Driver's License Test Prep
Texas Practice Speed Limits

The manual sets a 4-second following interval in good conditions above 30 mph. What does it say to do when conditions turn poor?

  1. A.
    Allow more time than four seconds. Correct
  2. B.
    Keep the 4-second interval unless visibility drops.
  3. C.
    Match the interval of the vehicle behind you.
  4. D.
    Cut the interval to two seconds because traffic slows.
The Why

The answer is "Allow more time than four seconds."

The manual says to allow more time than the 4-second minimum when road conditions turn poor. Drivers who tie the extension to visibility alone pick B, missing that wet, icy, or crowded roads also demand extra space.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

B. Keep the 4-second interval unless visibility drops.

Ties the extension to visibility alone; the manual covers any poor road condition. Recognized limited visibility as a reason to increase following distance, but missed that wet, icy, crowded, or otherwise poor conditions also require more space.

C. Match the interval of the vehicle behind you.

Substitutes a made-up rule for the manual's; no 'match the car behind you' guidance appears. Treated aggressive drivers behind as the primary risk and reshaped the following rule around them.

D. Cut the interval to two seconds because traffic slows.

Cuts spacing in exactly the situation the manual says to extend it. Reasoned that slower traffic needs less room, ignoring how much longer stopping actually takes on a slick surface.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Speed Limits in Texas. Source: Texas Driver Manual, "Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits - Speed," p.45..

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