In normal driving conditions, how many seconds should you maintain behind the vehicle in front?

• A. Two seconds.
• B. Three seconds.
• C. Four seconds.
• D. Five seconds.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a safe following distance is about time, not a fixed gap. In normal driving, aim for about three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead. To check it, pick a fixed object on the road (a sign, a tree, a lane marking). When the car in front passes that object, start counting seconds. If you still haven’t passed the object after three seconds, you’re at a safe following distance; if you reach it sooner, you’re too close.

That three-second cushion gives you time to notice the lead car braking or stopping and to react and brake smoothly yourself. It accounts for your reaction time and the braking distance, which grows with speed.

In less-than-ideal conditions—rain, ice, fog, or when following a large vehicle—you should increase the gap to four or five seconds to maintain safety.