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Question

Difficulty: MediumFollowing Distances and Tailgating

You are driving on a dry road behind another vehicle. How should you use a stationary roadside object to check that you are keeping a safe following distance?

  1. A
    Estimate one vehicle length for every 10 mph shown on your speedometer.
  2. Note when the vehicle ahead passes the object and ensure at least two seconds elapse before you reach it.Answer
  3. C
    Start counting two seconds only when you observe the brake lights illuminate on the vehicle ahead.
  4. D
    Ensure you reach the fixed object within four seconds to stay within the slipstream of the vehicle ahead.

Answer

Note when the vehicle ahead passes the object and ensure at least two seconds elapse before you reach it.
Under dry, clear driving conditions, the Highway Code recommends maintaining at least a two-second time gap behind the vehicle ahead. Using a fixed roadside marker—such as a bridge shadow, tree, or signpost—enables the driver to measure this gap accurately. If the front of your vehicle reaches the object before completing the two-second count, you are following too closely and should drop back.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Select a fixed reference point ahead on the road, such as a bridge, road sign, or lamppost.
A clear stationary marker is identified for time measurement.
A fixed marker allows accurate measurement of the time interval between both vehicles.
2
As the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the fixed marker, count 'one thousand and one, one thousand and two' (two full seconds).
The two-second time buffer is timed accurately.
Two seconds is the minimum time needed on dry roads to account for driver reaction time and braking distance.
3
Verify that your vehicle passes the same marker only after finishing the two-second count.
Safe following distance is confirmed or adjusted if you arrive too quickly.
If your vehicle reaches the marker before finishing the count, you are tailgating and must ease off the accelerator to increase the gap.

Key Concept

The Two-Second Rule for safe separation distances on dry roads
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Following Distances and Tailgating

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