How to Judge the Distance Between Front and Rear Vehicles?
2 Answers
Methods to judge the distance to the front vehicle: 1. When the upper edge of the front vehicle's bumper is visible from the lower edge of the windshield, the distance is approximately one meter; 2. When the lower edge of the front vehicle's bumper is visible from the lower edge of the windshield, the distance is approximately two meters; 3. When the lower edge of the front vehicle's rear tire is visible from the lower edge of the windshield, the distance is approximately three meters; 4. The horizontal line relative to the ground seen from the lower edge of the left rearview mirror indicates the position of your own vehicle's front. Methods to judge the distance to the rear vehicle: 1. When the rear vehicle's image occupies the entire rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 3 meters; 2. When the rear vehicle's image occupies two-thirds of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 5 meters; 3. When the rear vehicle's image occupies half of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 9 meters; 4. When the rear vehicle's image occupies one-third of the rearview mirror, the distance is approximately 12 meters.
I've been driving for over ten years, and judging the distance between cars mainly relies on daily experience. For the car in front, I usually observe the relationship between the bottom edge of the windshield and the position of the rear lights of the car ahead: if I can fully see the bottom of the rear wheels of the car in front, the distance is about two meters or more; if the entire rear wheels are visible, it's over three meters. On rainy or foggy days, I'm extra cautious because blurred vision can lead to misjudgment, so I use turn signals more often to alert vehicles in front and behind. When parking, I find a reference point like a fire hydrant or curb, then move back and forth to test the feeling. Maintaining a safe distance is crucial—at least 100 meters on highways and half that in the city. I advise beginners to practice slowly and not rush; with time, a sense of space naturally develops. Additionally, regularly check and adjust the rearview mirrors to ensure a clear view and avoid blind spots that could cause risks.
