Signal well in advance for turns, stops and lane changes. Second, if COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. A dirty headlight reduces light output by more than 50 percent. The traction of your tires on the road will be greatly reduced, seriously affecting your steering and braking ability. This helps other drivers see you and helps you see what is ahead. Adjust your speed to avoid meeting other vehicles in slippery areas, such as shady spots and frost on bridges during cold weather. Drive cool. You can do this by going to settings on any GPS, or even on Google Maps on your iPhone which we use when our GPS is on the fritz. It is Illinois law that drivers signal at least 100 ft prior to turns in city or residential areas and 200 ft prior to turns on an interstate or rural highway. It is Illinois law that drivers signal at least 100 ft prior to turns in city or residential areas and 200 ft prior to turns on an interstate or rural highway. If the GPS led us down US Highways, as it did through most of Wyoming, we welcomed the well-pavedroads andefficient travel. Give yourself plenty of space. Total stopping distance can also be affected by other factors, such as: An attentive driver will consider all these factors when choosing a safe following distance. Rear-end accidents often lead to serious injuries, including whiplash, even when they occur at a slow speed. C. Faster than the interstate traffic. For speeds greater than 30 mph, a safe following distance should be 4 seconds or more to allow you time to make a decision and take action. Driving Between States During COVID-19: What To Know - SmarterTravel Keep the defroster on to clear steamed windows. If the OBD light comes on, talk with your auto dealer for more information. Do not "overdrive your headlights" by driving so fast you could not stop in time to avoid a hazard that appears within the length of road ahead lighted by your headlights. Interstates promote a mindset of destinations - not journeys. Last updated: April 3, 2019Everyday Driving11. To measure your distance, the DMV suggests that you glance at the car ahead of you as it passes a fixed object like a sign, fence, corner, or overpass. Turn on your low beam headlights (and fog lights, if your vehicle has them) so others can see you. What is considered a safe following distance will vary a bit depending on the speed you are traveling at and roadway conditions. For instance, if you are traveling at a speed of less than 35 mph, you should be safe with a two-second cushion. maintain space on all sides of your vehicle, The roadway offers poor traction, for instance, due to. They direct their light up and into the fog, which bounces the light back into your eyes, creating glare and making it even harder for you to see ahead. Accidents happen when truckers or other drivers are in a hurry and speed, or when they drive while distracted, fatigued, or otherwise careless and reckless. A vehicle traveling at 60mph is moving three times as fast as a vehicle traveling at 20mph, though its braking distance and the force exerted on impact will be nine times greater. Also, when you are approaching an emergency scene, police stop, or a tow truck picking up a disabled vehicle, you must move into a nonadjacent lane. To determine if you are following too closely: Watch for when the rear of the vehicle ahead passes something like a sign or pole. What time is it? Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most states have issued shelter-in-place orders and instructed residents to stay put in their homes to help flatten the curve. Leave about 10 times more space than normal between you and the vehicle ahead. Educate yourself. Even if the flow of traffic exceeds the speed limit, you shouldnt! However, there are vast numbers of people with poorer than 20/40 vision who can drive safely and legally under a restricted license, providing they wear corrective glasses or contact lenses. Overall, traffic fatality rates are three to four times higher at night than in daylight. Do not use your high beams. If you must drive while feeling fatigued or unwell, increase your following distance to compensate for slowed reaction time; though, it is best to avoid driving under these circumstances altogether. Over the years, people have been taught different answers to that question. Proper Following Distance When Driving in IL, MI, OH 2023 Aceable, Inc. All rights reserved. Operating a car involves many expenses, including gas, maintenance, and tires. In the event of a vehicle accident, drivers are legally obliged to stop if their vehicles has caused injury or damage. Dont assume that over drivers will move over and give you space to merge smoothly. Add an additional two seconds for torrential rain and thunderstorms, snow or icy conditions, or for dust storms. Around you, traffic is traveling at 70 mph. Drivers and car owners can take a number of steps to minimize these expenses at no additional cost. Knowing where to look and how long for can be confusing for new drivers, particularly when there is so much to keep track of inside your car, right in front of the vehicle and 20 seconds ahead of you on the roadway. Stopping distance is a key to what constitutes a safe following distance. Keep your RV cool and comfortable. Also, when going uphill, stay far enough behind the vehicle ahead, so you will not need to slow down or stop. Using the basic one-one thousand counting method should work. State of Florida.com | Driving in Florida Chapter 11 Interstate Driving. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Space, man. The highest crash rates occur during nighttime hours. Drive with the flow of traffic (within the speed limit). In Arizona, new arrivals from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are required to self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their visitwhichever is shorter. PennDOT urges motorists to remove all ice and snow from their vehicles before traveling. The condition of the pavement. 5 seconds EXPLANATION: Increase your following distance to account for the increase in speed on interstates. These include some large trucks, as well as farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles. Citizens who disobey local governments social distancing and self-quarantine orders could face either jail time, a fineor possibly even both. But is driving between states safeor even allowed? Anyone found guilty of providing false information may face fines or serve jail time as punishment. Another time when you may have to adjust to traffic flow is if there is more than one potential hazard ahead you will confront at the same time. * 3 second A ___________ __________________ is an intersection which your view of traffic or an intersecting road is impeded. Driving in heavy traffic When vehicles start and stop suddenly in heavy traffic, the potential for collisions increases. HOLDING FAST IN PRAYER (LUKE 18:1-8) - Facebook even on divided highways. Right before my husband and I set off on a 48-state RV honeymoon, I received two tips from a friend who had finished a cross country road trip: I quickly acted on thefirst pieceof advice by signing up for Planet Fitness. #trinity #christian #worship #praise #church #trinity #mission #prayer #jesus #music #hymns When you're approaching another vehicle from behind on an interstate highway or at a toll plaza . That information is then relayed to the states health department and allows public health officials to follow up via a call or an unannounced visit at a later time to make sure that you followed self-quarantine orders. The rain causes oil in the asphalt to come to the surface. On multi-lane roadways with more than one lane of traffic moving in the same direction, you should seek to maintain space on all sides of your vehicle. At 45mph or less, you can reliably brake to avoid a collision with a four-second following distance. Following distance is something you should judge by time, rather than actual distance in feet, inches or otherwise. If an emergency unfolds on the roadway ahead of you, your gut reaction may be to slam your foot down on the brake pedal. What is the purpose of the community safety education act? Yes, absolutely. Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is full, and you are using fluid that will not freeze. TIP #1: Maintain a Safe Following Distance Large trucks need additional space between vehicles to allow for safe braking and unexpected actions. Not the other way around. Please enable scripts and reload this page. You can hydroplane at speeds as low as 35 mph, when water is only 1/10 of an inch deep. Sure, interstates will get you to your destination faster, but at what cost? 70 mph to keep up with traffic. What Is a Safe Following Distance? - Nationwide Use your windshield wipers to keep your windshield as clear as possible. Renters should disinfect high-contact surfaces such as the steering wheel, dashboard control, and seatbelts, and should avoid touching their faces while driving. Our refresher courses are only $15 and self-paced. How to Maintain a Safe Following Distance on the Highway - Aceable Posted speed limits indicate what the maximum safe driving speed is under the ideal road, traffic, and weather conditions. Follow the light. When youre driving a rig like mine, which maxes out at 65 mph, its difficult to keep up on the interstate. When your vehicle's on-board diagnostics (OBD) light turns on, it is possible that fuel economy is decreasing and emissions are increasing. This will influence how forces act on the vehicle. Instead, pick a fixed object at the side of the roadway perhaps a road sign or a tree wait for the car in-front to pass that object and then count the seconds it takes for you to arrive there afterward. If you ever drive an unfamiliar vehicle (a friends car, a new car or a rental), you should set a greater following distance to allow for handling differences. You should be able to finish the count of one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three before you reach that fixed point. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Reaction time is how long it takes the driver to perceive a hazard, decide on a response and react. Travel Smarter! When you must drive in FOGGY CONDITIONS, always remember to do these two things: Slow down enough so you can stop safely within the distance that you can see. At a three-second distance, a vehicle moving at any speed has enough time to steer around or away from a hazard providing the roadway offers decent traction. Following distance is something you should judge by time, rather than actual distance in feet, inches or otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Keep enough distance between you and other vehicles. 17. Once you select a stationary object begin countingone-one thousand, two-one thousand, three one-thousand. 10 Road Trip Essentials: How to Stay Safe, Sane, and on Track on the Road. Lol.merging at the legal speed when traffic is traveling at higher speeds is rarely a problem really?and there is no statistics to back up his claim about driving at or near the speed limit when the flow is higherehh? When you practice for your permit test and the DMV written test you should pay special attention to information about driving on interstates and controlled-access highways. Driving your own vehicle poses the least risk. Drive to warm up. Slow down slightly and increase the distance between you and the vehicle ahead. Other drivers may not see you. In order to avoid collisions, keeping a safe following distance and using the 3-second rule can help you stay safe whenever you're behind the wheel. Unless, of course, there is a wreck. It seems that no matter what time of day we find ourselves driving, theres always dense traffic. When entering an interstate, DMV says to do the speed the traffic is doing..but dont exceed the speed limit. Safe Driving Maintaining a Safe Following Distance on the Highway Do you know what a following interval is and how to determine it? Even if you follow all of the other defensive driving techniques, you can't possibly be a safe driver unless you follow this rule each and every time you drive. Doing so will activate your brake lights and let the tailgating driver know that you intend to slow. Safe Following Distance Maintain at least a three-second following distance to help avoid dangerous situations. CMV Driving Tips - Too Fast for Conditions | FMCSA You need to reduce your speed when road conditions are poor, so you can maintain control of your vehicle. A. Many other organizations promote the three-second rule, including: According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), drivers should actually leave a distance between two-to-four seconds behind the car in front, depending on their speed.