Which of the following are reasons that someone will want to increase following distance?

• A. To improve visibility of the road ahead
• B. To give yourself more time to react to hazards
• C. All
• D. To avoid tailgating

Answer: (C)

Increasing following distance improves safety in several ways. It gives you more time to react to hazards, since you have a larger window to notice sudden braking or obstacles and respond smoothly. It also improves visibility of the road ahead, because with more space you’re less likely to be blocked by the vehicle in front and can see hazards sooner. And it helps you avoid tailgating, which reduces the risk of a rear-end collision and the stress or abrupt braking that can follow. Because these benefits all come from keeping more space between you and the vehicle ahead, this is why all of these are valid reasons to increase following distance. In practice, use the three-second rule in good conditions, and increase to four seconds or more in wet, icy, or low-visibility conditions.