Speed and _______ are often to blame in the creation of collision traps.

• A. Weather
• B. Following distance
• C. Tire condition
• D. Distraction

Answer: (B)

Speed and following distance determine how much time and space you have to react and stop. When you’re driving faster, your reaction distance and braking distance grow, so you need a larger gap to the vehicle ahead to stop safely if they brake suddenly. If your following distance is too short, any quick brake or hazard can require a stop you can’t make in time, creating a collision trap behind the lead car. Weather, tire condition, and distractions can worsen crashes, but the direct pairing described here is speed with a safe following distance—the buffer that prevents rear-end crashes.