What is the recommended following distance for highway driving?

The recommended following distance for highway driving is three seconds or more. This guideline helps ensure that a driver has sufficient time to react to sudden stops or emergencies by maintaining a safe space between their vehicle and the one in front. This distance allows for better visibility and a clearer reaction time, especially at higher speeds typically found on highways. By allowing yourself three seconds or more, you can assess traffic conditions more effectively, adjust your speed as necessary, and reduce the risk of rear-end collisions, which can be particularly dangerous at highway speeds.

While shorter distances, like one or two seconds, may seem adequate in lower-speed situations, they do not provide the necessary buffer on highways where stopping distances can greatly increase due to higher speeds and factors such as road conditions and vehicle weight. The five-second rule is often too cautious for most highway driving conditions, where three seconds typically offers a good balance between safety and maintaining traffic flow.