When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. You can give yourself this time by keeping enough space between your car and the vehicles around you. It will give you space to brake or maneuver if you need it. The shaded areas in the picture illustrate the area around the car that should be empty whenever possible. Keep A Cushion Ahead Many drivers don't see as well as they should because they follow too closely, and the vehicle ahead blocks their view of the road.
Good drivers keep a safe following distance so they can see better.
The more space they allow between their car and the car ahead, the more time they will have to see a hazard or accident down the road. They will have more time to stop, or to avoid the hazard. You can travel in the center of the lane instead of hugging one side or the other to let you see ahead. Most rear end accidents are caused by following too closely. This takes about three seconds.