How to Determine the Distance to the Rear of the Vehicle in Front
2 Answers
There are several methods to determine the distance to the rear of the vehicle in front: 1. In a normal driving posture, observe the vehicle ahead through the lower edge of the windshield. When you can just see the upper edge of the right front headlight of the vehicle in front, the closest distance is approximately 10 cm; 2. When you can see the upper edge of the left corner of the trunk on the rear of the vehicle in front, the closest distance is approximately 5 cm; 3. When you can see the center emblem on the rear of the vehicle in front, the closest distance is approximately 2 cm. If you are driving, you can check the distance to the vehicles on either side using the rearview mirrors. If you notice a larger gap on the left, slightly turn the steering wheel to the left. If the gap is larger on the right, adjust the steering wheel to the right. Remember to make minor adjustments to avoid collisions with adjacent vehicles due to excessive movement.
When I first started driving, I was always worried about getting too close, especially in traffic jams or on highways where rear-end collisions are more likely. Later, I learned to use the visual reference method: pick a reference point, such as aligning the bottom edge of the windshield with the bottom of the rear wheel of the car in front, which gives a distance of about five meters—safe and sound. In poor visibility conditions like rain or snow, it’s even more important to leave extra space. Speed makes a big difference; for slow city driving at 30 km/h, keeping a car’s length is sufficient, while at 120 km/h on highways, the distance should expand to around 100 meters. I use this method every day during my commute, and after forming the habit, the risk of accidents has dropped significantly. Others have shared the time interval method: when the car ahead passes a road marker, count three seconds before you reach the same point—simple and practical. Overall, staying focused and avoiding distractions like using your phone is key.
