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Safe following distance: the simple rule of thumb
1 min read · Updated on October 17, 2026
Tailgating is one of the most common causes of accidents. With two simple rules of thumb you always know how much distance is enough.
Vereinfachte Erklärung zum Lernen – keine Rechtsberatung. Verbindlich ist die Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO).
Half the speedometer
Outside towns, the distance in metres should be at least half your speed. At 100 km/h that’s 50 metres.
Two-second rule
Pick a point at the roadside that the car in front passes. If you can count “twenty-one, twenty-two” before you reach it, your distance is fine.
More distance in the wet
In rain the braking distance gets much longer – then the gap should be twice as big. Driving School Germany has changing weather, so try it out.
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