Question

When following another vehicle at a speed over 30 mph, you must maintain at least __________ following distance under ideal road conditions, to avoid a collision.\

A. four seconds
B. six seconds
C. five seconds
D. ten seconds

Answer 1

For speeds over 30 mph, maintaining a five-second following distance is recommended to ensure safety under ideal road conditions. The correct answer is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

When following another vehicle at a speed over 30 mph, it is essential to maintain an adequate following distance under ideal road conditions to avoid a collision. The correct answer is: C. five seconds. Maintaining a five-second following distance is widely recommended for speeds above 30 mph.

It's important to understand that these seconds are a buffer for your reaction time. When something unexpected happens on the road, you need time to perceive the danger, react appropriately, and then for your car to come to a stop. At higher speeds, vehicles cover more ground in less time, so you need a longer following distance to safely stop.

In practice, you can measure this distance by using a fixed object on the side of the road. When the vehicle in front of you passes by it, start counting the seconds it takes for you to reach the same point. If you reach the object before you count to five, you're following too closely.