How to Accurately Judge the Distance Between Vehicles
2 Answers
Here are methods to judge the distance between vehicles: 1. Determine the distance of the rear vehicle to decide whether lane changing is possible. Assess how far the vehicle in the adjacent lane is located behind and to the side of your driving vehicle, usually by observing through the side rearview mirrors. When using the rearview mirror to judge the distance, first adjust the vehicle seat and the angle of the rearview mirror properly. If the body of the rear vehicle has entered the danger zone to the left of the dotted line in the rearview mirror, it indicates that the distance between the vehicles is very close, and you should not change lanes at this time. 2. Since the driver is positioned on the left side of the vehicle, it is more difficult to grasp the situation of the right lane. Moreover, the blind spot of the left side rearview mirror is larger than that of the right side. If the rear vehicle occupies half of the rearview mirror area, with only half of its body visible, it means the rear vehicle is very close to your car. You should maintain your current lane and avoid changing lanes.
Having driven for many years, I believe judging the distance between cars mainly relies on eyesight and intuition. When driving in the city, I pick a fixed point, like a utility pole or a road sign, and when the car in front passes it, I start counting slowly '1001, 1002.' If I reach around two seconds by the time I pass the same point, it means the spacing is safe. On the highway, it's even simpler—I let the car behind me stay in my position for more than two seconds before following. In rainy weather or at night when visibility is poor, I add a few extra seconds as a buffer. The size of the car also affects perception: driving a small car makes the distance feel shorter, while driving a larger one makes it feel longer, so you need to adjust accordingly. The key is to practice more—don’t just rely on the meter; developing intuition is more effective. Safety is far more important than saving time. Beginners can start practicing on low-speed roads.
