Rear-end collisions can have nasty consequences for the occupants of both vehicles, especially when they happen at speed. Sometimes they result in multiple vehicle crashes, with even worse consequences.
While fog and other factors can play a role in these auto crashes, there is usually one thing central to them all. One or more drivers did not maintain a safe following distance.
Drivers should always stay at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front
Road safety groups recommend a minimum following distance of three seconds, never less, but sometimes more. That space may need to be increased when the roads are slick due to cold weather or when there is poor visibility. Other things that should cause individual drivers to increase their distance include tiredness or difficulty concentrating. For example, if you have just had bad news about a loved one, or are nervous about a presentation you are about to give, it is time to give other vehicles more space.
Why stay so far back?
You might think three seconds is a long way back. You might worry that you are taking up too much road space, or that someone will take it as an invitation to jump ahead of you. Yet, when you understand that it takes an average of one and a half seconds to notice that the driver in front of you has braked or slowed, and a further one and a half seconds (on average) to slow your car down, you’ll realize that three seconds can easily be much too close.
However carefully you drive, you cannot always prevent someone from being too close on your tail. If you are involved in a rear-end collision, it’s important to seek legal guidance to examine your options for compensation.