Question

On dry roads with good visibility, what is considered a safe following distance?

1) 2 seconds
2) 4 seconds
3) 6 seconds
4) 8 seconds

Answer 1

The recommended safe following distance on dry roads with good visibility is at least 2 seconds, according to the 2-second rule, which accounts for driver reaction time and braking distance.

Step-by-step explanation:

On dry roads with good visibility, a safe following distance is typically recommended to be at least 2 seconds behind the car in front of you. This 2-second rule allows for ample time for a driver to react and bring the vehicle to a stop if necessary. It's important to increase this distance in poor visibility or road conditions. Factors such as driver reaction time and road condition impact the total stopping distance, which includes both the distance covered during the reaction time and the braking distance. For a car traveling at 30.0 m/s, we would calculate the stopping distance by considering the velocity constant during the driver's reaction time of 0.500 seconds and then adding the braking distance. Remember, these are minimal guidelines and increasing your following distance can further enhance safety.