What is the minimum distance to keep from the front of the car when turning to avoid collision?
2 Answers
Here are the distances required to avoid collision when turning a car: 1. The safe turning distance varies by vehicle model: Generally, a safe turning distance must be at least 1.5 meters for most vehicles, with larger vehicles requiring additional safety distance. 2. Methods to judge the distance between cars: (1) When the upper edge of the rear bumper of the car in front is visible, the distance is approximately 1m; (2) When the lower edge of the rear bumper of the car in front is visible, the distance is approximately 2m; (3) When the lower edge of the rear tires of the car in front is visible, the distance is approximately 3m. If the bumper of the car in front is not visible, do not turn; instead, brake and check the distance by getting out of the car.
This is a really practical question, and as someone who's driven trucks for twenty years, I have deep feelings about it. When judging the safe turning distance, you need to consider three key factors: vehicle length, turning angle, and obstacle position. For regular cars, you should leave at least one car length (about 4 meters) for a 90-degree turn to be safe. With semi-trailers, double that to 8 meters or more because the trailer swings wide after the cab turns. A useful trick is to turn the steering wheel fully first, then inch forward slowly while checking the side mirrors until you see the obstacle beside the rear wheels before making the turn. Remember to keep speed below 10 km/h—turning with wheels against the curb can actually save about half a meter. In rainy conditions, add 30% extra space since poor tire grip makes skidding and scraping much more likely.
