What is the recommended following distance between you and the car in front of you?

The recommended following distance of at least three seconds under normal conditions is based on the need for drivers to maintain a safe distance to react to unexpected situations. This three-second rule allows enough time to assess the speed of the vehicle in front and to respond appropriately in case of sudden stops or emergencies.

To apply this rule, you can use a fixed point on the road, such as a sign or a tree. Once the vehicle in front of you passes that point, you should count “one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three.” If you reach the point before you finish counting, you are following too closely and should increase your distance.

Maintaining this distance ensures that you have better control and less risk of a collision in various driving conditions, such as heavy traffic or inclement weather, where stopping distances may increase. This approach is a fundamental aspect of defensive driving that promotes safety on the road.