Following distance — Nebraska Permit Test

Use the three-second rule to determine a safe following distance; reaching the fixed point before three seconds pass means you are following too closely.

Without enough space, a driver cannot stop in time when the car ahead brakes, and the cars collide.

Use the three-second rule to determine safe following distance.

To use the three-second rule, watch the vehicle ahead pass a fixed point such as an overpass or sign, then count the seconds until you reach the same spot.

Guessing the gap by eye fools most drivers into following far closer than they think.

Watch the vehicle ahead pass some fixed point, such as an overpass, sign, fence, corner or other marker.

The three-second rule is a minimum, and should be increased by one second for each adversity factor, such as rain or heavy traffic.

In rain or heavy traffic it takes longer to stop, so the minimum gap is not enough room.

The three-second rule is a minimum requirement and should be increased by one-second for each adversity factor encountered (rain, heavy traffic, etc.).

Keep a cushion of space from other vehicles: stay in the middle of the lane with enough room ahead and behind to pass or stop safely.

A car boxed in with no space around it has nowhere to go when something goes wrong ahead.

Keep a cushion of space from other vehicles to have time to react to emergencies and avoid collisions.

On two-way streets, leave room on both sides: between you and oncoming traffic and between you and parked cars.

A car door opening or a car drifting over the center line hits the driver who left no room on that side.

On two-way streets, it's equally important to leave room between oncoming traffic and parked cars.

Keep space behind you by keeping a steady speed and signaling in advance whenever you slow or stop.

A sudden, unsignaled stop gives the driver behind no warning, and they run into the back of your car.

Keep space behind by keeping a steady speed and signaling in advance whenever slowing or stopping.

Under the three-second rule, when are you following too closely?

When you reach it in under three seconds. Without enough space, a driver cannot stop in time when the car ahead brakes, and the cars collide. Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.66: “Use the three-second rule to determine safe following distance.”