To measure a safe following distance while driving, simply count off three seconds between cars. An easy way to do this is to wait for the car ahead of you to pass a fixed location, such as a driveway. You can then count off three seconds before your own vehicle reaches the same point. Doing this periodically helps you maintain a safe distance.
The nice thing about using this approach is that it works at any speed. If you are driving down the interstate at 70 miles an hour, you do need to have more space between vehicles than if you are driving down a residential street at 25 miles an hour. But because of the higher rate of speed, a greater amount of distance is covered in three seconds, so your following distance should automatically change as you slow down or speed up.
Why do shorter following distances feel safe?
Many drivers feel that three seconds is too large of a gap, and they feel safe with just one or two seconds between vehicles.
Often, the reason is that a shorter following distance feels appropriate when traffic is moving smoothly. If all of the cars around you on the interstate are traveling at the same speed, you do not need to react to changing conditions and you do not feel like you are close to causing an accident.
But the problem arises when something unexpected happens. If the driver ahead of you has to hit the brakes because they see an animal on the side of the road, for example, you do not have enough space to react appropriately and slow down yourself.
Have you been injured in an accident?
Unfortunately, even when you drive safely, other drivers may tailgate and cause rear-end accidents. If you have suffered injuries, you may have legal options to seek compensation for lost wages, medical bills and much more.