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How far should you stay behind a car while driving?

I remember learning this in driving school, but I saw a fender bender today that could have been avoided with more distance. How far should you stay behind a car while driving?

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Matthew Macgugan · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yikes, I hope they were okay. As a general rule, you should keep at least a 2-cars-length distance between you and the car in front of you.
This timeframe gives you a chance to brake or even change course should the car in front of you suddenly stop. Most car accidents occur because drivers don’t have enough time to react to changing road conditions or stop with the traffic in front of them.
Even with a minor accident, your insurance rates can increase. Download the
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