You should decrease your following distance if somebody is following you too closely. Increase your following distance. Opening up room in front of you will help you to avoid having to make sudden speed or direction changes. It also makes it easier for the tailgater to get around you.
What does decrease your following distance mean?
If you decrease your following distance
you make it shorter or smaller and you will end up closer to the vehicle in front of you
. Increase is the opposite. It means “becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important”. An increased distance means that there is a larger – and safer – gap between vehicles.
How do I stop following too closely?
Use the 4-second rule
.
For the average large vehicle, the 4-second rule is the best way to make sure you’re not following the car in front of you too closely. To utilize this rule, pick a stationary object up ahead. This could be a road sign, a tree, or even a piece of tire on the shoulder of the highway.
Should you increase following distance when being tailgated?
So at city speeds, if you’re being tailgated,
increase your following distance to another second or two
. This way, when the driver ahead brakes hard, you won’t have to brake as hard. This means the driver behind you would not have to brake as hard either, helping you avoid being rear-ended.
Should you increase or decrease your following distance if somebody is following you too closely?
Over 40 mph, you’d need 5 seconds for a 40-foot vehicle and 7 seconds for a 60-foot vehicle. See Figure 2.12. 3. You should
decrease your following distance
if somebody is following you too closely.
What should you do if someone is following you too closely?
If you are being followed too closely, you should
increase your following distance
, avoid making quick moves, and avoid relying on tricks (such as flashing your lights) to help other drivers pass. Speeding up may only increase the danger by causing the tailgater to continue tailgating you at a higher speed.
When should you not increase your following distance?
Sometimes
Three Seconds
Is Not Enough
The three-second rule is recommended for passenger vehicles during ideal road and weather conditions. Slow down and increase your following distance even more during adverse weather conditions or when visibility is reduced.
What is the legal following distance?
The proper distance for drivers is usually referred to as a “
2 second”
or “3 second” rule. You should keep a distance of between 2-3 seconds of time between you and the car in front of you.
How many car lengths is a safe distance?
The rule of thumb is to maintain
at least a three-second following distance
, giving you time to react and avoid potentially dangerous situations. You can calculate this by using a fixed object, such as a pole or an overpass to determine how far in front of you the car is.
What is the 3 to 6 second rule?
Double and Triple the 3-Second Rule
The 3-second rule only applies to
good, daylight driving conditions
. If you are driving in heavy traffic, driving at night, or in weather conditions that are not ideal, such as rain or fog, consider doubling the 3-second rule to six seconds as a safety precaution.
How do you know if you are following too closely behind another vehicle?
Using the basic “one-one thousand” counting method should work.
If you reach the mark before you have counted off two
, three or four seconds – again, depending on your speed – then you are following too closely.
What is considered following too closely?
Following too closely may be defined as, “
situations in which one vehicle is following another vehicle so closely
that even if the following driver is attentive to the actions of the vehicle ahead he/she could not avoid a collision in the circumstance when the driver in front brakes suddenly.”
What is the 12 second rule?
That’s rule 8.04, the “12-second rule.” When
the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball
. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.” … That’s a lot longer than 12 seconds!
What is the minimum travel time between two vehicles that would ensure a safe following distance?
FOLLOWING DISTANCES – THE TIME-INTERVAL FORMULA The “Time-Interval Driving Method” will allow you to calculate a safe following distance between your vehicle and a vehicle ahead. Under normal conditions, follow at a distance of
at least three seconds
.
What advantages does a longer following distance have?
A long following distance has the advantage of
giving you more time to use
the… You can avoid conflicts while driving in heavy urban traffic if you focus your attention on… When changing lanes, check the blind spot by checking over your shoulder…
Is the 3 second following distance equal to stopping distance?
The reason the three-second rule works, no matter your speed, is that
as your speed increases, the distance between you and the car ahead of you needs to increase to allow for a safe stopping distance
. The rule of seconds requires an increase when it comes to snow, ice or heavy rain.
