Safe Following Distance and Lateral Clearance

The essentials

Safe following distance and lateral clearance give the driver time and space to react to the actions of others. This topic teaches how to choose them depending on speed, road conditions, visibility and surrounding road users.

What to remember

Safe following distance is not one fixed number; it should increase with speed, rain, ice, poor visibility and heavy loads. Lateral clearance should also allow safe passage beside a cyclist, parked vehicle or oncoming traffic. In exam logic, the correct distance is one that allows you to prevent a collision even if the vehicle ahead acts suddenly.

Listen to the explanation

Educational material; not a substitute for the current official rules.

Try questions on this topic

A small practice set from this subtopic. The full question bank and saved progress are available in your account.

Specify the order of passing the intersection Specify the order of passing the intersection
  1. Bus, truck, horse-drawn carriage
  2. Bus and horse-drawn carriage, truck

The correct answer: Bus and horse-drawn carriage, truck

The correct order is the bus and horse-drawn carriage first, then the truck. At an uncontrolled intersection of equal roads, drivers yield to traffic approaching from the right. The bus and carriage can pass simultaneously without conflicting, while the truck must wait and proceed only after the intersection becomes clear.

Do you have the right to make a maneuver on the marked path in this situation? Do you have the right to make a maneuver on the marked path in this situation?
  1. Yes
  2. No

The correct answer: No

The correct answer is no, the indicated maneuver is not allowed. The truck is turning right at the intersection, and the proposed path would pass it inside a conflict area. Keep a safe following distance, do not begin passing within the intersection, and wait until the truck completes the turn and clears the roadway.

In this situation In this situation
  1. Can we bypass the truck on the right side?
  2. Can we continue driving only after the truck has passed?
  3. Both actions are allowed

The correct answer: Can we continue driving only after the truck has passed?

The correct answer is to continue only after the truck has passed. The area on the right is a shoulder, not a traffic lane, and it may not be used for normal driving or bypassing an obstruction. Keep a safe distance and wait until the truck moves or clears the roadway.

Continue your learning journey

Your account brings together the full question bank, a personal plan, reviews and progress tracking.

Create an account and continue