The first time a new driver finds themselves in anything more than very light traffic, it can be a nervous time. If they stay aware and keep a good distance between them and the car in front, by following some simple rules, there is no need for them to feel nervous.

The right way to do it.

Most people who have been taught to drive over the last few decades have been taught the 2 second rule as a way of keeping a safe distance between their car and the one in front, and it has served us well, if you can teach your teenage son or daughter to respect this rule and apply it as a matter of course, they will be all the safer for it.

Simply put, a driver should always keep at least a 2 second gap between their vehicle and the one in front when the driving conditions are good (during daytime on dry roads). At night or when the roads are wet, the distance should be at least 4 seconds.

The best way to teach how to estimate the gap is to get the new driver to start counting once the rear of the car in front passes a fixed object on the road such as a road sign. The count should go along the lines of one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, as this will give a more accurate count.

How can you help?

There is lots going on in the new drivers mind when they are presented with new challengers, so it might help if you do the counting until your teenager has got a 'feel' for this new situation. As things progress and they start to build confidence, you can ask them to estimate the time distance between you and the vehicle you are following. When you get the impression that they fully understand the time gap they need, you will have accomplished a very important part of their safety training.

Best place to practice.

You will need a road that has a reasonable amount of traffic, but don't be too ambitious at first. Remember that earlier I said there is a lot of information for your teenager to process in a very short period of time when they first start to drive, so do not overload them by taking them on roads that are too busy. There will be plenty of opportunities to practice this as your teenager progresses.