What should you do if you reach the mark before counting the recommended seconds?

When you reach the mark before counting the recommended seconds, the correct action is to slow down and increase your following distance. This practice is essential for maintaining safety on the road. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you provides ample time to react in situations like sudden stops or unexpected changes in traffic conditions. By slowing down, you create a buffer zone that can prevent collisions and ensure that you have enough reaction time, especially in busy or unpredictable traffic scenarios.

Maintaining speed or speeding up would not account for the potential need to stop or slow down if something changes in front of you. Changing lanes immediately could also increase risk, as moving sideways in traffic without proper caution could lead to dangerous situations or collisions with adjacent vehicles. Proper following distance is foundational for safe driving practices, which is why adjusting your speed to increase that distance is critical when you reach a certain point in the driving environment.