How many seconds is a safe distance when you're driving?

jbmiller06

drivers ed and defensive driving courses all say 3 seconds from a still object between their rear bumper and your front bumper. Add 1 second for every 5mph over 55, and up the seconds if you are following a motorcycle also.

Paul T

I've always heard that you're supposed to the count the seconds in between the time the car in front of you passes a selected object and the time that you pass it. If you count less than three seconds, you're too close.

I say three seconds because it is written in the DMV booklet.

dabeatgozon

My best advise is to be a good defensive driver. Try to avoid problems even before it happens. "Always leave yourself an out"...meaning, you are always looking ahead and behind ( in your rear veiw mirror ) of traffic. Yes, a good distance is 3 seconds...but you don't want to keep counting all the time. So once you reach that distance from another vehicle, maintain that distance no matter how fast you are driving. Of course you can lenghten your distance...you are the driver, do what you feel is safe, and don't bother about the tail - gaters...pull over a lane and let them pass by... hey, where's the fire? Make driving fun.

andrachuk

Thousand one, thousand two, thousand three. That is the law.

beernotcider

Three seconds.

Mike C

on the street, I give 3 seconds, on the highway at 70 or so, I try to give a little more if I can.

obscured_obloquy

It says three seconds in the DMV book.

I like putting a good 8 seconds between me and other cars though, 'cause my tires are bald, and I'm not very attentive.

steplow33

As far as safe driving is concerned, it is best to follow the
general rule, which is about 5 car's length from your car to the
car in front of you, if you're driving at an average speed of 100kmph. If you're doing 120kmph, then 6 car's length and so
forth.
In this way, it gives you enough time to apply your brakes
suddenly before you hit the front car's bumper.

izabellim

hey i guess ard 3 seconds

jduck1979

It all depends how fast you're going + weather conditions..... the faster you go, the longer it takes to pull up... likewise it takes longer to pull up if the road is wet when it's been or still is p*ssing down with rain.... or it's been snowing....... and you also need to increase the distance a wee bit if it's foggy and you can't see where the hell you're going.

In perfect conditions, I'd give it about 2 - 4seconds.
In cr*p conditions, give it about 6 - 10seconds.

Give this interactive game a whirl:
http://www.driving-school.com.au/crashofmonth5.html

gymfreak

It depends on how fast you are driving. You should be able to count a minimum of three seconds from the time the car in front of you passes a stationary object and then you pass it.

choirchica55

according to the drivers ed manual...if you pick a stationary point on the road and then count "one one thousand, two one thousand" the car in front of you should start "the timer" and if you reach that stationary point before you finish counting....You're too close

randyrich

Trooper said six seconds behind car is safe.

musonic

What was the slogan?

Only a fool breaks the two-second rule.

Just a guy

It really doesn't matter, because the second that you have a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, another car takes advantage of that space and gets in front of you, only to make you start all over again. It is a vicious cycle. I would say, just keep the most space that you can without leaving too much to where somebody else will want that space.

Michelle M

don't go by seconds. one car length for every 10 miles is what driver's ed and the driving test say.

Big D

One car length for every 10mph.

Unless you are driving one of those obnoxious SUVs then there is never a safe enough distance.

Kenneth S

in ks where I live it's 2 seconds...find a marker and count 1001..1002. If you pass the marker before you get to 2 then you are too close.

Jorge W

I was always told two seconds in Optimal driving weather.... longer for worse weather...

dragonsaver005

What says I,,2 seconds,Why? because I was always taught that in drivers ed and in defensive drivers course and I tried it and it works,of course on a deserted road,and I counted the seconds take take to stop.

bloop87

I think the DMV recommends three seconds, but really that is not a true statement. It really depends on several things, the kind of car you drive, how well your brakes works, the weather and road conditions, the type of road you are driving on (i.e. straight roads, downhill, curves), as well as the driver and drivers in front of you. When ever you drive behind a car, and its going to be for quite a while, its best to observe how the cars in front of you drive. Some drivers brake really hard and some brake much earlier than they should, which can cause an accident if you tailgate. Once you know how the driver ahead of you drives and brakes, then you can adjust to how many seconds is safe.

David W

Two seconds is good. Count one second second, two second second, between the rear of the vehicle in front, and the front of your vehicle. Of course, the faster you are going, the bigger the gap will be, because you travel further in the same time.
If the road is wet, increase to three seconds, and if icy, to five.
This allows sufficient reaction time for you to notice the car in front braking, and you braking. You cannot stop in the sapce allowed, but then the car in front cannot stop dead either.

dodge man

the rule of thumb is one car length for every 10 miles per hour your doing,,as far as the seconds its not judged like that where i live,,it goes by the length method,,good luck .

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