- Minimum 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead at any speed; at least 4 seconds behind a large vehicle like a motorhome; increase further in poor conditions
- Scan about 12–15 seconds ahead in the city (roughly 1–1.5 blocks), 20–25 seconds in rural areas; check mirrors roughly every 8–12 seconds
- Headlights are required whenever you can't clearly see 150 m ahead — not just after dark; heavy fog, rain or snow count too
- Switch to low beams within 150 m of a vehicle you're following, or within 300 m of oncoming traffic, even on a divided highway
- Keep at least 150 m behind an emergency vehicle that is actively responding with lights and siren
- Sit at least 25 cm from the steering wheel; if the head restraint tilts, a gap of no more than about 10 cm is ideal
- Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance; average perception time and reaction time are each about three-quarters of a second
- Black ice looks shiny and dark rather than grey-white; if you hit it, ease off the gas rather than braking hard
At any speed, keep at least a 2-second gap behind the car ahead.
Knowledge points and examples
Following gaps, traffic cushions, visual lead, mirror use, and early hazard observation
When stopping behind another vehicle in traffic, you should:
Leave enough space to move into another lane without reversing.
If another vehicle is following too closely behind you, you should:
Gradually slow down to encourage the tailgating vehicle to pass safely.
Stopping-distance components and normal, threshold, or ABS braking techniques
Threshold braking (non-ABS) refers to:
Threshold braking means applying pressure to just before lock-up, easing slightly if wheels begin to lock.
The recommended technique for a normal, smooth stop is:
Apply brakes, ease off slightly just before stopping, then reapply gentle pressure.
Night, glare, headlight range, beam selection, fog, smoke, and reduced visibility
The term 'over-driving' your headlights at night means:
Over-driving your headlights means travelling too fast to stop within the distance illuminated by your headlights.
When following another vehicle at night, when must you switch from high beams to low beams?
Use low beams when you are following another vehicle within 150 metres.
Check your understanding
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