Final answer:
To maintain a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you, you should use the concept of stopping distance, which includes thinking distance and braking distance. It is important to keep a 3-second following distance or approximately 3-car length distance to allow enough time and space for reaction and stopping the car safely.
Step-by-step explanation:
To maintain a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you, you should use the concept of stopping distance. Stopping distance is the sum of the thinking distance and the braking distance. The thinking distance is the distance the car travels during the driver's reaction time, and the braking distance is the distance the car travels while slowing down and coming to a stop.
The thinking distance depends on various factors such as the speed of the car and the driver's reaction time. The faster you are driving, the longer the thinking distance will be. The braking distance depends on factors such as the condition of the road and the effectiveness of the car's brakes. The wet or slippery road surface will increase the braking distance.
Overall, it is important to keep a safe following distance to allow enough time and space for you to react and stop your car safely. A general rule of thumb is to maintain at least a 3-second following distance from the car in front of you, which translates to about a 3-car length distance at normal speed. However, in certain situations like bad weather or heavy traffic, you may need to increase this distance to ensure safety.