Following Distance: How to Coach CMV Drivers and Decrease Tailgating

What is following distance?

Following distance is the space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you while driving. It’s important for all drivers to maintain a safe following distance, so that they have time to safely stop in case the vehicle in front of them brakes abruptly. Since large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) generally require more time to stop, it’s particularly important for CMV drivers to pay attention to their following distance.

How do you determine your following distance?

Following distance can be measured by the amount of time (in seconds) between you and the vehicle in front of you. You can measure your following distance by identifying a fixed object or stationary object on the side of the road, like a road sign, building, or tree. When the vehicle in front of you passes the stationary object, start counting “one thousand one, one thousand two…” in your head or out loud. Whatever number you are saying when your vehicle passes the stationary object determines your following distance. For example, if you are saying “one thousand four” when you pass the stationary object, then your following distance is roughly four seconds.

What is stopping distance?

Stopping distance is the distance it takes for your vehicle to come to a complete stop based on the current speed that you are traveling and your reaction time. Stopping distance is broken down into two components:

• Reaction distance: Reaction distance is the distance your vehicle travels from the time you see a reason to apply your brakes (like when you see brake lights in front of you) to when you actually begin to push the brake pedal down with your foot. Although this might seem like an insignificant amount of time, your vehicle can travel a significant distance in the time it takes you to react—especially at high speeds. For example, if you are driving 55 miles per hour (MPH) on a dry road surface, you are traveling approximately 81 feet per second. On average, it takes humans about 1.75 seconds from the time you see a reason to stop to when your brain tells you to take action. At 55 MPH, that translates to about 142 feet traveled in the time it takes you to react.

• Braking distance: Braking distance is the distance your vehicle travels from when its brakes are fully applied until it comes to a complete stop. Braking distance depends on many factors, including the speed you are traveling, the type of vehicle you’re driving, the condition of your brakes and tires, current road conditions, and more. Larger vehicles tend to be heavier and generally have a longer braking distance (meaning they require more time and space to stop). This is why many CMVs, like trucks and tractor trailers, have a longer stopping distance than cars.

Together, reaction distance and braking distance add up to your total stopping distance. To be driving at a safe following distance, the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you must be larger than your current stopping distance. This means you will have enough time and distance to safely stop in case the vehicle in front of you brakes abruptly.

What is a safe following distance for commercial motor vehicles?

A safe following distance is a distance that allows you enough time to safely come to a stop before colliding into the vehicle in front of you. There are many factors that can impact what a safe following distance is, depending on the type of vehicle you’re driving and the environment that you are in. Here are just a few of the factors that can affect the safe following distance in any given situation:

• Speed 

• Visibility and road conditions (including bad weather like snow, rain, or sleet)

• Vehicle type, weight, and length

• Tire and brake condition

• Reaction time

Maintaining a safe following distance is an important defensive driving technique for everyone—whether you’re operating a small passenger vehicle or a large truck. Because many CMVs require more time to come to a complete stop, it’s essential for professional drivers to pay close attention to their following distance at all times.

The FMCSA recommends that CMV drivers keep a following distance of one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length, with an additional second for speeds over 40 MPH. For example, for a 50-foot tractor trailer traveling at 55 MPH, the recommended following distance is at least 6 seconds. Here’s how it breaks down:

• The tractor trailer is 50 feet. One second per 10 feet of vehicle length = 5 seconds.

• The tractor trailer is traveling 55 MPH. One additional second for speeds over 40 MPH = 1 second.

• Total minimum following distance = 6 seconds.

The FMCSA also recommends drivers double their following distance when there are adverse driving conditions or inclement weather, such as rain, ice, snow, or debris. This is because bad weather conditions may cause your brakes to be less effective, increasing the stopping distance of your vehicle.

Why is tailgating so dangerous?

Tailgating is when a driver follows the vehicle ahead too closely (or maintains an unsafe following distance). Although tailgating is a common behavior that may seem harmless in the moment, it is actually quite dangerous. Tailgating can result in accidents, moving violations, fines, and lost revenue—as well as road rage incidents, serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. 

In fact, the NHTSA found that rear-end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision in the United States, accounting for approximately 29% of all crashes. Tailgating is the leading cause of these rear-end collisions, causing more than 1,700 deaths and 500,000 injuries per year. In addition to being a safety hazard, risky behaviors like tailgating can put a fleet out of business. A recent Frost & Sullivan report found that fatal accidents cost $10.8M on average.

Because many CMVs have a longer stopping distance than cars, it’s even more important for CMV drivers to avoid tailgating. According to the FMCSA, the average stopping distance for a loaded tractor-trailer traveling at 55 MPH (in ideal conditions) is 196 feet, compared with 133 feet for a passenger vehicle.

3 tips for coaching drivers on proper following distance

Tailgating can be a difficult behavior for fleet safety managers to coach drivers on, since you may not know it’s happening until it causes an accident. Here are a few safe driving tips and technology best practices to more effectively coach drivers about proper following distance and reduce tailgating across your fleet.

1. Debunk the three-second rule: The three-second rule is a popular way of thinking about following distance that is taught to many non-professional drivers in online driving courses or traffic safety schools when they are first getting their driver’s license from the DMV. The three-second rule states that you should simply leave three seconds-worth of room between you and the vehicle you are following. Although this rule (and others like it, such as leaving a certain number of car lengths-worth of space) can be helpful for non-professional drivers when they are first learning to drive, it’s not comprehensive enough for professional CMV drivers. A standard three-second following distance (or three-second gap) doesn’t take into account your vehicle’s speed, length, weight, road conditions, inclement weather, or other factors. In fact, the recommended proper following distance from the FMCSA is one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length, with an additional second for speeds over 40 MPH. Furthermore, the FMCSA recommends drivers double their following distance when there are adverse road conditions, including bad weather. Professional drivers should ensure they are always leaving enough space ahead of their vehicle, even when there is heavy traffic or they have a tailgater behind them. Following the FMCSA’s guidance (rather than the three-second rule) can help, but it can be difficult to calculate the necessary following distance in your head while driving. That’s where technology can help—keep reading to learn more.

2. Alert drivers when they are tailgating in real time: If you can alert drivers when they are tailgating in real time, they can immediately increase their following distance and avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) built into Samsara AI Dash Cams now makes this possible. Samsara AI Dash Cams can detect high-risk behaviors like tailgating and alert drivers to increase their following distance in the cab. Investing in this technology can pay off greatly by helping your fleet proactively prevent accidents before they happen.

3. Use real dash cam footage during coaching sessions: Coaching drivers with real footage of their own driving can be much more effective than using purchased safety training videos with actors. If you don’t already have dash cams, consider investing in a video-based safety solution that auto-uploads HD footage of risky behaviors, like tailgating and distracted driving. This makes it possible for your safety team to coach drivers in a timely manner based on real footage of their own behavior.

Coach drivers on tailgating and prevent accidents with Samsara AI Dash Cams

87% of all commercial motor vehicle crashes are the result of driver behavior or driver error, according to the NSTSCE. If your fleet has dealt with a tailgating accident in the past, you know how costly it can be to your business. 

Samsara AI Dash Cams enable fleets to coach drivers on following distance more effectively and consistently than ever before. Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), Samsara AI Dash Cams can detect high-risk behavior (including tailgating and distracted driving) without a harsh event occurring. Combined with optional in-cab alerts, this makes it possible to minimize risky behavior and prevent accidents before they happen. With Samsara AI Dash Cams, you can:

• Alert drivers when they are tailgating in real time: Safety managers can also turn on optional in-cab alerts to warn drivers when they are tailgating at an unsafe speed, based on a minimum speed threshold that you can configure in your Samsara dashboard.

• Coach drivers on following distance with auto-uploaded HD footage: Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI), Samsara AI Dash Cams can automatically detect when drivers are following other vehicles too closely at high speeds and auto-upload these incidents to the dashboard for video-based coaching.

SeniorCare EMS—the largest commercial ambulance provider in New York City, with more than 1,300 employees—relies on Samsara AI Dash Cams to proactively prevent accidents before they happen by detecting risky driving behavior and providing in-cab audio alerts to drivers.

“It’s just amazing. We’re able to coach employees on the road,” said Safety Director Robert Ackerman. “We have seen many instances where the camera alerts the driver to distracted driving or tailgating, and they're able to avoid an accident.”

Reach out for a free trial to see how Samsara AI Dash Cams can protect your drivers, reduce accidents, and lower costs for your business.