What if a driver makes a sudden stop? Do you have enough space in front of your car to stop without rear-ending the vehicle ahead of you?
Because rear-end accidents in Florida and throughout the nation are one of the most common types of accidents, it leads many to believe that most drivers follow other vehicles too closely. To determine if you are following too closely, you need to determine your following distance.
How does a driver maintain a safe following distance?
To figure out your following distance, watch the rear bumper of the car in front of you and conduct the following exercise. When the rear bumper of the car in front of you passes an object on the side of the road, such as an exit sign or a telephone pole, begin counting how many seconds it takes your vehicle to get to the same spot. You should count by “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four” to get an accurate count.
If you pass the object before you reach four seconds, you are following too closely.
Research has shown that it takes about three seconds for a vehicle to stop or react quickly to avoid a collision, which leaves one second for the driver to make a decision. Keeping a safe following distance helps you to react to a road hazard properly so that you can avoid a rear-end accident in Sarasota.
If you were rear-ended by a driver following you too closely, you may have rights to a Florida personal injury claim. Call a skilled Sarasota car accident attorney today at Mallard Perez at (888) 409-3805 to find out about your rights and receive a complimentary consultation.
