Safe Following Distance in Snowy Conditions?
2 Answers
Safe following distance in snowy conditions should be more than 150 meters. Below are relevant details about maintaining safe distances in snowy weather: 1. Maintain low-speed driving: According to experts, the adhesion coefficient of ice and snow roads is 0.1 or 0.2, which is significantly different from the 0.7 to 0.8 coefficient of dry asphalt roads. If driving at the same speed of 90 km/h, the braking distance on dry roads only requires about 30 meters, while on snow-covered roads it needs over 150 meters. Due to the low adhesion coefficient, traffic safety laws require vehicles to reduce speed on icy roads. Visibility is poor in snowy conditions, with limited visual range, so vehicle speed must be proportional to visibility distance. 2. Maintain steady-speed driving: Snowy roads are slippery, and sudden braking, acceleration, deceleration, or steering - even maneuvers that wouldn't normally be problematic - may cause skidding. Therefore, when driving on highways in snowy conditions, it's important to maintain a steady speed and keep the vehicle's stability. Generally, avoid overtaking.
When driving in snowy conditions, maintaining a safe following distance is especially important, and I always try to increase it. The general rule is to keep at least twice the normal distance or more. For example, if you usually maintain a 50-meter gap in normal weather, you should keep at least 100 meters or more in snowy conditions. From my experience, slippery roads significantly increase braking distance, and if you follow too closely, you might rear-end the car in front in the blink of an eye. I reduce my speed and adjust the following distance to ensure I have enough reaction time—for instance, at around 40 km/h, I keep at least 80 meters away. This gives me enough space to react if the car ahead brakes suddenly or skids. Visibility is also poor in snowy weather, so I make a habit of checking my rearview mirror frequently to ensure no one is tailgating me. Remember, safety comes first—don’t rush to get somewhere.
