What is the following distance when driving below 100 km/h on the highway?
3 Answers
When driving on the highway, if the speed of a motor vehicle exceeds 100 kilometers per hour, it should maintain a distance of more than 100 meters from the vehicle in front in the same lane. If the speed is below 100 kilometers per hour, the distance from the vehicle in front in the same lane can be appropriately shortened, but the minimum distance should not be less than 50 meters. Below is relevant information about following distances: 1. Road speed limit requirements: According to traffic experts, road speed limits are mainly set based on the road environment and traffic flow needs. For example, some suburban roads may only have two lanes in both directions but allow a maximum speed of 70 km/h; in urban areas, some roads may have eight wide lanes, but in densely populated or inconvenient traffic areas, the speed limit might be 40 km/h or 60 km/h. 2. Different speed limits for different road sections: Even on the same highway, speed limits can vary for different sections, especially in areas with sharp curves, slopes, tunnels, bridges, ramps, or construction zones. The speed limits may be adjusted and can change based on actual conditions. Generally, the maximum speed limit for passenger cars on highways is 120 km/h, but due to factors like road environment in the actual design and construction of highways, speed limits can range from 80 km/h to 120 km/h.
As an ordinary driver on the highway, when my speed is below 100 km/h, the golden rule for following distance is the two-second rule: pick a fixed reference point, such as a road sign or bridge pier ahead, wait until the car in front passes it, then mentally count '1001, 1002' before driving past—that's about right. When speed drops to 80 or 90 km/h, the distance automatically decreases to roughly 40 to 50 meters, providing enough reaction time to avoid rear-end collisions. In rainy or foggy conditions, increase the gap to over three seconds because braking distance lengthens; even at lower speeds on highways, traffic can be dense, so never tailgate. Once, at 80 km/h, I nearly had an accident due to insufficient distance—since then, I've developed a habit of regularly checking spacing. Simple methods can save the day. Cultivating good habits makes driving safer.
From a safe driving perspective, when traveling below 100 km/h on highways, it is recommended to maintain at least a two-second safety gap. This effectively prevents rear-end collisions: pick a prominent fixed point ahead, start silently counting '1001, 1002' as soon as the car in front passes it, and if you pass that same point after two seconds, the distance is naturally appropriate. At speeds like 80 km/h, you need about 44 meters, which is shorter than at 100 km/h but doesn't mean you can relax your vigilance. In adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or ice and snow, double the time. Through experience, I've found that this simple mental timing method is both practical and easy to remember, suitable even for beginners, without relying on instruments. Safety first is always the golden rule of driving.
