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Difficulty: EasySpace Ahead and Following Distance

A commercial driver is operating a 3030-foot delivery truck at a steady speed of 35 mph35\text{ mph} under ideal weather and dry road conditions. According to commercial driving safety standards, what is the minimum safe following distance the driver should maintain behind the vehicle ahead?

  1. A
    2 seconds2\text{ seconds}
  2. 3 seconds3\text{ seconds}Answer
  3. C
    4 seconds4\text{ seconds}
  4. D
    1 second1\text{ second}

Answer

3 seconds3\text{ seconds}
For commercial vehicles traveling below 40 mph40\text{ mph}, drivers should maintain at least 1 second1\text{ second} of following distance for every 10 feet10\text{ feet} of vehicle length. For a 3030-foot truck, dividing 3030 by 1010 gives 3 seconds3\text{ seconds}. Because the vehicle is operating under 40 mph40\text{ mph}, no extra second is added.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the base following distance required for vehicle length.
30 feet/10=3 seconds30\text{ feet} / 10 = 3\text{ seconds}
The standard CDL formula requires 1 second1\text{ second} of space for every 10 feet10\text{ feet} of vehicle length.
2
Evaluate whether speed requires an additional second.
No additional second required (35 mph<40 mph35\text{ mph} < 40\text{ mph})
An extra 1 second1\text{ second} buffer is added only when driving at or above 40 mph40\text{ mph}.

Key Concept

Calculating following distance for commercial vehicles based on vehicle length and operating speed.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Space Ahead and Following Distance

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