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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), recommends leaving 1 second for every 10 feet of vehicle length between you and the vehicle in front of you at speeds of 40 mph or less. Larger vehicles, such as tractor trailers, should leave 4 seconds for every 10 feet of vehicle length. One additional second should be applied for speeds over 40.

Measured in car lengths, approximately 3 car lengths (49 feet/12 meters) should be left at 20 mph, 6 car lengths (75 feet/23 meters) at 30 mph, 9 car lengths (120 feet/36 meters) at 40 mph, 13 car lengths (175 feet/53 meters at 50 mph, 18 car lengths (240 feet/73 meters) at 60 mph, etc.

When driving in less than pristine conditions (fog, rain, snow, for example) additional space should be left between you and the vehicle in front of you. Also, when following a motorcycle, keep in mind that they can stop faster than other vehicles and leave some extra distance. On the other hand, it generally takes longer for big trucks to stop, so leave some extra distance between you and the truck in front of you, too.

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