Q: How can you evaluate whether you are not looking far enough ahead when you drive?
A: You make frequent, quick stops.
Space around your vehicle gives you distance to react in emergencies and avoid a crash. Create a space cushion around your vehicle by staying in the middle of your lane. Make sure there is enough room ahead of your vehicle and behind it for other vehicles to pass or stop safely.
Use the two-, three- and four-second rule to determine if you are following far enough behind the vehicle ahead of you.
Here’s how the following distance rule works:
Glance at the vehicle ahead as it passes a fixed object, such as an overpass, sign, fence, corner or other fixed mark.
Begin counting the seconds it takes you to reach the same place in the road.
If you reach the mark before you have counted off two, three, or four seconds, depending on speed, you’re following too closely. Slow down and increase your following distance.
For bad weather conditions, heavy traffic, poor pavement or if your vehicle is in poor condition, add extra seconds to increase your following distance.
For further readings visit dmv.virginia.gov.
When you’re behind the wheel of a car – whether alone or with passengers – driving safely should always be your top concern. We’re more distracted than ever, so it’s crucial to know the basics of safe driving and practice them every time you’re on the road. Here are some safe driving tips shared by Nationwide.com.