The Space Cushion Technique Every Delivery Driver Should Know
As written for The Safe Driver. Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
When you’re driving deliveries, pressure is a normal part of your daily routine. You work to tight timelines, navigate busy streets, and contend with drivers who don’t always leave you much room. However, there are measures you can take to stay safer on the road, including using the space-cushion technique.
This gives you more time to react, helping you to avoid common crash patterns that affect delivery drivers across Canada. Whether you deliver takeaway food, parcels, or groceries in a car, van, or moped, the space cushion technique is an important tool to protect you on every route.
What Is the Space Cushion Technique?
The space cushion technique is, quite literally, about leaving a cushion of space between you and other vehicles. It applies in every direction: in front, behind, and to the left and right of your vehicle. It gives you a way out, especially during sudden stops, unexpected turns, and when vehicles drift into your lane.
The space cushion technique is just one of many concepts covered in a defensive driving online training course. As a delivery driver, a defensive driving qualification can be invaluable for several reasons:
- You stop often, and complacent drivers may not expect you to.
- You pull in and out of traffic constantly.
- You face more pedestrians, cyclists, and other hazards than the average driver.
- Long hours on the road mean you experience more erratic, erroneous, and potentially dangerous driver behaviors like wrong-way turns, last-minute braking, and sudden lane changes.
A space cushion gives you the room necessary to handle these situations and avoid collisions.
How to Keep a Safe Following Distance
Canadian defensive driving standards teach a minimum three-second following distance for cars in good weather. To measure it:
- Select a fixed object ahead, like a road sign or street lamp.
- Start counting when the car in front passes it, using the specific method “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.”
- If you reach the object before you finish counting, you’re too close. Slow down.
Adding Seconds for Vehicle Type and Weather
In a van, add an extra second to account for heavy cargo and a longer stopping distance. If you ride a two-wheeled vehicle, add two extra seconds (so five seconds total) because you have less traction, more exposure to wind, and less protection. If there’s rain, add another second. In snowy or icy conditions, add two to three seconds. If the road is uneven or gravelly, add one to two seconds.
Protecting Your Side Space and Stopping
Always keep at least one metre of space on either side. This helps when a parked car opens a door without warning, a cyclist moves quickly into your lane, a driver drifts while distracted, or you need an escape route if traffic stops suddenly.
If you ride a moped or scooter, always remain in a position that keeps you visible, ideally the left or centre portion of the lane. You face an increased crash risk at intersections, so follow these simple rules to enhance safety:
- Stop far enough back to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead.
- Angle your wheels straight when waiting to turn left to avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic if you are rear-ended.
- Always scan for cyclists and pedestrians before moving.
Endnote
The habit of leaving enough room in front, behind, and beside your vehicle gives you more time to react. Ultimately, the space cushion method is one of the fastest defensive driving techniques to learn, and it’s just as easy to execute. Despite its simplicity, it saves lives, and it could save yours.
It’s a little astonishing how few drivers, who might even have decades of experience, try to keep a safe following distance. Anyway, “yer not gettin’ there any faster by tailing”! 🙂 I changed this habit years ago after reading your column. Thanks and much appreciated!