There is a deeper mathematics here. Life, much like cash, often moves in increments. We spend our time counting moments—5 minutes here, 10 minutes there—hoping they compound into something meaningful. To count "5s and 10s" is to acknowledge that success is rarely a sudden windfall; it is an accumulation of minor wins. It is the discipline to respect the small numbers so that the large numbers might eventually respect you.
The second component, the “10s,” refers to ten “Keys to Space Cushion Driving,” which translate the broad seeing habits into concrete maneuvers. These include principles like Count to Five (waiting a full five seconds at a stop sign or intersection before proceeding) and Use the 8-Second Rule (maintaining a following distance that accounts for the vehicle’s weight and stopping distance). While these rules may appear excessively rigid to an outsider—a UPS driver must, by doctrine, cover the brake at every intersection regardless of a green light—they serve a critical statistical purpose. According to internal UPS studies, the majority of avoidable collisions occur within the first four seconds of a stopped vehicle moving again or within the “blind” moments at intersections. The 10s eliminate subjective judgment, replacing it with a predictable, auditable routine. ups 5s and 10s
Establish eye-to-eye contact with other drivers to ensure they see you. There is a deeper mathematics here