Follow Too Close

When following another vehicle in normal conditions, drivers should keep a minimum two second following distance between vehicles.  As road conditions worsen, drivers should increase their following distance.

To figure out the two second following distance, look at the vehicle in front of you.  When the back of that vehicle passes a fixed object like sign, a tree or a building, start counting.  Count one-thousand-and-one, one-thousand-and-two.  If the front of your vehicle reaches the object before you are finished counting, you are following too close.  Slow down and count once more.  The two second rule will work at any speed.

The only exception to this rule involves drivers of large commercial vehicles who should use a minimum four second following distance in traffic.

There were 112 rear end collisions that occurred in Medicine Hat between December 2008 and January 2009.  To help bring driver awareness to the issue of following too close the MHPS safety messaging trailer will be displaying the message “Stay Back, Save a Back”.

We Need Your Input:
Anyone interested in providing input on future safety messages to be displayed on the MHPS safety messaging trailer or identify road safety issues that are of concern to them are encouraged to provide their input here.