Following too closely behind another vehicle, or tailgating is one of the most common causes of car accidents in Virginia and across the country. Rear-end accidents often lead to serious injuries, including whiplash, even when they occur at a slow speed. For this reason, drivers should always keep a safe distance between their cars and the vehicles ahead of them in traffic.
As a driver, you may wonder what constitutes a “safe distance.” One place to look for an answer is Va. Code § 46.2-816. The statute prohibits drivers from following another vehicle “more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vehicles and the traffic on, and conditions of, the highway at the time.” The term, “reasonable and prudent” is a vague one and subject to debate. However, the statute clearly indicates that speed, traffic, and road conditions are factors that a driver should consider.
How to Measure a Safe Following Distance
Many drivers follow the “three-second rule.” In other words, you should keep three seconds’ worth of space between your car and the car in front of you in order to maintain a safe following distance.
Many other organizations promote the three-second rule, including:
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- AAA Auto Club
- AARP
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), drivers should actually leave a distance between two-to-four seconds behind the car in front, depending on their speed. For instance, if you are traveling at a speed of less than 35 mph, you should be safe with a two-second cushion. If your speed increases to 35-to-45 mph, a three-second following distance should be safe, while a four-second distance would apply if you were going 46 to 70 mph.
To measure your distance, the DMV suggests that you glance at the car ahead of you as it passes a fixed object like a sign, fence, corner, or overpass. Then, you should count the seconds it takes you to pass the same object. Using the basic “one-one thousand” counting method should work.
If you reach the mark before you have counted off two, three, or four seconds – again, depending on your speed – then you are following too closely. You should slow down and increase your following distance.
Three Seconds May Not Be Enough
The NSC states that “three seconds is the minimum; five seconds is even better.” It also advises increasing following distance “significantly” in bad weather. When hauling a boat, trailer, or camper, the NSC says to add one second to your following distance for every 10 feet of additional length.
“The added weight of the trailer requires a longer stopping distance for your vehicle,” the NSC says.
Stopping distance is a key to what constitutes a safe following distance. Heavier vehicles require more time and space to stop. The opposite applies, as well. Lighter vehicles stop more quickly. So, if you are following a motorcycle or smaller car, you should leave more space in case the vehicle suddenly comes to a halt or quickly reduces speed in order to drive around an object on the road.
Stopping Distance and a Tractor-Trailer in the Rearview Mirror
The longer stopping distance required by a larger vehicle is of concern when the vehicle is behind you, barreling down the road and too close for comfort. When you cannot change lanes to get out of the path of an 18-wheeler, bus, RV, or other large vehicles, you should use the three-second rule and speed up to set a safe space.
Remember: The space between your vehicle and a large vehicle behind you on a highway should be four seconds at speeds of 46-70 mph, plus one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. In Virginia, the maximum length allowed for tractor-trailers is 65 feet in total. So, the safe distance between a passenger vehicle and the largest commercial trucks on the highway is roughly 10 or 11 seconds. The safety cushion needed for an RV, bus, or smaller truck behind you may be shorter, but a 10-second gap would not hurt.
Hit by a Tailgating Driver? Our Virginia Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Accidents happen when truckers or other drivers are in a hurry and speed, or when they drive while distracted, fatigued, or otherwise careless and reckless. Their negligence can cause them to follow too closely and cause a rear-end collision. If you believe that you or a loved one was hurt in a car crash because a driver failed to leave a safe following distance, you should seek help from an experienced Richmond car accident attorney with delay. Contact Marks & Harrison today we have some of the best personal injury lawyers in Richmond through one of our 11 offices located throughout Virginia and receive a free consultation about your case.
