You're driving on an open road in dry weather. What distance should you keep from the vehicle in front?
- A A two-second time gap
- B One car length
- C 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches)
- D 2 car lengths
Why this is the answer
One way of checking there's a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front is to use the two-second rule. To check for a two-second time gap, choose a stationary object ahead, such as a bridge or road sign. When the car in front passes the object, say 'Only a fool breaks the two-second rule'. If you reach the object before you finish saying the phrase, you're too close and need to increase the gap.
Why the other answers don't fit
- B
- One car length — A fixed length takes no account of speed, so it is far too little at anything above walking pace.
- C
- 2 metres (6 feet 6 inches) — Shorter than a car, and nowhere near enough at road speed.
- D
- 2 car lengths — Still a fixed measure, and still far too close on an open road.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 7
- The Highway Code — rule 126
Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.
Where this question comes from
The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.
Asked in: Car
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