Home SECTION II ABOUT THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES CHAPTER II SPEED SECTION 2 REDUCTION OF SPEED AND DISTANCES BETWEEN VEHICLES Article 54 Distance between vehicles

Article 54 Distance between vehicles

by Mark Nolan

1.Every driver of a vehicle travelling behind another must leave between them a clear space that allows them to stop, in case of sudden braking, without colliding with the vehicle in front, taking into account especially the speed and grip conditions and braking. However, bicycle drivers will be allowed to ride in a group without maintaining such a separation, so long as they leave sufficient space to avoid crashing into each other.

Remember that as a general rule if you hit a car from behind, you will be responsible for the colLision. We must always leave sufficient distance that permits us to manoeuvre in case the vehicle in front of us suddenly brakes and so we do not hit it. At any time, the vehicle in front can have an animal cross in front of it, or a child, or an obstacle in the road or an incident or something that causes braking. If something happens that results in a crash, we are demonstrating that we have not kept a sufficient distance to be safe.

 

2. In addition to the provisions of the previous section, the separation that must be kept by any vehicle driver that drives behind another without indicating its intention to overtake must be such as to allow another vehicle, in turn, to pass it safely, except in the case of cyclists who ride in a group. Vehicles with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3,500 kilograms and vehicles and joined vehicles of more than 10 metres in total length must keep a minimum separation of 50 metres for this purpose.

3. The provisions of the previous section will not apply:

 

A) In towns.

 

B) Where overtaking is prohibited.

 

C) Where there is more than one lane for traffic in the same direction.

 

D) When the traffic is so saturated that it does not allow overtaking.

 

4. Infractions to the norms of this precept will be considered as serious.

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