Roadwise States Vermont Driving lessons Speed limits & following distance Vermont driving lesson · Speed, Turns, Right-of-Way & Parking
Speed limits & following distance A 3-minute lesson from the Vermont course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Speed, Turns, Right-of-Way & Parking
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 28, 29 Speed limits set the maximum, not the right speed for every moment. Vermont law says your speed must always be reasonable for the dangers present. Your following distance, the gap to the car ahead, gives you time to react when something goes wrong.
50 mph Maximum speed on all Vermont roads, unless another limit is posted
Handbook p. 29 ↗ 65 mph Maximum speed on a Vermont Interstate, unless another limit is posted
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Know the rule
A vehicle must be driven so that it is under control at all times, at a speed reasonable for the dangers on the road.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Drive at a speed safe for conditions: At intersections On curves In heavy traffic Through construction zones During bad weather When pedestrians or bicyclists are present Handbook p. 29 ↗ Know the rule
Many crashes are caused by driving too fast for conditions. Sometimes even 10 mph can be an unsafe speed.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ 4 seconds Minimum safe following distance behind the vehicle ahead
Handbook p. 28 ↗ Know the rule
Allow more than 4 seconds in poor road conditions, in poor visibility, or at higher speeds. Base your gap on speed and conditions.
Handbook p. 28 ↗ Four-second count: 1. The vehicle ahead is about to pass a checkpoint, such as a sign, driveway, pole or parked vehicle 2. Start counting when its rear passes the checkpoint ("one thousand one, one thousand two…") 3. Stop counting when you reach the checkpoint 4. Under four seconds: you're too close, so drop back. Four or more: your gap is safe Handbook p. 29 ↗ Put it into practice
The car ahead passes a mailbox. You count "one thousand one, one thousand two" and reach the mailbox at two. You're following too closely, so ease off until you get at least four seconds, and more than that if it's raining.
A useful reminder 50 is the default everywhere and 65 on the Interstate, unless a sign says otherwise.
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 maximum speed on any Vermont road, unless otherwise posted? 55 mph 50 mph 45 mph 60 mph Answer: 50 mph
The maximum speed for any vehicle on all Vermont roads is 50 mph or as posted.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ What is the maximum speed on a Vermont Interstate, unless otherwise posted? 70 mph 60 mph 65 mph 55 mph Answer: 65 mph
The maximum speed for any vehicle on a Vermont Interstate is 65 mph or as posted.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Using the 4-second method, the vehicle ahead of you passes a road sign, and you reach that same sign in 2 seconds. What does this mean? You have a perfectly safe following distance You should immediately switch lanes The method doesn't apply below 40 mph You're following too closely; drop back Answer: You're following too closely; drop back
Taking less than 4 seconds to reach the checkpoint means you're following too closely.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Under Vermont law, at what speed must a vehicle always be driven? A speed reasonable for the conditions and under control The posted limit exactly, no more or less As fast as surrounding traffic allows 10 mph under the posted limit Answer: A speed reasonable for the conditions and under control
The law requires driving at all times so the vehicle is under control and at a speed safe for conditions.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Which situation does the handbook flag as needing a lower speed than the posted limit, even without a sign? A perfectly straight rural road A four-lane road with no other cars Any road with a 50 mph limit Heavy traffic, curves, or bad weather Answer: Heavy traffic, curves, or bad weather
At intersections, curves, in heavy traffic, or bad weather, you must slow below the posted limit if needed.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ A posted speed limit is always safe to drive at, regardless of weather or traffic. True False Answer: False
The posted limit is a maximum, not a guarantee of safety; conditions can require driving slower.
Handbook p. 29 ↗ Previous lesson Signals & turns Next lesson Right-of-way More in Speed, Turns, Right-of-Way & Parking About the source Roadwise’s Vermont course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 28, 29. 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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