A safe following distance when driving in normal conditions at speeds of 30 mph or slower is:
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3-6 seconds.
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None of the choices.
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2-4 seconds.
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4 seconds.
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Explanation
When driving at speeds of 30 mph or below, maintain a following distance of two to four seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead. This gives you enough time to react and stop safely if traffic suddenly slows or stops, reducing the risk of a rear-end collision.
As your speed increases, or if road conditions become less favorable - such as in poor visibility, wet or slippery roads, or heavy traffic - you should increase your following distance to at least four seconds or more to maintain a safe margin.
Answer Statistics
🟡 This question is moderately difficult — 28% of our users answer it incorrectly.
Other questions in the same category: Safe Following Distances
When should you increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you?The “three-second rule” applies to the space ______ of your vehicle.Allowing a space cushion around your vehicle is important because:The ten-second rule helps the driver determine a safe following distance.Drivers should allow a larger space cushion when stopping:You should allow a four-second or more cushion when:Under ideal driving conditions, drivers should allow at least ___ seconds between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead.You are driving on a four-lane divided highway, two vehicles are driving side by side ahead of you, and you are in a hurry. You should:Drivers may need more space in front of their vehicle:Drivers should allow extra space in front of their vehicle when following:
This question appears in the following DMV practice tests: