2007-03-31 12:49:20 · 14 answers · asked by wendy w 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
I have a friend who is a police officer and was told that the rule is 1 car length for every 10 mph you are driving. So if you are doing 50 mph, you should be 5 car lengths behind the car in front of you.
2007-03-31 12:57:42 · answer #1 · answered by pro619 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The "distance" changes with the speed of the vehicles. Rather than trying to remember car lengths for a certain speed, try just going with the minimum of 2 second rule. (3 is safer, 2 is more realistic if you don't want everybody and their brother pulling in front of you.)
Pick a spot along the road, a guardrail post, a sign, a rock, doesn't matter, when the car in front of you passes it start counting.... one....one-thousand, two....one-thousand... if you have passed the same object before you finish the second one-thousand, you are traveling too close. It's that simple.
2007-03-31 13:40:20 · answer #2 · answered by todvango 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Each state will have a different method of determining distance. In Louisiana it's three seconds behind, but I always thought that was too close.
Personally, I choose "the farther the better" method. I always keep my distance, change lanes, or allow folks to pass. Especially on highways with speeds of over 60mph.
All it takes is one driver to spill his coffee on his lap, and slam his brakes to cause serious injury or death..
The safest way to drive is by simply assuming all other drivers on the road are drunk. It aint far from the truth in some places.
2007-03-31 12:58:26 · answer #3 · answered by Clark W Griswold 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule is 1 car length every 10mph
So if your going 50, your 5 car lengths back
2007-03-31 12:57:30 · answer #4 · answered by EJFX 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typically a good rule of thumb is two car lengths away from each other...in other words, you should be able to fit two normal sized cars between you and the car in front of you.
2007-03-31 12:54:28 · answer #5 · answered by nmcpsu215 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say the cars need to be a safe distance apart so that in case of emergency, you can get out of your spot quickly...
The "rules" of distance never apply in real life, cause most folks pay no attention to the same rules you do...
Too many crowd in where they shouldn't be...
2007-04-01 02:24:33 · answer #6 · answered by aspenkdp2003 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well cops and drivers ed will say 2 or 3 sec on road and on interstate 3 to 5 se behind,but alot of times is to far back.on regular speeds stay 1 to 2 sec behind or to get on nerves or know em tail gate them:), on interstate2 to 4 sec.but if they cant drive or are obviosly drunk or on drugs stay back
2007-03-31 12:58:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drivers manual states for every 10mph= 1 cars length. It also says to double that when weather conditios are unfavorable.
2007-04-02 05:08:01 · answer #8 · answered by David 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 seconds, at any speed. When the car in front passes something, start counting. If you can't count to 3 before you get there, you are too close.
2007-03-31 12:53:25 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on where you live..In so cal(where I live) a few inches is good enough,especially on the freeways..lol.A good driver will keep a cars lenght away from the car in front.
2007-03-31 12:57:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋