Roadwise States New Hampshire Driving lessons Following distance New Hampshire driving lesson · Visual Search and Space Management
Following distance A 2-minute lesson from the New Hampshire 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 Visual Search and Space Management
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 37, 38, 44 Space is time. The more room you leave ahead of you, the more time you have to stop or steer around trouble. NH asks for at least four seconds, and more when conditions are worse.
Know the rule
Traffic, speed, light, weather and road conditions all affect how much space you need. Keep enough following distance to safely stop or change your path.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Know the rule
Following too closely limits your view of the road and doesn't give you time to react.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Measuring your following distance: Watch the rear of the vehicle ahead pass a sign, pole or other fixed point Count: "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four" You shouldn't reach the point before you finish counting to one-thousand-four If you do, slow down and count again at another point until you're at least four seconds back Practice by guessing how many seconds away an object is, then counting Handbook p. 37 ↗ 4 second minimum following distance Increase your following distance: On slippery roads Behind large vehicles: trucks, buses, RVs, vehicles pulling trailers At night, in fog, or in bad weather Behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings (transit buses, school buses, hazmat) Handbook p. 38 ↗ Know the rule
Allow at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
Handbook p. 44 ↗ Put it into practice
The car ahead passes a mailbox and you reach it at "one-thousand-two." You're only two seconds back. Ease off the gas and recount at the next fixed point until you're at least four seconds behind.
A useful reminder NH's number is FOUR seconds, not two or three.
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 minimum following distance in normal conditions? Two seconds One second Four seconds Six seconds Answer: Four seconds
Drivers should keep at least a four-second following distance.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ To measure following distance, what should a driver count from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point? Five Mississippi counts One-thousand-one up to one-thousand-four One to ten quickly Only a single second Answer: One-thousand-one up to one-thousand-four
Drivers count 'one-thousand-one' through 'one-thousand-four' to measure a four-second gap.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Which situation calls for increasing the following distance beyond the normal minimum? When driving during daylight with clear skies When following a large vehicle like a truck or bus When driving on a wide, empty highway When driving on a dry, level road Answer: When following a large vehicle like a truck or bus
The manual lists large vehicles, slippery roads, and poor visibility as reasons to increase distance.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ Vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, like school buses, are an example of when a driver should do what? Pass them before they stop Increase the following distance Decrease the following distance Stay close so others can't cut in Answer: Increase the following distance
Following vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings calls for a greater following distance.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ Following distance should be reduced, not increased, when driving on slippery roads to keep pace with traffic. True False Answer: False
Following distance should be increased, not reduced, on slippery roads.
Handbook p. 38 ↗ How should drivers measure their following distance? Multiply their speed by two Count seconds between passing a fixed point and reaching it Use the length of their own vehicle as a guide Estimate distance using the speedometer reading alone Answer: Count seconds between passing a fixed point and reaching it
Drivers count seconds from when the leading vehicle passes a fixed point until they reach it.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Previous lesson Visual search Next lesson Space to the sides and behind More in Visual Search and Space Management About the source Roadwise’s New Hampshire course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 37, 38, 44. 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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