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Difficulty: HardDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

When driving in the center lane of a multi-lane highway, maintaining a fixed 3-second following distance behind a large commercial vehicle ahead is sufficient to cover your stopping distance, regardless of whether a tailgating passenger car is following closely behind your vehicle.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is False. Defensive drivers must increase their front following distance when being tailgated, especially behind large vehicles that block forward visibility.
The statement is false because defensive driving principles dictate that when rear space cushion is compromised by a tailgater—especially behind a large vehicle blocking forward sightlines—you must increase your following distance ahead. This gives you extra time and space to react smoothly without hard braking.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the spatial hazards present in the scenario.
Identified two primary hazards: a large commercial vehicle ahead restricting forward visibility, and a tailgater closely following behind.
Defensive driving requires assessing total space cushion management around the entire vehicle, not just ahead.
2
Evaluate the impact of the tailgater on emergency braking capability.
If sudden braking is required, the tailgating driver will not have sufficient reaction time or distance to stop, risking a severe rear-end collision.
You cannot directly control the distance of the driver behind you.
3
Determine the defensive driving countermeasure for tailgating.
Increase following distance ahead to 4–5 seconds or more.
Expanding front space allows more time to spot potential hazards past the large vehicle and allows for smoother, more gradual deceleration, protecting against a rear collision from the tailgater.

Key Concept

Total Space Cushion Management and Tailgater Mitigation
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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