Final answer:
On snow-covered roads, maintaining a following distance of 8 to 10 seconds is recommended to account for slippery surfaces and reduced traction, ensuring sufficient stopping distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
On snow-covered roads, it is important to maintain a safe following distance to ensure enough time and space to react in case of an emergency. A commonly recommended rule is to maintain a minimum following distance of 8 to 10 seconds when driving on snow-covered roads. This increased following distance accounts for the potentially longer distance necessary to stop your car, as stopping distances can vary greatly depending on road conditions and driver reaction time. In clear conditions, a 3-second rule is typically suggested, but in adverse weather conditions like snow, extending this to 8-10 seconds helps to account for reduced traction and the increased likelihood of slippery surfaces.