Final answer:
You should double the standard following distance to at least 6 seconds in bad weather to account for reduced traction and increased stopping distance, as recommended for road safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of how much you should increase your following distance in bad weather is significant for road safety. In ideal conditions, a safe following distance is often cited as being at least 3 seconds behind the car in front of you. However, in bad weather conditions such as rain, snow, or ice, this distance should be increased.
The specific increase is often recommended to be at least double, making it a 6-second distance, to account for the reduced traction and increased stopping distance. The examples provided, like Figure 2.34 and Figure 2.47, illustrate that the distance necessary to stop a car varies greatly with road conditions and driver reaction time, affirming the importance of adapting following distance in various weather conditions.