Car permit · Following distance

The blue car in the picture is following the red car. What is the minimum gap its driver should leave?

The blue car in the picture is following the red car. What is the minimum gap its driver should leave?

Correct answer: One car length for each 10 mph, or 3 seconds of travel.

Answer options

  1. AOne car length at any speed, or half a second of travel
  2. BOne car length for each 30 mph, or 1 second of travel
  3. COne car length for each 10 mph, or 3 seconds of travel Correct

Why

The usual guideline is one car length for every 10 mph, or a gap of at least 3 seconds: when the red car passes a fixed point such as a pole, the blue car should not get there until three seconds have gone by. A gap of a second or less leaves no time to react if the red car brakes hard.

About this question

Topic: Following distance   License: Car permit

Part of these practice sets:

Where it applies: Used in practice sets for:

Practice the whole set

This question is part of Road Rules (31 questions). Take the full set and check your score.

Practice Road Rules

Practice on your phone.

Practice here in your browser, or use the app with the same questions and explanations. It's free on the App Store.