roadwise.Open study app

Connecticut driving lesson · Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion

Following distance and the space cushion

A 3-minute lesson from the Connecticut course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
22, 23

The more space you keep around your car, the more time you have to react. You need room to enter traffic, to merge, to cross, and most of all in front of you — rear-end crashes are very common and are caused by following too closely.

Know the rule

Enter traffic at the speed traffic is moving. Use the ramp to build up speed; don't drive to the end of the ramp and stop. If you must wait for space, slow down on the ramp so you have room to speed up.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
4 seconds

Gap you need to merge, change lanes or enter a roadway — in its middle, you and the car behind each get 2 seconds

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Keep pace with traffic: vehicles moving the same direction at the same speed can't hit each other. Speeding doesn't save more than a few minutes an hour.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Know the rule

On roads with exit ramps, don't slow down until you move onto the exit ramp.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Space to cross:

  • Stop halfway across only if a median divider is large enough for your whole vehicle
  • Turning left, make sure no vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians block your path
  • Even on green, don't start across if vehicles block your way — you can be ticketed for blocking
  • Don't turn just because an approaching car's signal is on; wait until it actually starts to turn
  • Cross railroad tracks only when you can do so without stopping on them
Handbook p. 23 ↗
3 seconds

Minimum following distance — the three-second rule works at any speed

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Using the three-second rule:

  • Watch the rear of the vehicle ahead pass a sign, pole or other fixed point
  • Count 'one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand'
  • If you reach the mark before you finish, you're too close — drop back and count again
Handbook p. 23 ↗

Use four seconds or more when:

  • The road is slippery
  • The driver behind you wants to pass
  • Following a motorcycle
  • Following trucks, buses, vans or trailers whose drivers can't see you
  • You are being followed closely (pull right and let them pass)
  • You are pulling a trailer
  • Visibility is low from darkness or bad weather
  • Following emergency vehicles
  • Behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings (buses, hazmat)
  • Stopped on a hill or incline — the car ahead may roll back
Handbook p. 23 ↗

Put it into practice

It's raining and you're behind a school bus. Slippery road plus a vehicle that must stop at railroad crossings means you need at least four seconds. You count from a signpost and reach it at 'two-one-thousand', so you ease off and count again.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the recommended following distance under the 'three-second rule'?
  1. No closer than one second behind the vehicle ahead
  2. No closer than 10 seconds behind
  3. At least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead
  4. Exactly one car length per 10 mph

Answer: At least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead

The three-second rule tells you to follow no closer than three seconds behind the vehicle ahead.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
When should a driver increase to a four-second following distance instead of three seconds?
  1. On slippery roads or when following a motorcycle
  2. Only in a school zone
  3. Only when driving under 25 mph
  4. Only on dry highways

Answer: On slippery roads or when following a motorcycle

A four-second following distance is recommended on slippery roads, when following motorcycles, and other special conditions.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
About how large an opening do you need to safely merge into traffic?
  1. Any gap larger than your vehicle
  2. About a ten-second opening
  3. About a one-second opening
  4. About a four-second opening

Answer: About a four-second opening

Any time you want to merge with other traffic, you need an opening of about four seconds.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Why should you leave extra following distance when stopped behind a vehicle on a hill?
  1. Your own car may roll forward
  2. Hills always require a 10-second following gap
  3. Brakes work differently on an incline
  4. The vehicle ahead may roll back

Answer: The vehicle ahead may roll back

Leave extra space when stopped on a hill or incline, since the vehicle ahead may roll back when starting up.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Why should you increase following distance when driving behind a van or a vehicle towing a camper?
  1. You should follow closer so they can see you
  2. That driver may not see you
  3. They accelerate faster than cars
  4. Their loads may shift onto the road

Answer: That driver may not see you

Drivers of trucks, buses, vans, or vehicles pulling campers may not be able to see you directly behind them.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
The three-second rule works at any speed to check your following distance.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The three-second rule works at any speed for checking following distance.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion

All Connecticut lessons