How do you maintain safe following distance for a heavy vehicle?

• A. Decrease following distance to maintain flow
• B. Increase the following distance relative to your speed and road conditions to allow more reaction time
• C. Maintain the same distance as light vehicles
• D. Shorten distance in good weather

Answer: (B)

Heavy vehicles need more space to stop safely because their weight and load create longer stopping distances and require more time to react. Because of this, you should leave a bigger gap behind the vehicle in front, and adjust that gap based on how fast you’re traveling and the conditions of the road. As speed increases, or as conditions worsen (rain, snow, wet or icy surfaces, hills, or heavy cargo), you’ll need even more following distance to give yourself adequate time to notice a hazard, react, and stop without colliding. Keeping the same distance as light vehicles or shrinking the gap, even in good weather, reduces your margin for error and increases the chance of a rear-end crash. Increasing the following distance relative to speed and conditions is the safest practice for a heavy vehicle.