What is the safe following distance rule on highways?
2 Answers
The safe following distance rule on highways is: For small passenger vehicles, the safe following distance should equal the speed limit on the highway. Key points: 1. Example: When driving a small passenger vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 km/h on the highway, the minimum following distance should be 100 meters. 2. Regulations: According to Article 80 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, when a motor vehicle travels on a highway at speeds exceeding 100 km/h, it should maintain a distance of at least 100 meters from the vehicle ahead in the same lane. When the speed is below 100 km/h, the following distance may be appropriately reduced, but should never be less than 50 meters.
Whenever I drive on the highway, I remember that following distance rule—the three-second rule. Simply put, when the car in front passes a fixed point, like a roadside sign or a bridge pillar, I start counting silently in my head: one second, two seconds, three seconds. If I reach that point before finishing the count, it means I'm too close and at risk of a rear-end collision. Once, I was in a hurry and didn’t pay attention, almost hitting the car ahead. Since then, I’ve made this a habit. On the highway, speeds are high, and reaction times are short—the three-second gap provides enough buffer space, especially when overtaking or in traffic jams. Actually, this method was taught in driving school, but many people are too lazy to use it. I find it extremely practical, helping you drive more steadily and reduce accidents.
