The Gap

It’s a gap. It’s meant to be a gap. It’s important that it remains a gap.

Have you noticed that when you’re driving in bad weather that some people are so convinced that their brakes will operate just as effectively as they do in the dry that they’re prepared to stake their lives on it? When the rain starts to bucket down, as it has in Perth over the last few days, I try to leave an extra gap between us and the car in front.

Strangely enough, a lot of drivers see that as an invitation to change lanes and slip into the gap. That’s not why it’s there. I don’t want to drive bumper to bumper while a strong cold front is lashing the city with rain and strong winds. I know that slowing down and leaving extra space between vehicles means that I’ll arrive where I’m going a little later but that’s fine by me. The gap’s there because I think keeping my family safe on the roads is more important than arriving at my destination a couple of minutes earlier.



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About the author

Rodney Olsen

Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.

He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.

The views he expresses here are his own.

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1 Comment

  • yes I agree. I like to leave a good distance , or gap, between myself and the next driver, only to find people push their way in and cause me to be closer than I feel is safe. I then hold back for the gap to be safe only for someone else to push in. And so the story continues.

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