turvaväli

Turvaväli, Finnish for “safety distance,” refers to the distance a driver should keep from the vehicle ahead to allow enough space for safe stopping or reacting to sudden changes. It is a core concept in road safety and is influenced by speed, braking capability, road conditions, weather, visibility, tire condition, and driver alertness. The turvaväli is commonly taught and communicated as a time-based rule of thumb.

The most widely used guideline is the two-second rule: you should not close the gap to the vehicle in front to less than what can be covered in about two seconds of your own travel time. In poor conditions or at higher speeds, a longer distance is recommended, often three seconds or more. In practice, the distance can be estimated by selecting a fixed reference point ahead and ensuring you pass it with a two- or three-second delay. The corresponding distance in meters depends on speed: at 50 km/h the two-second gap is roughly 28 meters; at 80 km/h about 44 meters; at 100 km/h around 56 meters (and three seconds increases these values accordingly).

Factors such as wet or icy roads, reduced visibility, heavy braking, and the presence of large or heavy vehicles necessitate a larger turvaväli. While the rule provides a simple guideline, the safe following distance is not fixed and should be adjusted to conditions to maintain adequate stopping distance and avoid tailgating.