New Hampshire permit test: following distance & space
Following-distance rules, stopping distance and keeping a space cushion. 5 questions.
What minimum following distance does the New Hampshire Driver's Manual recommend in normal conditions?
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Sample following distance & space questions
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What minimum following distance does the New Hampshire Driver's Manual recommend in normal conditions?
- A At least two seconds
- B At least three seconds
- C At least four seconds
- D One car length per 10 mph
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C. At least four seconds
Keep at least four seconds between you and the vehicle ahead. Count from when its rear passes a fixed point until you reach that point; if you get there before "one-thousand-four," slow down and recount.
You are driving at night on a road you have never driven before. How much should you add to your normal following distance?
- A At least two additional seconds
- B At least one additional second
- C Nothing, if your headlights are on high beam
- D At least five additional seconds
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A. At least two additional seconds
Add at least one extra second for night driving, and at least two extra seconds on unfamiliar roads at night. Darkness limits how far you can see, and an unknown road gives you less warning of curves and hazards.
If you double your speed, what happens to your vehicle's stopping distance?
- A It becomes about four times longer
- B It doubles
- C It stays the same with good brakes
- D It becomes about three times longer
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A. It becomes about four times longer
Stopping distance increases about four times when your speed doubles. That is why a small increase in speed can turn a near miss into a crash.
Another driver is tailgating you unsafely. What does the manual advise?
- A Tap your brakes to warn them to back off
- B Find a safe place to pull over and let them pass
- C Speed up to open more space between you and the tailgater
- D Move toward the center line so they cannot pass
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B. Find a safe place to pull over and let them pass
If someone tailgates you, find a safe place to pull over and let them go by. Following more closely than is reasonable and prudent is itself a violation punishable by a fine.