Following distance — Kentucky Permit Test

A Kentucky driver should always try to keep a minimum following distance of 4 seconds between their car and the vehicle in front.

Rear-end crashes are the most common kind, and they all come from following too close.

You should always try to keep a minimum following distance of 4 seconds between your car and the vehicle in front.

It is against Kentucky law to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent.

Tailgating is not merely rude driving. There is a law about it.

It is against the law to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent.

To measure a Kentucky following distance, a driver watches the rear of the vehicle ahead pass a stationary point and counts the seconds it takes to reach the same point.

Counting against a fixed object works at any speed, which is why it is stated in seconds.

Count the seconds it takes you to reach the same sign, pole, or stationary point

A Kentucky driver is following too closely if they pass the stationary point before counting to one thousand four.

The count is the test, and getting there early means the gap is too small.

You are following too closely if you pass the stationary point before counting to one thousand four.

Following the vehicle in front closely limits a Kentucky driver's vision of the road and does not allow enough time to react.

The gap is not only stopping room. It is also how much of the road ahead can be seen.

Following the vehicle in front of you closely limits your vision of the road and does not allow you enough time to react to avoid a crash.

A Kentucky driver increases following distance on slippery roads, when following large vehicles, at night, in fog or bad weather, and when following motorcycles.

Four seconds is the floor for good conditions. Everything else asks for more.

When following large vehicles such as trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, and vehicles pulling a trailer

A Kentucky driver increases following distance behind vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, such as transit buses, school buses or vehicles carrying hazardous materials.

These vehicles stop where nothing else does, and the driver behind is the one who has to expect it.

When following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, such as transit buses, school buses, or vehicles carrying hazardous materials

Kentucky tells drivers to allow extra space behind motorcycles, because motorcyclists can turn and change lanes much quicker than other vehicles.

A motorcycle can be somewhere else before the car behind has finished reacting.

Motorcyclists can turn and change lanes much quicker than other vehicles.

What minimum following distance does Kentucky give?

4 seconds. Rear-end crashes are the most common kind, and they all come from following too close. Kentucky Driver Manual, p.51: “You should always try to keep a minimum following distance of 4 seconds between your car and the vehicle in front.”