safe distance
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safe distance
The minimum distance that must be maintained between vehicles, people, or objects in order to avoid accidents or danger. It is especially important in road traffic.
Der LKW-Fahrer hielt den vorgeschriebenen Sicherheitsabstand zum Auto vor ihm nicht ein.
The truck driver did not maintain the required safe distance from the car in front of him.
The word is composed of three parts: 'die Sicherheit' (safety/security), the linking '-s-', and 'der Abstand' (distance). So it literally describes a distance that ensures safety.
Ein ausreichender Sicherheitsabstand kann Leben retten.
A sufficient safe distance can save lives.
'Sicherheitsabstand' (safe distance) is very often used with the verb 'einhalten' (to maintain/observe). Other typical verbs are 'wahren' (to preserve/maintain), 'vergrößern' (to increase), or 'verringern' (to reduce).
Bitte halten Sie immer den Sicherheitsabstand ein.
Please always maintain the safe distance.
To express what the distance is being kept from, German uses the preposition 'zu' followed by the dative.
Halten Sie mindestens zwei Meter Sicherheitsabstand zu anderen Personen.
Keep at least two meters of safe distance from other people.
distance
'Abstand' and 'Sicherheitsabstand' both mean a distance between people, vehicles, or things. 'Abstand' is general and only says that there is space between two points. 'Sicherheitsabstand' is more specific: this distance is necessary so that nothing dangerous happens, for example in traffic or around machines. The words can be confused because every 'Sicherheitsabstand' is also an 'Abstand'. But not every 'Abstand' has to do with safety. If the reason is danger or protection, 'Sicherheitsabstand' is more precise.
Wegen des starken Regens hält Mia auf der Autobahn mehr Sicherheitsabstand.
Because of the heavy rain, Mia keeps a greater safe distance on the highway.
Herr Braun achtet beim Aufhängen der Bilder auf den gleichen Abstand.
Mr. Braun pays attention to equal spacing when hanging the pictures.