How do you measure your following distance?

Measuring your following distance accurately is essential for safe driving, especially in a commercial vehicle. The correct method involves counting seconds until you reach a landmark after the vehicle ahead passes it. This approach allows you to maintain a safe distance based on time rather than guessing distances visually.

Counting seconds provides a clear and manageable metric for assessing following distance, as it accounts for your speed and the speed of the vehicle in front of you. The general recommendation is to maintain a following distance of at least four seconds under normal conditions, which helps ensure there's enough space to react in case of sudden stops or emergencies.

Looking at the speedometer only gives you the speed at which you're traveling, but does not provide any information about the distance to the vehicle in front of you. Watching the rearview mirror is primarily used for monitoring traffic conditions behind you and does not effectively measure distance to the vehicle ahead. Calculating following distance based on vehicle length would not provide a reliable measure, as it does not take into account speed or necessary reaction time, which can vary greatly depending on traffic conditions and vehicle types.