What could happen if you don’t maintain a proper following distance?

Maintaining a proper following distance is crucial for safe driving, as it provides the necessary space to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions. If you are following another vehicle too closely, you may not have enough time to respond appropriately in an emergency situation, such as when the vehicle in front of you suddenly stops or slows down. This could lead to a rear-end collision, which is a common type of accident. A safe following distance gives you the time to react, assess the situation, and take the appropriate action, whether that’s braking, swerving, or another evasive maneuver.

Other choices may touch on aspects of driving, but they do not directly address the immediate risk associated with following too closely. For instance, being pulled over by police can occur for various reasons unrelated to following distance, and while frequent braking could occur due to close following, it is a byproduct rather than a primary concern of following too closely. Similarly, fuel efficiency relates to driving behaviors but is not directly linked to the safety implications of following distance.