What is the safe following distance in meters?
2 Answers
When the vehicle speed is above 100 km/h, the safe following distance should be more than 100 meters; when the speed is above 60 km/h, the safe following distance should be equal to the speed value (e.g., 60 km/h = 60 meters); at 80 km/h, the safe distance is 80 meters; when driving around 50 km/h, the minimum safe distance should not be less than 50 meters; for speeds below 40 km/h, maintain at least 30 meters. Safe following distance refers to the necessary gap a trailing vehicle must keep with the preceding vehicle to avoid accidental collisions. There's no absolute numerical standard for safe distance—it depends on specific conditions. Generally, higher speeds and heavier vehicles require longer safe following distances.
On my daily commute, I often remind myself of the importance of maintaining a safe following distance. Generally, there's no fixed meter measurement for a safe distance—it depends on speed and road conditions. For example, on the highway at 90 km/h, I use the 'two-second rule' to judge: pick a fixed point, start counting two seconds after the car in front passes it, and if my car reaches that point exactly at two seconds, it's just right. This roughly translates to about 80 meters. In the city at 30 km/h, 10 meters is sufficient. However, on rainy or foggy days, the distance should be doubled because braking distance increases on slippery roads. I've also noticed that following large trucks is more dangerous, so I leave extra space to avoid sudden braking by the vehicle ahead. In fact, tailgating is a common cause of rear-end collisions—I once had a close call but managed to brake in time. Developing this habit daily not only protects myself but also makes other drivers on the road feel more at ease. Regularly checking the rearview mirror and adjusting my pace accordingly has proven quite effective.
