What can you do to avoid the need to make emergency stops while driving in traffic?
- Honk your horn to make others aware of your presence.
- Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance. ✓
- Drive in the right lane only.
- Drive more slowly than the flow of traffic.
Answer: B. Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance.
Look ahead and maintain a safe following distance to avoid needing emergency stops in traffic.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says rear-end collisions are almost always caused by following too closely, and a large enough following distance gives you more time to react. It recommends a minimum four-second following distance in good conditions and more when conditions are bad. In emergency handling, it also says to avoid sudden stops by slowing gradually and smoothly and to know what is happening around you. Looking ahead and keeping space fits that guidance.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Honk your horn to make others aware of your presence. — Honking your horn does not create stopping space, and the passages do not list it as a way to prevent emergency stops.
- C. Drive in the right lane only. — No passage says that driving only in the right lane prevents emergency stops or is required for that purpose.
- D. Drive more slowly than the flow of traffic. — The handbook says to drive with the flow of traffic within the speed limit and warns that driving too slowly can be dangerous.
Remember it
Treat the four-second gap as your braking room: more space ahead means less need to brake suddenly.