3, 7, 15 second RULE for Staying Alive
on the Highway:
www.3715rule.com
www.3715secondRULE.com
In the USA (& Canada), the Leading
Cause of Death from ages 8 to 25
is MV (Motor Vehicle) Accidents.
Safe Distances when Driving:
(Only first 2 minutes 30 seconds is relevant of this 4 min. video)
Because YOUR SAFETY not only depends upon YOU STOPPING IN TIME, but also on the CAR, SUV, or BIG TRUCK FOLLOWING YOU STOPPING IN TIME, you need to know and be aware of the STOPPING TIME of the vehicle(s) following you.
Whenever you come to an UNEXPECTED MAJOR SLOW-DOWN OR STOP, especially on high speed highways where people do not EXPECT major slow-downs or stops, IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATE YOUR FOUR-WAY HAZARD FLASHER LIGHTS to WARN VEHICLES BEHIND YOU THERE IS AN UNEXPECTED SLOW-DOWN.
In such an UNEXPECTED slow-down or SUDDEN STOP situation KEEP PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN YOU AND THE VEHICLE YOU ARE FOLLOWING (MINIMUM 3 TO 7 SECONDS) and look in your rear-view mirrors to make sure that the vehicle(s) behind you realize you are coming to a SLOW-DOWN or STOP. KEEPING A SAFETY BUFFER ZONE (MINIMUM 3 TO 7 SECONDS) will allow you to give the vehicle BEHIND YOU extra space and time to STOP or SLOW DOWN without rear-ending you. This SAFETY SPACE will also prevent the car/ truck that rear-ends you from pushing YOU into the rear-end of the vehicle in front of you!
ALSO look for and try to KEEP AN ESCAPE ROUTE OPEN at all times so that you can pull onto the RIGHT or LEFT SHOULDER in case the vehicle behind you cannot, or does not slow down or stop in time because of DISTRACTIONS.
Not only do you have to think for yourself, but you must also anticipate the reaction/ action, or lack there-of, of the driver(s) behind you. (If you want to stay alive).
ACTIVATING YOUR EMERGENCY FOUR-WAY HAZARD FLASHER LIGHTS as soon as you see an abnormal SLOWING DOWN or STOPPING of traffic on a high speed highway ALERTS the driver(s) following you of a DANGER. Once you see that the vehicles behind you have SAFELY SLOWED DOWN you can turn off your emergency four-way hazard flasher lights.
Since you are SHARING THE ROAD with BIG TRUCKS, you must learn their STOPPING DISTANCES/ TIME. Especially if one is behind you!
Whereas most cars can stop in 3 to 5 seconds, BIG TRUCKS take at least 7 to as much as 15 SECONDS to stop. So if you stop SAFELY in 3 to 5 seconds, but do not warn the BIG TRUCK behind you that you are making a SUDDEN STOP, and GIVE THE BIG TRUCK 7 to 15 SECONDS OF SPACE, that BIG TRUCK will push you and your car forwards for the EXTRA 4 TO 12 SECONDS IT NEEDS TO STOP.
This can have disastrous results for you!
Add Text Here...
Drive Safe: The THREE (3) second RULE:
(1 min. video)
Tailgating and the 3 second RULE:
(4 min. video)
Kids Corner (for adults too):
Road Rage behind the wheel. Why do good people turn into monsters behind the wheel?
Hilarious 1950 Walt Disney Productions cartoon (7 mins) that illustrates how some people develop a Mr Hyde type personality as soon as they get behind the wheel. Very relevant and entertaining cartoon regarding HOW NOT TO DRIVE and ACT behind the wheel.
Clearly illustrates that Road Rage has been developing since at least the 1950s!
Watch "Goofy Motor Mania" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mZAZ_xu0DCg (7 mins)
Pedestrians & Cyclists:
1.5 meters (5ft) minimum SAFETY Buffer Zone for Pedestrians & Cyclists:
Cars need to give Pedestrians & Cyclists a minimum of 1.5 meters SPACE as a SAFETY Buffer Zone. Ideally, when SAFE and possible, give them an Entire Lane: 3 meters (10ft) SPACE.
Trucks should IDEALLY give Pedestrians & Cyclists an Entire Lane, 3 meters (10ft) SPACE, whenever SAFE and possible. But NEVER LESS than 1.5 meters SPACE as a SAFETY Buffer Zone.
3, 7, 15 second RULE for
Staying Alive on the Highway for
CARS:
Wal-Mart Display Truck at a local High School to demonstrate the importance of sharing the road safely with large trucks. NO-ZONES & Blind Spots of Big Trucks demonstration. (1min 30 seconds)
California DMV & Pro Pacific Transport demonstrate NO-ZONES & Blind Spots on Big Trucks. (2 mins)
3, 7, 15 second RULE for Staying Alive
on the Highway: (summary)
3 second RULE: MINIMUM time it takes to STOP a car IF YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION. This is on DRY ROADS, under ideal conditions. For wet roads, or on snow it may take DOUBLE these times! On ICE it will take even longer! You should not be driving on ICE unless you are equipped with studded snow tires or chains. Stay home. Stay parked. Stay SAFE.
7 second RULE: MINIMUM time it takes to STOP a Big Truck that is empty, on dry roads, under ideal conditions. Cars/ SUVs may also take up to 7 seconds to stop on wet, or snow covered roads.
15 second RULE: A fully loaded Big Truck can take up to 15 seconds to STOP on dry roads, under ideal conditions. For wet roads, or on snow, it may take DOUBLE these times!
*DISTRACTIONS: INCREASE these times. Pay Attention. Do not get distracted while driving.
*Rain & Snow: can DOUBLE these times! (Or more if really slippery/ icy!)
*ICE: on pure ice, especially in FREEZING RAIN you have NO CONTROL ! Stay home. Stay parked. Get off the highway/road until the sand/salt truck passes. This includes SUVs/4 wheel Drives: they don't stop any better on ICE either. They have better ACCELERATION traction under slippery conditions, but exactly the same LACK OF STOPPING traction as everyone else.
In freezing rain wait it out at home, at work, or some other safe location. If on the road, STOP at the closest rest area, coffee shop... get off the road! Stay in a hotel or at friends overnight if must be. Usually the next morning the SUN will be shining, roads will be SAFE, and you will see cars and trucks in every ditch because they had "no time to stop". (Now they need a tow truck, and repairs.)
NO-ZONES & BLIND SPOTS for Big Trucks:
NO-ZONES are BLIND SPOTS for Big Trucks that YOU should avoid being in because the Truck Driver might not see you there. Stay out of NO-ZONES/ BLIND SPOTS when possible.
TEST QUESTIONS:
1) What is the 3 second RULE?
2) What is the 7 second RULE?
3) What is the 15 second RULE?
4) What conditions can DOUBLE these ideal STOPPING TIMES?
5) Where are the BLIND SPOTS and NO-ZONES on a Big Truck? Draw a diagram.
FINAL EXAM:
Staying Alive on the Highway, (using the 3, 7, 15 second RULE for Staying Alive on the Highway).
Drive SAFE. Your LIFE depends on it!
Adjust your following distance to TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, WEATHER, Road Conditions and Type & Size of Vehicle you are driving. (Kindly note this excellent video is from "South Australian road rules on safe following distances". They drive on the wrong side of the road!... for North America.)
