Final answer:
A fire apparatus traveling at 35 mph should maintain a safe following distance that is longer than the general 3-4 second rule due to its size and weight.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a fire apparatus traveling at 35 mph, maintaining a safe following distance is critical to ensure safety for all road users. A general rule for a safe following distance is the 3-4 second rule, which can be used in ideal conditions; this means that when the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object, it should take at least 3-4 seconds before your vehicle passes the same object.
However, considering a fire apparatus is larger and heavier than a typical car, it's prudent to increase this following distance, especially to account for the additional weight that can affect stopping distances. When traveling at 35 mph, a safe following distance might be longer, and it's essential to consider that the braking distance will be greater than a lighter vehicle under similar conditions.
A fire apparatus traveling at 35 mph should maintain a safe following distance that is longer than the general 3-4 second rule due to its size and weight.