What are the precautions for following a car?
2 Answers
During traffic congestion, it is important to maintain a following distance of more than three meters and drive at a steady speed. The distance to the rear vehicle can also be adjusted by observing the brake lights, providing timely signals to the other party. Stay focused, keep an eye on the road ahead, and react promptly to any situations, preparing to brake if necessary. Specific considerations are as follows: 1. Overtaking with caution: Large trucks are wider, posing risks when following them and obstructing your line of sight. Many drivers choose to overtake, but it is crucial to check if other vehicles are also attempting to overtake. If so, slow down first and wait for them to complete the maneuver before accelerating to overtake. When shifting gears, pay attention to your speed. High speeds on highways increase the likelihood of fatal accidents. 2. Driving on slopes: Ascending and descending slopes present inherent challenges, with visibility being another obstacle. When going uphill, it is difficult to see oncoming traffic. Therefore, on slopes, maintain heightened awareness and be vigilant to prevent rolling back. If stopping is necessary, always engage the handbrake to signal the vehicle behind, then honk to alert oncoming traffic. While ascending, you can increase throttle but must control your speed carefully. When descending, always reduce speed.
I remember when I first started driving, I had a rear-end collision once—a lesson learned the hard way. The most crucial thing when following another car is to maintain enough distance: at least a two-second gap in clear weather, and double that to four seconds in rain or fog. How to estimate it? Pick a fixed point on the roadside, like a utility pole or a sign, and after the car ahead passes it, silently count to two seconds before you reach it. Reaction time needs to be quick—usually around half a second—so you’re left with just about one and a half seconds to react. Don’t fixate on the brake lights of the car in front; scan the road ahead for sudden hazards like darting vehicles or blind-spot pedestrians. If the car ahead is crawling, resist the urge to overtake impatiently—just switch lanes for a steadier drive. Before every trip, check your brake pads for wear; this is non-negotiable. On elevated roads or highways during heavy traffic, I make a habit of lowering the volume on the stereo to avoid distractions—safety always comes first. One accident is enough to regret for years.
