Should you stay 3 or 2 seconds behind a car?

Question

I just took my driving permit test and failed and one of the questions were.

Should you stay...?

2 second behind a car.

3 sceonds behind a car.

5 sceonds behind a car.

I picked 3 sceonds because the book talked about the 3 sec rule forever and even told you how you know how many seconds you are behind a car. But it told me the correct answer was 2 seconds. Why?

Answer 1

Choose a marker, like a tree, a pole, sign, or building, and when the car ahead is at that marker,

begin counting..1 and 2 and 3 and.

If you are at that marker before the count of "3 and", you are too close.

This will take into account  any speed.

We're not supposed to extrapolate, but this should be a safe distance.

Where in h**l did 2 seconds come from?  Any driver's ed should use 3 and, as 3 seconds.

And how could that be considered a failed answer.  It's safer than 2 seconds.  $^*&(**&)$#*)_

I've owned 22 vehicles, and driven about 1,000,000 miles.  Never had an accident, except once when a driver ran a red light and I clipped his bumper, doing about 10 mph.

Answer 2

2 seconds isn't much time to judge a hazard AND react.

FYI: A better rule of thumb (for your own safety) is 1 car length

for each 10mph of speed.

Answer 3

They always told me 2 seconds, until I attended truck driving school.

In truck driving school, they said: 1 second for every 10ft your vehicle is long (rounding up, so most normal cars are 2 seconds, most trucks 7 seconds or so) if you're going slower than 45mph. If you're going faster than 45mph, add another second. If it's raining add another second. If it's snowing, add 2 seconds, and if the road is icy, add at least 3 seconds (or just plain don't drive if you don't have to). Also, scan as far ahead as possible so that you can see problems in time and slow down gradually (don't forget to check right in front of you and your mirrors as well though).

Please try to remember that when you pass a truck, you should be at least 7 seconds ahead of them... I've had so many people cut in front of me (leaving a gap of only 1-2 seconds between me and them) while I was in truck driving school... The truck driver might lose their job if they hit you because you cut in front of them (because they can't prove you cut in front of them) and you might lose your life. Trucks just do take a lot of time/distance to stop.

Oh, and if I can I try to leave a 4 second gap in front of me when driving a car... it's just a lot less stressful.

Answer 4

Hmmm...  I learned to drive in Iowa (about 100 years ago), and back then, they said 1 car length for every 10 MPH.  That's what I have always gone with, and it's never let me down.

I guess this "2 second" thing is something new.

Answer 5

Two Seconds is the normal "minimum" in most states.

The thing you need to understand about the "2-second" thing is this... time is relative to speed.  The faster you go, the more distance there will be between you and the car you are following.  Remember this though... that 2-second thing is the minimum amount of time that should lapse between the car in front of  you passing a fixed object, and you getting to that same object (sign post, bridge railing, pavement change, whatever...).  

You will need to adjust this to a larger gap when driving in bad weather.  The rule I use to teach was add a second for each thing you encounter on top of the base of 2-seconds.  Rain... add 1 second...  (3 seconds following distance),  Snow... add 2, Ice add 3 seconds and so on....  

Just look at it this way.... you can't have TOO MUCH following distance.  If the car in front of you isn't traveling at the speed you want to travel at, pass them... don't try to make them drive faster.  They may just see this "imaginary dog" run out in front of them and slam on the brakes... you lose!!!

I hope this helps... and have a safe and happy New Year.

Answer 6

The faster you go the more time spaces the cars. 3 to 5 is for the interstate.

Answer 7

The rule is

2 seconds if you're in the city

3 seconds if you're on the highway

That's where you got confused probably. =P

Answer 8

i think its 3 seconds cuz my teacher said to count 3 misississippis

Answer 9

Found it !!!!!!!!!!!!

Because the Iowa State Police use the two second rule and so this is why you failed that answer.

http://www.iamvd.com/ods/index.htm

Answer 10

3-4 seconds

Answer 11

I've always heard that you should give a car lenth's space from the other person.

If UR passing a trucker you should give them a few car lenths, like 2.