How can beginners judge the distance between cars when driving?
3 Answers
Methods for beginners to judge the distance between cars: 1. When the upper edge of the rear bumper of the car in front is visible, the distance is 1 meter, and you must be careful to maintain this distance; 2. When the lower edge of the rear bumper of the car in front is visible, the distance is 2 meters, and you can slowly adjust to a suitable following distance; 3. When the lower edge of the rear tires of the car in front is visible, the distance is 3 meters, and you can follow a bit closer, as being too far might invite other cars to cut in; 4. When the car behind fills the right rearview mirror, the distance between the two cars should be about 3 meters, but when the car behind fills the left rearview mirror, the actual distance is only 1 meter; 5. When the car behind occupies two-thirds of the left rearview mirror, the actual distance is only 3 meters; 6. When the car behind fills half of the left rearview mirror, the distance to the car behind is about 5 meters.
When I first started learning to drive, I really struggled with judging the distance between cars. Later, I found a great method: when the car in front is stationary, check if its rear wheels completely cover the parking lines or markings on the ground. If they do, it means the distance is too close; if you can see the gaps between the wheels revealing the road, it indicates a safe spacing. I practiced for about ten minutes every day, starting by simulating following a car in an empty parking lot to get a feel for how the distance changes as speed increases, always leaving extra buffer space. On rainy days, you need to be especially careful—visibility is reduced, so slow down and increase the following distance. On highways, remember the two-second rule: count the seconds it takes for the car in front to pass a fixed point. After sticking to this routine for a month, it became second nature, and my nerves settled. New drivers shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes—just practice more in safe environments and take it step by step.
Speaking of beginners estimating car distances while driving, I must say psychological factors dominate initially, and sometimes unnecessary nervousness leads to misjudgment. Here's a visual tip: Use your rearview mirror as a ruler. Pay attention to the size ratio of the following car in the mirror—if you can see the entire face or clear front of the car, it indicates sufficient distance; if only half the rear is visible, it's time to brake and slow down. Also, use road signs for reference—urban streetlight poles are typically spaced about 30 meters apart, which helps estimate approximate distances. Start practicing with short trips; don’t rush onto highways right away. Have a friend ride shotgun to observe and provide feedback. This skill can’t be rushed—I made frequent mistakes in my first week, nearly scraping other cars, but now, with experience, I rely more on intuition and drive much steadier.
