When you’re driving, you always need to be sure that you have enough space ahead of you to stop in an emergency. Many people drive so close to the next car that they can stop at an expected braking point, like a stop sign or a red light, but they’re much too close and they wouldn’t be able to avoid a rear-end accident if there was an emergency – like a pet running into the road.
But how do you determine the right following distance? The key is to count off three seconds. Just look for a stationary object on the side of the road. You can even use lines or markers on the road itself if that’s easier. Once the vehicle ahead of you goes past that point, simply count off seconds in your head. You should have at least three, and you may need to adjust to a longer following distance in poor road conditions.
How much distance do you need?
One thing you’ll notice is that this advice does not tell you how much physical distance to leave between vehicles. There are just too many factors to be considered, so there isn’t a hard and fast rule. More distance is needed at higher speeds, for instance, or with heavier vehicles.
That’s why counting off seconds works so well. If you’re only driving 20 miles an hour, three seconds may put you fairly close to the next car, but you know you can still stop in time. At 70 miles an hour, you need quite a lot more physical distance. Because you’re traveling at a faster rate of speed, three seconds gives you the actual space that you need and adjusts that distance automatically.
Unfortunately, many drivers ignore this advice and tailgate constantly. If they cause rear-end accidents and you suffer injuries, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.