California Driver License (DMV) Written Practice Test

How much following distance should you maintain between yourself and the vehicle ahead of you?

1. 3-4 seconds

2. 4-5 seconds

3. 5-6 seconds

4. 6-7 seconds

The correct answer is: 5-6 seconds

It is important to maintain a safe following distance while driving to give yourself enough time to react to any sudden changes or hazards on the road. A following distance of 3-4 seconds, as mentioned in option A, is considered the minimum safe distance by most experts. However, this distance is generally recommended for ideal driving conditions. In real-world situations, such as heavy traffic or adverse weather, it is advisable to increase the following distance to at least 5-6 seconds, as mentioned in option C. Option B and D may also seem like reasonable choices, but a following distance of only 4 seconds or less can increase the risk of a collision, while a distance of 7 seconds or more may be excessive, potentially causing inconvenience to other drivers. Therefore, option C of maintaining a following distance of 5-6 seconds strikes a balance between safety and practicality in most driving scenarios.