'in the distance you can see to be clear' - is it possible?

[VolvoDriver]

Hmm.... just had second DAS day - with a different instructor to first - and had a bit of a 'discussion' regarding the feasibility of following the maxim of always being able to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear.

My first instructor said that it is possible - even if that means slowing to a crawl round some bends. Yesterday's instructor, however, said that whilst it was a good idea in theory there was no way you could stick to it in today's traffic conditions.

Two respected, experienced riders - but which is right?!

[Pete.]

The second one IMHO.

If you ride in heavy traffic or stop-start town traffic, and always leave enough room so that you can stop within the distance you see to be clear, you run a much greater risk of having an opportunist pull out on you from a side turning, or turning right across your path when approaching from the opposite direction, or switching lanes on you to avoid slowing traffic in their own lane. Any of these can instantly cause your speed to be too great for your available stopping distance. Leaving a bigger gap between you and the driver in front is increasing the risk of these things happening, I find it much safer to close up to below my safe stopping distance (at town speeds) and cause drivers to wait for a bigger gap.

The first guy's opinion is right for the open road IMO but the second guy is being more realistic.