How to Judge the Distance Between Cars at Night?

[SanKai]

Methods for judging the distance between cars at night are: determine the position of the roadside in the windshield—the left wheel is located 10 to 15 cm to the right of the left pillar of the windshield, and the right wheel is located 5 to 10 cm to the left of the centerline of the windshield. The distance from the roadside can be seen from the rearview mirror, and you can also judge the position of the right wheel by the middle of the front of the car or the right wiper at one-third of the right side of the hood relative to the ground. Drivers should pay attention to increasing the following distance at night to prevent collisions between vehicles ahead and behind. When meeting another car, be mindful of the non-motorized lane on the right side and overcome driving fatigue. Night driving can easily lead to fatigue because the scenery on both sides of the road is not visible, so it is important to control the speed. When driving from a bright area to a dark area at night, the eyes need time to adjust, so the speed must be reduced. When overtaking, observe whether there are obstacles near the vehicle being overtaken to avoid collisions.

[MichaelLee]

When driving at night, I mainly rely on the brake lights of the car in front to estimate distance. If the lights are bright and clear, the car is still relatively close; if the lights are blurry or the light points are small, it means the car is farther away. I often refer to the dividing lines or road signs on the road—each line on the highway is spaced about 5 meters apart, so counting two lines helps calculate the distance. I also use the time method: after seeing the car in front pass a certain point, I silently count to three before reaching that point myself. If it takes longer, it indicates a safe distance. At night, the dim lighting can cause fatigue, so I drive at a slower speed and pay extra attention to the movements of surrounding vehicles, avoiding staring at one point for too long to prevent blurred vision. In short, combining visual cues and habitual precautions helps prevent mistakes and ensures no rear-end collisions.

[VanAmara]

When it comes to judging distance at night, I find the most practical method is using the position of lights. If the car ahead fills up your rearview mirror, it's too close; if it only occupies a small portion, it's still safe. Pay attention to changes in brake lights—stronger brightness indicates the distance is closing. Road objects like streetlights or bridge piers can also serve as references to estimate distance by counting the intervals. With experience, I slow down in advance on curves or mountain roads, maintaining a wider buffer to avoid sudden braking. I also remind myself to regularly check headlight brightness and keep mirrors clean for clearer visibility.

[LeJulianna]

At night, I use simple methods to judge distances while driving, mainly by observing the outline and size of the preceding vehicle's lights. Clear details of the outline indicate proximity; when the lights appear as small and blurry dots, the distance is greater. I also refer to road markings, such as safety islands or dividers, to estimate the distance in meters. I adhere to the three-second rule, maintaining at least a three-second travel distance between vehicles, extending it to four seconds in poor lighting conditions. During rainy or foggy weather, extra caution is needed—increase the following distance and avoid relying on a single reference point.