Final answer:
The best method of determining following distance is the 3 second rule, which accounts for both perception and reaction times to ensure safe stopping distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best method of determining following distance is the 3 second rule. This rule is a simple way to ensure that there is enough following distance between your car and the car in front of you to allow for safe stopping, accounting for the time it takes to perceive a hazard and to react to it.
To apply the 3 second rule, when the rear of the car ahead of you passes a fixed point such as a sign or a pole, count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three." If you pass the same fixed point before you finish counting, you are too close and should increase your following distance. This method becomes especially relevant when we consider reaction time, as illustrated in the Take-Home Experiment, where a simple test with a ruler can be used to estimate reaction time and thus better understand the importance of the following distance.