Safety & service
Following Distance That Gives Delivery Drivers Time to React
The car ahead brakes for a missed turn. A bus stops beyond the crest of a hill. Traffic compresses just past an intersection. A delivery driver cannot control those decisions, but can control the room available to respond. Following distance is that working space. For a Sigma Continental delivery driver in Pittsburgh, where hills and closely spaced intersections can hide changing conditions, protecting the gap deserves attention throughout the route.
Measure time instead of guessing feet
Choose a fixed roadside reference, such as a sign or pavement joint. When the vehicle ahead passes it, count the seconds until your vehicle reaches the same point. This measures a time gap at your current speed without requiring a guess about road distance. Repeat the check after traffic speed changes, because a gap that looked comfortable earlier may have disappeared.
FMCSA recommends a baseline of at least one second per ten feet of vehicle length below 40 mph, with an additional second above 40 mph. That is a starting reference for good conditions, not a guarantee or a reason to reduce a more protective company requirement. Follow the applicable policy and increase the gap when conditions deteriorate.1
Recognize what close following takes away
Following too closely narrows the view beyond the vehicle immediately ahead. A large van or truck may conceal brake lights, an approaching traffic queue, or someone entering a crosswalk. Closing the gap also compresses the time available to notice a hazard, decide what to do, and bring the truck under control. The result can be a hard stop with no useful escape option.
Keep looking beyond the nearest bumper. Changes several vehicles ahead often provide an earlier warning than the brake lights directly in front of you. Watch adjacent lanes too, particularly near exits and merge points, where drivers may suddenly move across your path.
Rebuild the gap without competing for it
When another driver cuts in, ease off the accelerator as conditions allow and restore your space gradually. Do not accelerate to close the opening or punish the other driver. The objective is a usable safety margin, even when traffic repeatedly occupies it. A few seconds spent rebuilding that margin are part of driving the route safely.
A tailgater behind you is another reason to preserve additional room ahead. More space can let you slow progressively instead of making an abrupt change that the following driver cannot match. Avoid brake-checking and do not increase speed to satisfy someone else's impatience.2
Adjust before the situation becomes difficult
Rain, reduced visibility, slippery pavement, a downhill grade, or a load that changes vehicle response all call for a more cautious approach. Increase following space before entering the difficult section, and reduce speed as necessary. If visibility becomes too limited to proceed safely, choose an appropriate safe stopping location rather than trying to follow another vehicle's lights.
Ask a practical question at every speed change: if traffic stopped ahead, would I have time to respond smoothly? Check the gap again after leaving a highway, entering a neighborhood, or joining a queue. A following distance check takes seconds; keeping the space it reveals is an ongoing driving decision. Treat each new traffic pattern as a reason to reassess, especially when a large vehicle ahead blocks the longer view.
Sources and further reading
Review current guidance and follow the training and procedures provided for your role.
- Original Safety Articles collection
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — CMV Driving Tips Following Too Closely
- Georgia Department of Driver Services — Commercial Driver Manual Section 2 Point 7 Managing Space
