2007-04-17 13:17:03 · 9 answers · asked by bob 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
I may be wrong, but 10 ft for every 10 mph.
If you can read the license plate of the car in front of you, you're too damn close..............
2007-04-17 13:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by TedEx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 rules regarding the required distance to follow another motor vehicle. The 1st is called the "2-second rule": which means select a non-moving object (light pole, overpass, etc) ahead of you and the car you're following. Once the car you're following passes that object, begin counting "1-thousand-1, 1-thousand-2". If you get to that object before "1-thousand-2" then you are to close.
The 2nd rule is based upon car lengths. Find out what the posted speed limit is (let's say 50mph). You should have 1 car length for every 10mph (so in the case of a 50mph zone - that would be 5 car lengths).
These are for good driving conditions and should be expanded for rain, fog, snow, sleet, etc. They should also be increased if you're operating a motorcycle (use a 6-second interval) or a large truck (especially tractor-trailer combinations).
2007-04-18 02:42:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instead of trying to measure car lengths or distance in feet, use the time method.
At minimum, 2 seconds from the rear of the front vehicle to the front of your vehicle. When the rear of the front vehicle passes a fixed point like a sign, a crack in the pavement, a pole, then begin counting...
1001...
1002...
1003...
When the front of your vehicle passes the same point, then you will have an idea to the distance between the two. If you have a friend riding, they could do the math to determine the actual distance.
This method works at every speed.
Did you know that truck drivers ideally need 4 seconds space? Keep that in mind, wontcha?
2007-04-17 13:49:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
3 to 5 seconds.
2007-04-18 04:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Ohio it's one car length for every 10 miles per hour; but I'd give it a bit more, just to be safe.
2007-04-17 13:47:52 · answer #5 · answered by gramps 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At least three seconds behind the car in front.
2007-04-17 14:30:47 · answer #6 · answered by sweetwater 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ideally, 3 car lengths.
2007-04-17 13:25:52 · answer #7 · answered by Adam's Dad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule of thumb is one car length for every ten miles per hour.
2007-04-17 14:30:49 · answer #8 · answered by kny390 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Four inches.
2007-04-17 16:34:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋