When driving on the highway, what is the minimum following distance you should maintain?

Maintaining a following distance of at least 3 seconds when driving on the highway is essential for ensuring safety. This distance allows a driver enough time to react if the vehicle in front suddenly slows down or stops. The 3-second rule is based on the idea that it takes a moment for a driver to perceive a situation, decide on a response, and execute that response—particularly at higher speeds typically found on highways.

By counting the seconds between when the vehicle in front passes a fixed object and when you reach that same object, you create a buffer that can help prevent rear-end collisions. This distance can be adjusted depending on factors such as road conditions, weather, or visibility, as the minimum following distance may need to increase in those situations.

While some options suggest shorter following distances, they do not provide a safe margin to react to sudden changes in traffic flow, which is crucial on high-speed roads. Therefore, adopting a 3-second following distance is a widely recommended practice for maintaining safety while driving on highways.