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Difficulty: MediumDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

When following a large commercial vehicle or high-profile truck in city traffic, decreasing your following distance allows you to anticipate potential hazards ahead by giving you a clearer view through the truck's side mirrors.

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Answer

The statement is false. Defensive driving principles dictate that drivers should increase their following distance when trailing large vehicles to maintain proper forward visibility and hazard perception.
The statement is false. Following closely behind a large vehicle creates a visual obstruction that conceals upcoming road hazards, traffic lights, and sudden stops ahead. To practice effective hazard anticipation, defensive drivers increase their following distance behind large vehicles, establishing a larger visual field to see around the truck and react in time.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the spatial relationship and visual lead time when following a large vehicle.
Following too closely behind a high-profile vehicle blocks the driver's sight line to traffic ahead, traffic signals, and potential road hazards.
Defensive driving relies on early hazard anticipation, which requires an unobstructed view of the road ahead.
2
Determine the appropriate defensive driving adjustment for trailing large vehicles.
Increasing following distance (to at least 4 seconds or more) opens up the field of vision around the truck.
A larger safety cushion allows the driver to see around the vehicle, anticipate slowing traffic or hazards, and react safely.

Key Concept

Following Distance and Visual Lead Time behind Large Vehicles
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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