Creating a Space Cushion on All Four Sides 
Steer Clear | State Farm®

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

(Text on screen)
Create a Space Cushion on All Four Sides

(IMAGE)]
An animated car is seen driving on an 
animated roadway. Then, three lanes 
are seen from overhead. The space around 
one of the cars in the middle lane is indicated. 
The car changes lanes.

(Announcer: Male voice)
Leaving a good amount of space between 
your car and others is harder to do in 
high-traffic situations. However, doing so 
when you can will help as you practice 
other skills, like changing lanes, merging, 
and reacting to road situations. 

(IMAGE)
Two cars are seen driving along a roadway. 
The distance between the two cars is 
indicated with a line and with a constant 
counter that indicates seconds.

(Text on screen)
10 m.p.h. = 1 second of separation
20 m.p.h. = 2 seconds of separation
30 m.p.h. = 3 seconds of separation
40 m.p.h. = 4 seconds of separation
50 m.p.h. = 5 seconds of separation
60 m.p.h. = 6 seconds of separation 

(Announcer: Male voice) 
The general rule is during regular weather 
conditions, for every 10 miles per hour 
of speed that you're traveling, leave one 
second of separation between you and 
the car ahead. If you're traveling 60 miles 
per hour on the highway, keep six seconds 
of space between you and other cars around you. 

(IMAGE)
The car’s dashboard is seen from the 
driver’s vantage point. The car passes a 
tree and a street lamp. A continuous counter 
lists the distance in seconds as the car 
progresses. A red line appears as the car 
reaches the second street lamp. As the 
car passes the line, the text “50 m.p.h. = :05”
appears. The car approaches very 
close to the car ahead of it.
 
(Announcer: Male voice) 
A good way to count the seconds of space 
between you and other cars is to pick a 
landmark, like a street lamp or something 
else you typically see next to the road, 
and count 1,000 for every 10 miles per 
hour you're traveling -- 1,001, 1,002, 1,003, 
and so forth. This will tell you how far you 
need to be from the car ahead. Many crashes 
occur because drivers travel too close 
to the vehicles around them based 
on the speed they're traveling. 

(IMAGE)
Several cars are seen from above, 
driving in adjacent lanes. The space cushion 
of one car is indicated as that car 
slows down and takes an exit. 

(Announcer: Male voice) 
You'll need to be prepared for many 
unexpected situations when driving. 
For instance, if the car in front of you 
stops suddenly to exit the interstate, 
a cushion of space will allow you 
to slow down gradually and stay in control. 

(IMAGE)
Now the cars are seen again, the space cushion 
around one car indicated, then the car’s 
views from the side and rear view mirrors
is indicated. The car following the subject 
car begins following the subject car too 
closely, and the subject car then increases 
the space between it and the car it is following. 
It then moves to an open 
space in an adjacent lane. 
 
(Announcer: Male voice)
And don't forget about the cushion of space 
on either side of your vehicle. 
When preparing to exit, be sure 
to check the turn lane before you enter 
it to make sure no one is next to you. 
Remember to check your rear view 
and side mirrors regularly. 
If the car behind you is traveling too closely,
increase the space in front of you by 
slowing down to avoid them slamming 
into you if you need to quickly slow down.  
 
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