Final answer:
To determine the necessary three feet distance from the edge of your lane, use visual alignment with a reference point on your car, adjusting for road and traffic conditions. Safety distances should account for your vehicle's dimensions, road conditions, and traffic speed to prevent close encounters and accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Determining Safe Distance While Driving
When driving on a three-lane street, determining a safe distance from the edge of your lane involves understanding the dimensions of the road and your vehicle. If we consider that the average lane on a roadway is about 3 meters wide and the typical car is approximately 2 meters in width, a driver should ensure that at least half a meter (which is roughly 1.5 feet) to a full meter (about 3 feet) on either side of their vehicle is clear to maintain a safe distance from the lane edge or other vehicles.
To maintain a three feet distance from the edge of the lane, one practical way to gauge this is by using a reference point on your car, such as the side mirror or a spot on the hood, and visually aligning this with the lane marking. This requires practice and becomes intuitive over time. However, in actual driving situations, the distance should be adjusted accordingly to account for the speed of travel, the condition of the road, and the proximity of other objects or road users.
Keep in mind that safe distances can vary based on road conditions and speed. For example, in a situation where the speed limit is 60 km/hr, to cross the road safely a pedestrian should be able to walk at least 2 meters further than the width of the car (4 meters in total), before the car reaches them. If a car is approaching and is 28 meters away (equivalent to the length of 8 average cars), determining whether it is safe to cross the road would depend on a pedestrian's walking speed and the car's speed. If the time it takes to cover the walking distance is less than the time it would take for the car to reach that point, then it is not safe to cross.