To avoid causing a rear-end collision, how far behind another vehicle should you stay?

Maintaining a following distance of two seconds behind another vehicle is crucial for safe driving and helps in avoiding rear-end collisions. This two-second rule allows you enough time to react in various driving situations, such as when the vehicle in front of you suddenly brakes or encounters an obstacle.

The two-second gap gives drivers a reasonable margin to respond to unexpected situations, as it translates to sufficient time for braking and stopping. This distance can vary based on factors like road conditions, weather, and the speed at which you are traveling, but two seconds is a solid minimum in most circumstances. It's essential to ensure that you can see the rear of the vehicle ahead of you pass a stationary object, and then count how long it takes before you reach that same object, helping establish a reliable following distance.

A greater following distance may be considered in bad weather conditions or when driving larger vehicles, but the two-second rule is a widely accepted standard for everyday driving, helping to promote safety on the roads.