why many drivers do not maintain the correct distance is the "fear of being cut into". This is a very common phenomenon. You keep a distance of 70 m, but a car from the left lane suddenly moves in. The distance was immediately reduced by half. You slow down to create new space, but another car continues to squeeze in. Just keep doing that over and over again, eventually you keep falling behind.
After more than 15 years of driving, I have drawn a conclusion: a good driver is not the one who handles situations best, but the one who has to handle situations the least. Good drivers always create a safety buffer for themselves. They do not drive close behind other vehicles. Don't try to follow to be a few seconds faster. Don't gamble with risk. A safe distance is essentially an investment. You spend a few seconds, in return you have the opportunity to avoid an accident. You accept a little more slowly. In return is the ability to bring your family home safely. If calculated economically, it is the most profitable investment a driver can make.
In recent days, many car forums have asked the question: "How to avoid being fined for distance violations?". According to current regulations, failure to keep a safe distance on the highway can be fined from 4 to 6 million VND and have points deducted from the driver's license; If you cause an accident, the penalty will be much higher. However, whether the fine is 4 million or 40 million VND, it cannot be compared to the value of a human life.
Vietnam is entering a period of strong development of the highway system. There are more and more modern roads. Travel time between localities is increasingly shortening. But infrastructure is only half the story. The other half lies in the awareness of traffic participants. A civilized country is measured by how people behave on those highways. Keeping distance does not make us poorer, does not make the journey any longer, does not slow down work significantly. But it can help avoid an accident, saving a family from tragedy.
Therefore, I support strengthening the handling of errors of not keeping distance on highways. Not because we want more punishment records. But because I hope there will be fewer phone calls reporting bad news from the hospital, fewer emergency cases at night, fewer families suffering loss, and more safe trips on the country's increasingly modern roads.
Vu Thi Minh Huyen
