In the Czech Republic, drivers will soon face fines for not keeping a safe distance between vehicles. Currently, this is one of the most common causes of accidents in the country, ranking fifth in frequency.
However, existing legislation does not permit fines for this offense during regular driving, as it does not clearly define what constitutes a safe distance. This is expected to change soon.
So far this year, failing to maintain a safe distance has led to approximately 2,500 accidents, matching figures from the previous year. The problem lies in the absence of a specific legal definition, which makes it difficult to penalize the behavior as a standalone offense unless it is proven to have directly caused an accident.
Experts recommend that drivers maintain at least a two-second gap from the vehicle ahead, equivalent to 50 meters at a speed of 90 km/h (about half the length of a football field). However, many drivers, particularly in urban areas, often ignore this advice. Igor Sirota from the Central Automobile Club of the Czech Republic noted, “In fact, you will become a brake on the entire traffic flow, and several more cars will line up behind you.”
The Czech government plans to introduce two new types of violations: a milder penalty for failing to maintain a two-second safe distance and a stricter sanction for not maintaining a crisis distance of one second, according to Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS).
Other European countries have similar regulations, with fines for not maintaining safe distances. In Germany and Austria, drivers can be fined up to 10,000 Czech koruna. Slovakia imposes fines up to 1,250 Czech koruna, and Poland’s fines can reach up to 2,900 Czech koruna.
