Smith System, a leader in professional driver training, analyzed 50 years of driver training and found an inadequate following distance to be the most common driving error.
The Smith System study, culled from 50 years of training more than 100,000 drivers, shows that most motorists maintain a following distance of between one and two seconds behind the vehicle in front of them. Smith System recommends a four-second following distance for today's traffic conditions.
"Inadequate following distance is commonly called tailgating or following too closely," said Smith System president Tony Douglas. "It is the cause of many accidents, including most rear-end collisions."
In its analysis, Smith System found that many drivers are still relying on a two-second following distance recommended in early driver training courses. However, the two-second following distance has been abandoned by most state Division of Motor Vehicle departments as well as the Department of Transportation. The two-second recommendation was derived from testing the stopping distance and reaction time of drivers under ideal conditions, including the road, vehicle and driver, and was considered a minimum.
"These ideal conditions rarely exist," continued Douglas. "This formula also restricts the driver's ability to survey the complete traffic picture. Within two seconds or less, drivers don't have time to take their eyes off the vehicle in front to identify risks further ahead, to the sides or behind. This limited information often leads to hasty reactions that expose drivers to more risk."
Drivers often cite the misconception that a larger following distance will encourage other drivers to cut in front of them, putting them behind schedule. However, according to Smith System, the root of this concern is more emotional than logical. As drivers move in and out of lanes, the net effect balances out and does not impact a driver's schedule.
To determine a four-second following distance, gauge when the rear of vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, such as a telephone pole or an overpass. There should be at least four seconds before your vehicle passes that same fixed point. This distance should be increased in poor road or weather conditions or when driving heavy equipment.
