Safety Margins

Purpose

To test your ability to keep an appropriate buffer zone to the side and front at all times.

Types of errors you can make

CDE - NCDE

It is a critical driving error (CDE) and therefore the test will be terminated ahead of time if you for example

Follow other traffic with one second or less following distance
Fail to maintain a safe distance when passing roadside obstacles
Fail to maintain a safe distance passing or overtaking a stationary or moving vehicle
Fail to maintain a safe distance when passing predestrians walking on the road, road related area or shared zone

It is a non critical driving error (NCDE) if you for example

Reduce the following distance to less than 2 but more than 1 second
Reduce the following distance to less than 4 but more than 2 seconds in adverse conditions
Maintain less than 1.2m distance from other road users when traveling at normal speeds
Stop in a line of traffic with insufficient space to the vehicle in front
Drive to close to the edge or kerb

TIP

If you drive 60 km/h keep at least 4 car lengths distance, driving 80 km/h make it at least 6 and driving 100 km/h at least 8.  Remember, tailgating is not a gentleman's offence but reckless driving, endangering your life and the life of others.