Question

Difficulty: EasyWinter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

When driving on roads covered with snow or packed ice, drivers should increase their following distance to at least eight to ten seconds.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. Drivers should increase following distance to 8–10 seconds on snow or ice to account for reduced traction and increased stopping distance.
Because snow and ice severely impair tire traction, stopping distances can increase up to ten times compared to dry roads. Increasing the following distance to 8 to 10 seconds provides an adequate safety cushion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify road traction conditions
Snow and ice significantly decrease tire grip on the road surface.
Reduced friction directly increases the distance required to bring a vehicle to a complete stop.
2
Calculate safe following distance adjustments
The standard dry road following distance of 3–4 seconds must be increased to 8–10 seconds in winter conditions.
This extra time buffer prevents rear-end collisions when sudden braking or slowing is required.

Key Concept

Following Distance in Winter Conditions
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