What should be paid attention to when following a car?
2 Answers
When following a car, you should pay attention to: 1. The speed of the car in front: During driving, closely monitor the speed of the car in front and adjust the following distance in time; 2. The type of the car in front: When the car in front is a large bus or truck, and the following car is a small or mini car, the large vehicle ahead will block the view, making it impossible to judge the road conditions ahead, so a larger following distance is required; 3. Road conditions: Different roads have different braking distances. If the road surface has a small friction coefficient, the following distance should be increased; 4. Weather impact: When following a car in rain or snow, the slippery road surface will increase the unsafe braking zone, so the following distance should also be increased.
When following another car, I always remind myself to maintain a safe distance—at least two to three seconds, which varies with speed: keep several dozen meters at 60 km/h. Increase the distance further on rainy days when the road is slippery to avoid delayed braking. Keep a close eye on the brake lights of the car ahead; slow down as soon as they light up—don’t wait until the last moment to brake. Also, watch the road for potholes or oil spills to prevent rear-end collisions. Match your speed with the car in front—too fast risks a collision, too slow disrupts traffic. If the car ahead speeds up and slows down unpredictably, consider changing lanes to overtake. When carrying passengers, stay extra focused—chatting is fine, but avoid distractions like staring at your phone. Regularly check the brake pads and replace them if they’re heavily worn—safety comes first. These habits have helped me avoid traffic tickets.