What is the Safe Following Distance in Meters?
1 Answers
When driving on highways, i.e., at speeds above 100km/h, the safe following distance should be more than 100 meters. For fast driving, i.e., at speeds above 60km/h, the safe following distance in meters should equal the speed in km/h; for example, at 80km/h, the safe distance is 80 meters. For medium-speed driving, i.e., at around 50km/h, the safe following distance should not be less than 50 meters. For low-speed driving, i.e., at speeds below 40km/h, the safe following distance should not be less than 30 meters. For very slow driving, i.e., at speeds below 20km/h, the safe following distance should not be less than 10 meters. Safe following distance refers to the necessary gap that a following vehicle maintains to avoid accidental collisions with the vehicle ahead. There is no absolute numerical standard for safe distance; it depends on specific conditions. Generally, the faster the speed and the heavier the vehicle, the longer the required safe following distance. Safe following distance is also influenced by many other factors, such as weather conditions, light intensity, driver's vision, braking equipment, road conditions, etc. There is no absolute standard for safe following distance, only dynamic standards. The most direct and important factor affecting safe following distance is speed. As speed increases, the required braking force, braking distance, and the distance traveled at the original speed during the reaction time all increase accordingly. Maintaining a safe following distance requires controlling speed.
