How to Determine the Distance Between the Rear Vehicle and Your Own Car?
4 Answers
The larger the rear vehicle appears in the rearview mirror, the closer it is to your car; the smaller it appears, the farther away it is. If the rear vehicle almost fills the entire rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 3 meters. If the rear vehicle is positioned on the outer side of the rearview mirror, it indicates the rear vehicle is very close to your car. If the rear vehicle occupies about 2/3 of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 5 meters. If the rear vehicle occupies about 1/2 of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 9 meters. If the rear vehicle occupies about 1/3 of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 12 meters. If the rear vehicle is positioned on the inner side of the rearview mirror, it indicates the rear vehicle is relatively far from your car.
I've been driving for over ten years, and I usually judge the distance of the car behind me mainly by the interior rearview mirror. From the driver's seat, if the car behind looks large, occupying more than half of the mirror, it is very close to you, possibly within 5 meters. On the highway, I pay attention to the intensity changes of the rear car's lights: the brighter the light, the closer the car. When reversing, I also use parking lot lines as a reference. For example, when the line just disappears under the rear bumper, the distance is about 3 meters. Maintaining this habit can reduce the risk of rear-end collisions. It's advisable to regularly clean the rearview mirror to ensure clarity. Remember, be extra cautious when driving in rain, fog, or at night, as these conditions can easily lead to underestimating distances. I often slow down and increase the following distance to ensure safety.
When I first started learning to drive, I was worried about misjudging the distance to the car behind me, so I used some simple tricks. By looking in the rearview mirror, if the front of the car behind is clearly visible and the license plate is about the size of a palm, it might be around 10 meters away. I relied on the car's parking sensors, listening to the change in the frequency of the beeping sound—the faster the beeps, the closer the car. Driving school taught me: during the day, watch the outline of the car body shrinking to indicate it's moving away; at night, observe the spread of the headlights. During the beginner phase, I practiced parking in empty parking lots a lot, setting up markers to simulate the position of the car behind. Now I've developed a habit of constantly scanning the mirrors while driving, judging distances more accurately and avoiding unnecessary detours.
When taking my kids to school, I teach them to gauge the distance of the car behind us by looking from the back seat: if the rear car almost fills up the window, it's very close. On normal roads, I count seconds to estimate the distance—for example, if it takes two seconds for the rear car to move from a far point to a near point, then maintain a safe gap. When traveling with family, I emphasize avoiding sudden braking and using a combination of the rearview and side mirrors for observation.
