All courses › Motorcycle licence (A1, A2, A) › Gap to the vehicle ahead

Gap to the vehicle ahead

Keep at least a 3-second gap to the vehicle ahead, and more when it is wet or slippery. Then you have time to react and brake, and you see more of the road ahead. When several motorcycles ride together, ride staggered in the lane, with at least 2 seconds to the rider directly in front, and never side by side.

d = v \cdot t

the gap in metres

Symbols

$v$	speed	m/s
$t$	time, at least 3	s

Example

You are riding at 70 km/h ( $v \approx 19.4$ m/s).

$d = 19.4 \cdot 3 \approx 58$ m.

Count seconds from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point until you reach it. If you get there before three, you are too close.

Practise visibility and interaction for free →

← The car that turns across you · Wet and slippery surfaces →

Part of Motorcycle licence (A1, A2, A): Visibility and interaction.