Space cushion and passing — Tennessee Permit Test

You need a gap of at least 4 seconds whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway or your lane merges with another.

Squeezing into a short gap makes the car behind brake hard for you. A wider gap lets you merge without forcing anyone to react.

A minimum four-second gap is needed whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway or when your lane merges with another traffic lane.

If you need to cross several lanes, take them one lane at a time.

Cutting across many lanes at once surprises drivers in each lane. It can cause a crash between other cars swerving to get out of your way.

If you need to cross several lanes, take them one at a time.

When you cross traffic at an intersection, wait for a gap big enough to get all the way across; never block the intersection.

If you stop halfway, part of your car sits in a lane where cars are coming at full speed, and they may not be able to stop.

Make sure you can safely complete the cross or entering maneuver before you enter the intersection.

As a general rule, pass only 1 vehicle at a time.

Passing a line of cars keeps you in the oncoming lane much longer. A car that comes over a hill has no room to miss you.

As a general rule pass only one vehicle at a time.

At 55 mph it takes about 10 seconds to pass a single vehicle, so you need a 10-second gap in oncoming traffic.

Passing takes longer than it feels. Pulling out with a short gap leaves you face to face with an oncoming car before you are done.

At 55 M.P.H. you will need about ten (10) seconds to complete the pass of a single vehicle.

If someone is tailgating you and there is no right lane, wait until the road ahead is clear and passing is legal, then slowly reduce your speed so they go around.

Slamming on the brakes to scare a tailgater only invites a rear-end crash. Easing off when they can pass lets them get away from you.

If there is no right lane, wait until the road ahead is clear and passing is legal, then slowly reduce your speed.

When meeting oncoming vehicles on a two-lane road, stay slightly to the right in your lane so you do not crowd the center line.

Riding near the center line leaves no room if the oncoming car drifts. A little space to the left gives both of you a margin.

When meeting oncoming vehicles on a two-lane road stay slightly to the right of your lane so as not to “crowd” the centerline.

When you must pass between two hazards, split the difference; if one is more dangerous, such as an oncoming semi-truck beside parked cars, leave more room on the truck's side.

A big truck needs more room and pushes a wall of air. Hugging its side to stay off the parked cars puts you closer to the bigger danger.

If the oncoming vehicle is a semi-truck, leave more room on the side that the truck will pass on instead of the side with the parked cars.

How big a gap in traffic do you need, at a minimum, to change lanes or merge?

4 seconds. Squeezing into a short gap makes the car behind brake hard for you. A wider gap lets you merge without forcing anyone to react. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.94: “A minimum four-second gap is needed whenever you change lanes, enter a roadway or when your lane merges with another traffic lane.”