When should you increase your following distance?

Increasing your following distance is crucial for safety, especially in adverse weather conditions or when driving behind large vehicles. In adverse weather, such as rain, snow, or fog, road conditions can become slippery and visibility can be reduced. This means that stopping distances will be longer, and drivers need extra time to react to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions. A greater following distance gives you that necessary extra time to respond safely.

When driving behind large vehicles, such as trucks or buses, your visibility of the road ahead can be severely limited, and these vehicles could stop abruptly or take longer to stop than smaller vehicles. Maintaining a greater distance allows you to see beyond the large vehicle and react appropriately to traffic situations that may arise.

While familiar areas may feel comfortable to drive in, that doesn’t influence the need to adjust your following distance based on external factors like weather or the size of the vehicle in front of you. Driving during the daytime generally provides better visibility, but it doesn’t negate the need to adjust your following distance in different situations. Lastly, while driving on highways might call for a longer following distance due to higher speeds, the principle applies universally across all driving conditions, particularly during adverse weather or when large vehicles are involved.