What should novice drivers pay attention to when following other vehicles?
2 Answers
Novice drivers should pay attention to the following when following other vehicles: When small cars follow large vehicles, they are greatly affected by the vehicle in front, so it is necessary to appropriately increase the distance and closely monitor the movements of the vehicle ahead. When following buses in busy urban areas, be patient and maintain your position. If you need to overtake, observe the situation from a relatively long distance to ensure that you don't panic due to sudden appearances of pedestrians or cyclists during the overtaking process. When driving on uphill sections or overpasses, if the traffic is slow and stop-and-go, always leave enough distance to prevent the vehicle in front from rolling back when starting. Special attention should be paid to overloaded large trucks—it's best not to follow them and to leave a longer distance than usual to prevent the truck from rolling backward.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and my advice to new drivers is never rush when following another car - safety always comes first. I recommend beginners maintain a safe following distance at all times, preferably using the 'three-second rule' as a test: pick a fixed object like a streetlight or billboard, and after the car ahead passes it, you should count three full seconds before reaching that same point. This works well in clear weather or city driving, but in rain, snow, or on highways, increase it to four or even five seconds because slippery roads make braking harder. Don't just stare at the car ahead's rear bumper - develop the habit of scanning the entire road situation, watching for speed changes in front and checking if anyone's tailgating you. I've seen many beginners follow too closely and end up rear-ending others, which is both costly and dangerous. Also avoid distractions like phones or loud music that slow your reaction time. Practice in empty areas first to build confidence. Following distance isn't just about avoiding collisions - it's fundamental to overall driving confidence.
