Should your following distance increase as your speed in a pursuit increases?

Should your following distance increase as your speed in a pursuit increases?

• A. No.
• B. Yes.
• C. Only in rain.
• D. Only if weather is clear.

Answer: (B)

As speed increases, you must increase your following distance to ensure you have enough time to perceive, react, and stop. Total stopping distance grows with speed because perception and reaction distance increase with speed, and braking distance increases roughly with the square of speed. That means higher speeds require a larger gap to avoid a rear-end collision if the lead vehicle slows or stops. Weather affects how much distance you should use, but the need to increase distance with speed remains true in both wet and dry conditions. The correct idea is that following distance should grow as speed goes up; choosing that it wouldn’t, or limiting it only to rain or only to clear weather, isn’t safe.

As speed increases, you must increase your following distance to ensure you have enough time to perceive, react, and stop. Total stopping distance grows with speed because perception and reaction distance increase with speed, and braking distance increases roughly with the square of speed. That means higher speeds require a larger gap to avoid a rear-end collision if the lead vehicle slows or stops. Weather affects how much distance you should use, but the need to increase distance with speed remains true in both wet and dry conditions. The correct idea is that following distance should grow as speed goes up; choosing that it wouldn’t, or limiting it only to rain or only to clear weather, isn’t safe.