Are Whatcom drivers following too closely? It depends on the weather
How close is too close when it comes to following distance on the road? Well, it depends.
In 2021, more than 15,000 car crashes in Washington state involved following too closely, according to the Washington State Patrol.
So, as Whatcom County sees freezing temperatures and inclement weather, The Bellingham Herald spoke with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl to help put together this quick guide about how to safely follow behind another vehicle in varying conditions.
Consider whether driving is necessary at all.
If the weather is poor and conditions on the roadway are not optimal, it may be the case that risking a drive is just unnecessary. If you don’t absolutely need to get on the road, consider staying in, Dahl said in a telephone interview with The Herald..
Ensure your vehicle is operating well.
Traction and visibility play a huge role in safely following cars on the road. Making sure you have the proper tires, functional breaks, adequate wiper blades and operating headlights is critical before heading out, Dahl told The Herald.
Adjust your following speed for the weather.
The three-six-nine-twelve rule is what Dahl suggests drivers follow.
Generally, drivers should leave about three seconds of following distance in dry conditions, six seconds in rainy conditions, nine seconds in snowy conditions and 12 seconds on icy roadways.
Drivers can calculate this time by picking a landmark near the roadway and counting the number of seconds between the car in front of them passing the landmark and their car passing the landmark.
As a rule of thumb, more seconds of following distance is always safer. Drivers should also consider vehicle speed and traffic when determining how close to follow, according to Dahl.
