Roadwise States Maryland Driving lessons Following & stopping distance Maryland driving lesson · Basic Driving Rules
Following & stopping distance A 2-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 2 minutes
Course unit Basic Driving Rules
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 15 Most rear-end crashes happen because a driver follows too closely. Measuring your gap in seconds gives you time to react, and stopping distance depends on more than just your brakes.
3 to 4 seconds MVA's recommended minimum following distance under ideal conditions
Handbook p. 15 ↗ Reference point An object ahead, such as a bridge, overpass, sign or mile marker, used to measure following distance.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ How to check your following distance: Pick a reference point ahead When the car in front passes it, count "1 one thousand, 2 one thousand, 3 one thousand" If you reach 3 one thousand or more before you reach it, you are at least 3 seconds behind Handbook p. 15 ↗ 4 or 5 seconds Following distance behind vehicles that stop often (buses, delivery vans), possibly more
Handbook p. 15 ↗ Know the rule
Most rear-end crashes are caused by following too closely.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ Your stopping distance depends on: How long it takes you to see a dangerous situation The type and condition of the road The condition of your tire treads The condition of your brakes Handbook p. 15 ↗ Put it into practice
The car ahead passes a mile marker and you count "1 one thousand, 2 one thousand" before reaching it. That's only 2 seconds, so ease off the gas until you get at least 3 to 4 seconds.
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 MVA's recommended minimum following distance under ideal conditions? 1 to 2 seconds 5 to 6 seconds 3 to 4 seconds 8 to 10 seconds Answer: 3 to 4 seconds
The MVA recommends a minimum following distance of 3 to 4 seconds under ideal conditions.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ How should you increase your following distance when behind a bus or delivery van that stops often? To exactly 2 seconds To 3 to 4 seconds, same as normal There is no need to increase it To 4 or 5 seconds, or more Answer: To 4 or 5 seconds, or more
Vehicles that stop often, like buses and delivery vans, call for a longer 4 to 5 second following distance.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ How do you use a fixed reference point to check your following distance? Count seconds from when the car ahead passes it Count how many car lengths are between you and the car ahead Estimate your speed in miles per hour Measure the distance with your mirrors Answer: Count seconds from when the car ahead passes it
Pick a reference point; when the car ahead passes it, count seconds until you reach the same point to check your following distance.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ What is the most common cause of rear-end crashes? Excessive braking Following too closely Poor tire tread Driving with high beams on Answer: Following too closely
Most rear-end crashes are caused by following too closely behind the vehicle ahead.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ According to the handbook, which of these does your stopping distance depend on? Your following distance How long it takes you to see a danger The number of lanes on the road Whether your turn signal is on Answer: How long it takes you to see a danger
Stopping distance depends on the time it takes you to see a dangerous situation, the road's type and condition, your tire treads, and your brakes.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ Why do buses and delivery vans require a longer following distance than a typical passenger car? Because they stop often Because they are always driven faster Because they rarely use turn signals Because they carry more passengers Answer: Because they stop often
Vehicles that stop often, like buses and delivery vans, require a following distance of 4 to 5 seconds or more.
Handbook p. 15 ↗ Previous lesson Speed limits & safe speed Next lesson Lane driving, turning & U-turns More in Basic Driving Rules About the source Roadwise’s Maryland course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 15. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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