A 3-minute lesson from the Virginia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Space is your reaction time. Staying in the middle of your lane with room ahead and behind gives you time to steer or brake out of trouble. Virginia measures following distance in seconds, and the number of seconds rises with speed.
Know the rule
Create a space cushion by staying in the middle of your lane, with enough room ahead and behind for others to pass or stop safely.
These times don't include delays in perception from being tired, on medication or distracted. Road conditions, speed, alertness and vehicle weight all change your ability to stop.
If you're tailgated, don't brake suddenly. Move to another lane if possible, or gently tap your brakes to flash your brake lights and slow down, encouraging the tailgater to pass or slow.
At 40 MPH, the car ahead passes a road sign. You count 'one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two' and pass the sign. At 35–45 MPH you need 3 seconds, so drop back.
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 following distance is recommended when traveling under 35 MPH on a dry surface?
2 seconds
3 seconds
4 seconds
1 second
Answer: 2 seconds
At speeds under 35 MPH on dry surfaces, a 2-second following distance is recommended.
