Defensive driving

[Nereus]

Incidentally, Ginja, it's a two second rule.

Sorry, I do not agree with that. I was taught a couple of different ways, and 2 seconds was not one of them. 1 car length for each 10 kms / hr you are travelling at, which might be difficult to compute for some people.
The better way is to count 4 seconds from when the vehicle in front of you passes a FIXED object, such as a power pole, tree, bridge, etc., and when YOU pass the same object. That way does adjust for whatever speed you are travelling at.
ANY set time, be it 2 seconds or any other, does not work, as your car will travel further at a higher speed, even given that your reaction time MAY be the same.

Nereus,
HHTel is correct as it is internationally considered the '2-second rule' however I was just factoring in Thailand into the equation and I personally feel the 2-second rule is inadequate a distance.
Your point regarding the 4 seconds passing a fixed point is correct and this is what the 2-second rule applies to. The faster the traffic then the greater the distance between the fixed point and this is why it can be applied at different speeds.

GN.

Yes, 2 seconds is considered by SOME that should know, but it is considered as the ABSOLUTE minimum distance. I did not say it was wrong, just that I did not agree with it.

I misread what HHTel wrote and he has posted basically what I have posted with the exception of the time involved. There are many variables involved: for a start, 2 seconds should not be applied to your motorcycle! Neither should it be applied to a wet road! Peoples reaction time varies greatly, and can be influenced by changing circumstances and distractions, which even 3 seconds will give a much greater margin.

I guess I am also biased a bit as in a previous life I drove a big truck, or HGV as you Poms refer to them, and if I had driven it like some of the p---s on the road here I would still be in goal / jail!

[HHTel]

I agree, Nereus. What I didn't emphasise was as you say, the 2 second rule is the MINIMUM distance between you and the guy in front. Of course, other conditions have to be taken into account which needs common sense, something which is completely lacking here.

[Terry]

Cruised up to Bangkok late yesterday afternoon. Left the Lodge at 4.30, arrived Sukhumvit Soi 20 at 7.15

Stayed at 100 -110 all the way without getting stressed out and let all the *ankers in their Fortuners and the boy racers in their pimped up Vios's fill the gaps.

You really have to smile at the sheer lunacy sometimes.

[BOZ]

My all time favorite here is the space I leave on the highway for safety, is always taken an A-hole who thinks I saved it for him... Then I need to back off from the new potential target with the tailgater right on my tail... Always fun to defend yourself here on the roads....