Final answer:
In bad weather, drivers should increase the following distance to ensure enough time and space to react to other vehicles and road conditions, especially due to longer stopping distances caused by reduced visibility and road grip.
Step-by-step explanation:
When driving in bad weather, drivers should increase the following distance. This is because adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog can significantly reduce visibility and road grip, leading to longer stopping distances. Increasing the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead allows for more time and space to respond to traffic and road conditions.
It's important to remember that accelerating and decreasing the following distance can be dangerous under such conditions. In particularly cold winters, stopping distances can be even longer due to icy roads, making it even more essential to maintain a generous following distance.
To ensure safety, always adapt your driving to the conditions and be mindful of factors such as driver reaction time and road conditions, which play crucial roles in determining stopping distances.