You are driving on the freeway. The vehicle in front of you is a large truck. You should drive:
Answers
Closely behind the truck in bad weather because the driver can see farther ahead than you can.
Farther behind the truck than you would when following a passenger vehicle.
No more than one car length behind the truck so the driver can see you.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: Farther behind the truck than you would when following a passenger vehicle.
Explanation:
When driving on the freeway behind a large truck, it is essential to maintain a safe following distance for several reasons, particularly in challenging weather conditions. Large trucks have significant blind spots and can obstruct your view of the road ahead. If you follow too closely behind a truck, your visibility is reduced, making it harder to see traffic signals, road signs, and obstacles or accidents up ahead. This limited line of sight can delay your reaction time in case the truck brakes suddenly or if there’s a need to maneuver around an unexpected hazard.
In adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog, the risks of reduced visibility and slippery road surfaces increase. The vehicle in front, especially a large truck, may kick up water or spray that makes it even harder for you to see. In such cases, maintaining a larger buffer zone between your vehicle and the truck ensures that you have more time to respond to sudden changes in traffic conditions and prevents a potential rear-end collision.
The general rule for safe driving is to follow the “three-second rule” or more, depending on the weather and road conditions. This means you should be able to count at least three seconds between when the truck passes a fixed point and when your vehicle passes the same point. When driving in poor weather, you should extend this distance to allow for longer stopping distances and increased reaction time. Following too closely not only increases the risk of an accident but also places you in danger if the truck’s brakes are applied suddenly, as stopping distances can be significantly longer when road conditions are less than ideal.
Overall, maintaining a greater distance from a large truck on the freeway, especially in bad weather, provides you with the time needed to make safe decisions and respond effectively to sudden situations.