What is the safe distance between vehicles on urban roads?
4 Answers
There is no absolute standard for the correct following distance on urban roads according to traffic laws, only dynamic standards. The safe distance between vehicles does not have an absolute standard, only dynamic standards. The most direct and important factor affecting the safe distance is speed. When driving at speeds above 100km/h on highways, the safe distance should be more than 100 meters. Reference speeds: When driving at speeds above 100km/h on highways, the safe distance should be more than 100 meters. When driving at speeds above 60km/h on fast roads, the safe distance in meters should be equal to the speed in km/h. When driving at medium speeds around 50km/h, Three-second interval: At a speed of 36km/h, which is 10 meters per second, the distance covered in three seconds is 30 meters; at a speed of 72km/h, which is 20 meters per second, the distance covered in three seconds is 60 meters; at a speed of 108km/h, which is 30 meters per second, the distance covered in three seconds is 90 meters.
After years of driving in urban areas, I deeply understand the importance of maintaining a safe following distance. City speed limits are typically 30-60 km/h, and under dry conditions, it's recommended to keep at least a 2-3 second gap—equivalent to about 25-50 meters at 50 km/h. Here's a simple method I use: pick a lamppost or roadside marker, start counting '1001-1002-1003' once the car ahead passes it; if I haven't reached that point by the time I finish counting, I'm at a safe distance. In rainy or foggy conditions, double the gap to 4-6 seconds due to longer braking distances. With frequent traffic lights and congestion in cities, sudden braking is common; developing this habit has helped me avoid rear-end collisions. Remember to regularly check your brakes and tire conditions—safety is no small matter, as it affects both your life and others'. An extra meter of distance means one less scare on the road.
As a young driver, I enjoy using modern technology to assist in maintaining a safe distance. In urban areas, at speeds between 30 to 50 km/h, my car's system or mobile app suggests a spacing of 10 to 20 meters. For instance, at 50 km/h, the app pops up a reminder to keep a distance of over 15 meters, and during rainy days, it automatically warns to extend it to 25 meters. I've personally tested this: at a busy intersection, manually selecting reference points and timing, counting two and a half seconds after the car ahead passes a line to confirm the distance. With heavy city traffic, following too closely can easily lead to accidents—just last week, I almost rear-ended someone, which taught me to ease up on my vigilance. I recommend downloading a similar tool; it's practical and intuitive, and combining it with your own observations makes it even more reliable. Ensuring you can clearly see the full taillights of the car ahead in your rearview mirror adds an extra layer of safety.
From a safety perspective, maintaining a minimum following distance of 2 seconds is recommended for urban driving. Taking 50km/h as an example, a gap of 15-25 meters is necessary to prevent rear-end collisions. Use a fixed reference point to time it: count two seconds after the vehicle ahead passes before you reach the same point. Statistics show that most urban accidents stem from insufficient following distance; developing this habit can significantly reduce risks. It's simple yet effective—the key lies in consistent practice.
