Following Distance: 2-Second Rule & Space Management

Maintaining space. As a general rule, drive at the same speed as traffic around you without going over the speed limit. Leave a cushion of space around your vehicle to let other drivers see you and to avoid a collision.

Whenever you follow another vehicle, you need enough space to stop safely if the other vehicle brakes suddenly. A safe following distance is at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. This lets you see around the vehicle ahead and gives you enough distance to stop suddenly.

Do not block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

To give yourself a two-second space, follow these steps: When the vehicle ahead of you passes a fixed object like a sign or overpass, count 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two.' If you reach the object before you finish counting, you are following too closely. Drop back and repeat the count until you are two seconds behind.

In bad weather or poor road conditions, you should increase your following distance to three or four seconds or more. If someone is following you too closely, give yourself extra space in front of you and avoid sudden stops that could cause a rear-end collision.

Remember that larger vehicles need more space to stop. If you are driving a truck, bus, or vehicle pulling a trailer, you will need a longer following distance. When you are being followed by a large vehicle, help the driver by maintaining a steady speed and giving plenty of warning before you slow down or stop.

Space management also means keeping space on both sides of your vehicle when possible. Avoid driving in a 'pack' of vehicles when you can. If vehicles are beside you, either speed up or slow down to clear the space, but be sure you do it safely and legally.

Always try to have an 'escape route' – somewhere you can steer if you have to avoid a collision. This might be the shoulder of the road, another lane (if it's clear), or even a parking lot or driveway. Looking well ahead and being aware of your space will help you spot these escape routes before you need them.