What is the distance between cars on the highway?
4 Answers
On the highway, the distance between cars should be maintained at 100 meters. Here is an introduction about highways: 1. Introduction: Highways are classified as high-grade roads, abbreviated as expressways. According to the "Technical Standards for Highway Engineering" by the Chinese Ministry of Transport, highways are defined as "roads that can accommodate an average daily traffic volume of more than 25,000 small passenger cars, are exclusively for high-speed driving with separate lanes, and have full access control." 2. Background: Some Western countries began constructing highways in the 1930s, and since the 1960s, highways have developed rapidly worldwide. Highways are an inevitable product of economic development. 3. Others: In addition, many countries also refer to direct trunk roads with partial access control and not entirely using grade separations as highways.
I've been driving on highways for decades, and whenever someone asks me about following distance, I always emphasize using the three-second rule. Simply put, choose a fixed point, like a road sign, and when the car in front passes it, I start counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. If I finish counting three seconds by the time I reach that point, the distance is appropriate; if I arrive sooner, I need to increase the gap. This rule is all about speed: at 100 kilometers per hour, a three-second distance is roughly 85 meters, and in rain or fog, I extend it to four seconds or more. Why is it important? Because maintaining distance provides braking space—if the car ahead stops suddenly, I can stop in time. I've seen plenty of accidents caused by tailgating; keeping a safe distance makes driving more secure and comfortable while reducing fatigue. Also, weather conditions vary: in summer, high temperatures make roads slippery, so increase the distance further, and don’t ignore the speed indicated on your dashboard. In short, practice makes perfect—this habit has saved me from a lot of trouble.
From the perspective of safe driving, I particularly emphasize the three-second rule for maintaining distance on highways. This means leaving sufficient braking time when following another vehicle, generally recommending at least a three-second interval. This can be specifically calculated: for example, if you're driving at 110 km/h, you cover about 30 meters per second, so three seconds would be approximately 90 meters. Safe distance isn't just about speed; it also depends on conditions: during heavy rain when roads are slippery, braking distance increases, so I maintain four to five seconds; at night with reduced visibility, I similarly increase the gap. While driving, I always remind myself not to tailgate—it's too risky. The rule is simple but highly effective, preventing about 80% of rear-end collisions while reducing stress and making driving more relaxed. On crowded highways, maintaining distance also alleviates the psychological burden of traffic congestion, which is especially important for long-distance drivers. After adopting this habit, I feel much more at ease behind the wheel and more in control.
When driving, I adhere to one principle: don't get too close to the car in front on the highway. I use a simple method to measure the distance: pick a point like a road sign, count three seconds after the car ahead passes it, and if my car hasn't reached that point yet, it's considered safe. This roughly translates to about 80 meters at a speed of 100 km/h. Being too close is risky; a slight mistake could lead to a rear-end collision. I always pay attention to this during long trips, especially when changing lanes by checking the rearview mirror to confirm. Road safety comes first—don't let your phone distract you and affect your judgment. Maintaining a good distance not only protects yourself but also helps others stay safe.
