What distance should you maintain when following another vehicle?

What distance should you maintain when following another vehicle?

• A. One car length
• B. Two seconds rule
• C. Five feet
• D. Half a block

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a safe following distance is crucial for preventing collisions and allowing enough time to react to sudden stops by the vehicle in front of you. The two seconds rule is a widely recognized standard for determining this distance. By counting the seconds it takes for the vehicle ahead to pass a fixed point – such as a sign or a tree – and ensuring that it takes you at least the same amount of time to reach that point, you can judge whether you are a safe distance behind. This rule accounts for factors such as speed, road conditions, and reaction time, ensuring that you have an adequate buffer zone. The other options, such as a car length, five feet, or half a block, do not provide a reliable basis for maintaining safe distance under varying conditions. Distance based on time rather than fixed lengths adapts more effectively to different speeds and situations, making the two seconds rule the preferred guideline for safe following distances.

Maintaining a safe following distance is crucial for preventing collisions and allowing enough time to react to sudden stops by the vehicle in front of you. The two seconds rule is a widely recognized standard for determining this distance. By counting the seconds it takes for the vehicle ahead to pass a fixed point – such as a sign or a tree – and ensuring that it takes you at least the same amount of time to reach that point, you can judge whether you are a safe distance behind. This rule accounts for factors such as speed, road conditions, and reaction time, ensuring that you have an adequate buffer zone.

The other options, such as a car length, five feet, or half a block, do not provide a reliable basis for maintaining safe distance under varying conditions. Distance based on time rather than fixed lengths adapts more effectively to different speeds and situations, making the two seconds rule the preferred guideline for safe following distances.