Final answer:
To give yourself time to brake or maneuver, you should maintain a safe following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This distance is known as the stopping distance and it consists of the reaction distance and the braking distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to give yourself time to brake or maneuver, you should keep a safe following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This distance is known as the stopping distance and it allows you to react and apply the brakes or change lanes if necessary.
The stopping distance consists of two components: the reaction distance and the braking distance. The reaction distance is the distance your vehicle travels while you react to a situation and decide to apply the brakes or change lanes. The braking distance is the distance your vehicle travels after the brakes are applied until it comes to a stop.
To calculate the total stopping distance, you need to take into account factors such as the speed of your vehicle, road conditions, and your own reaction time. It's important to remember that the stopping distance increases with higher speeds and adverse road conditions, so it's crucial to maintain a safe following distance to give yourself enough time to react and stop the vehicle safely.