Following distance: the 2-second rule

What is the right following distance?

At least two seconds, in good weather. Following distance is the space between you and the car in front. Two seconds is the minimum when it is dry and you can see well. It is a guideline, not a guarantee. You must always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

How to measure two seconds

Pick a fixed point, such as a post. As soon as the car in front passes it, count calmly one thousand and one, one thousand and two. Do you reach the point sooner? Then increase your distance by easing off the accelerator.

How to calculate following distance

Use this formula: distance in metres = speed in km/h ÷ 3.6 × number of seconds. At 100 km/h you travel about 27.8 metres per second. Two seconds is then about 56 metres.

A rule of thumb from driving lessons: take half your speed and add 10% of that number. At 100 km/h that is 50 + 5 = 55 metres. It is an estimate, not an exact limit.

Rather not do the maths yourself? Enter your speed in the following distance calculator at the top of this page.

These numbers are not stopping distances. How to work those out is explained on stopping and braking distance.

What following distance at 100 and at 130 km/h?

At 100 km/h keep at least about 56 metres. At 130 km/h that is about 72 metres. That is the minimum following distance in metres at two seconds in good weather. In rain or fog keep more.

What following distance in bad weather?

More than two seconds. There is no fixed number that is safe in all bad weather. Leave enough room to react and stop in time. Slow down too. In fog, do not blindly follow the rear lights in front. Choose a speed at which you can stop within what you can see.

In a crosswind, watch out for high vehicles and trailers. A gust can suddenly push them sideways. So leave room to the side as well. More tips on driving in bad weather.

What affects your following distance?

Your speed, the weather and the road, your vehicle and how alert you are.

• Speed: the faster you drive, the more metres you need.
• Weather and road: in rain, snow or fog keep more distance.
• Vehicle: with a trailer or a heavy load your braking distance is longer.
• You: if you are tired or distracted, you react later.

Some cars keep their distance by themselves with adaptive cruise control. You are still responsible. See adaptive cruise control.

Tailgating: too little following distance

Driving far too close to the car in front is called tailgating. You then have no time to react when it brakes. The risk of a rear-end collision is high. So do not tailgate to defend your place either.

Fines and consequences of tailgating

Tailgating is forbidden. As an indication (2026): if you drive too close to the car in front at up to 80 km/h, the fine starts at €380. At higher speeds the public prosecutor decides the penalty. The current amounts are in the Boetebase of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (in Dutch).

• Rear-end collision: if the car in front brakes suddenly, you cannot stop in time.
• You are usually at fault: you must always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear. If you hit the car in front, you usually get the blame.
• Pile-up: on the motorway one collision can involve a whole row of cars.
• Pressure on the driver in front: a driver who feels rushed makes mistakes more easily.

When someone merges in front of you

Does a car safely move in between you and the car in front? Ease off the accelerator so you get enough room again. Does someone want to merge and you cannot move over? Ease off to let a gap open up.