Practice question

How much should you leave between your car and the car in front of you while driving?

  1. 2 seconds
  2. 5 seconds
  3. 10 seconds
  4. 20 seconds

Answer: A — 2 seconds

The recommended following distance between your car and the car in front of you is 2 seconds. This means that you should leave enough space between you and the car in front of you to allow for 2 seconds worth of reaction time in case of an emergency situation. Option B, 5 seconds, and option C, 10 seconds, may be too much distance and could potentially cause other drivers to cut in or become impatient. Option D, 20 seconds, is unnecessarily excessive and could also impede traffic flow. The most important thing to remember is to maintain a safe following distance that allows enough reaction time while also being mindful of other drivers on the road.

Practice more: Florida Learner's Permit Practice Test →