Have you ever found yourself in ‘the idiot space‘? It’s a term that has been coined by road safety agency Arrive Alive, following a spate of avoidable incidents on South Africa’s busiest routes. It has a fairly simple meaning, and it’s one we should probably all get to grips with.

WHAT IS THE IDIOT SPACE?

According to Arrive Alive, the idiot space is where a motorist gets between 0-2 seconds away from the car in front. Keeping a distance of 2-3 seconds is seen as the bare minimum, and anything under this… well, it apparently makes you a driving dunce.

In some cases, the idiot space can expand depending on conditions. Night driving and adverse weather are just two examples for when motorists should maintain an even bigger distance, as explained by the agency:

“The 2-3 second rule is only the advised measure when driving conditions are ideal. This should be seen as a bare minimum and should be adjusted to at least 5-6 seconds in certain situations.”

“Those situations including driving in adverse weather conditions, on slippery roads, following larger or smaller vehicles, or towing a trailer. The 5-6 second rule should also be enforced when driving at night.”

Arrive Alive

HOW TO DEAL WITH OTHER MOTORISTS

Of course, it’s all well and good maintaining your own distance and playing by the rules. But what about those behind you? When you’ve got an impatient motorist tailgating you, the pressure to speed up and force yourself into the idiot space can be immense.

However, Arrive Alive are telling drivers to manage the situation accordingly. Changing lanes and adjusting your speeds are a must, and if someone cuts you up, it remains your responsibility to maintain a reasonable distance between the respective bumpers.

“Don’t allow yourself to be tailgated. Change lanes or adjust your speed to encourage tailgaters to pass you. If someone cuts into your space, take a deep breath, simply back off a little and regain enough space – what counts is your safety.”