What are the situations that should be paid attention to when driving a motor vehicle in following distance?
3 Answers
Things to pay attention to: When following a taxi, be prepared for it to pull over at any time to pick up or drop off passengers; when the car in front has a "new driver" sticker, increase the following distance to prevent sudden braking; when following a large truck loaded with goods, increase the following distance and avoid following for too long to prevent dangers from falling cargo or blind spots; when driving in fog, be alert to sudden braking by the vehicle ahead. Here are some relevant points: 1. Following distance: Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front to prevent rear-end collisions. 2. Nighttime precautions: When driving at night, use lights appropriately and overtake only when it is safe to do so.
When I first started driving, I always had the habit of following the car in front too closely. Later, I learned that this is the biggest danger. You should maintain a following distance of at least two to three seconds, so that if the car in front brakes suddenly, you still have time to react. Especially in urban traffic jams, the road conditions are complex and it's easy to get distracted. Once, I almost rear-ended someone because I was using my phone, and since then I’ve firmly refused to check messages while driving. You also need to pay attention to the brake lights and small movements of the car in front, such as sudden lane changes, so you can prepare to avoid them in advance. On rainy days, you need to be even more cautious—the road is slippery, and reactions are delayed, so increasing the distance to more than four seconds is safer.
When I first got my driver's license, I was so nervous that my palms would sweat while following cars, and the instructor kept nagging about maintaining a safe distance. Now I understand that the key is adjusting the distance according to different speeds. On highways, keep at least 100 meters when driving fast, and about 20 meters in urban areas at slower speeds. I've also noticed that when there's a large truck ahead, it's better to stay farther back to avoid blind spots. Additionally, always check the rearview mirror to prevent being sandwiched by a tailgater, and remember to signal before changing lanes. Fatigue driving is a big no-no; when I feel sleepy, I pull over at a rest area for a quick nap.
