Following distance
Following distance is the space between the back of a vehicle and the front of the following vehicle in traffic.
National recommendations
Australia
In the Australian state of New South Wales, 3 seconds of following distance is recommended. In Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, 2 seconds is recommended.Europe
In the European Union, the two-second rule is recommended, and in some European countries there are penalties for maintaining lower distances.In the European Union, the term "failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front" is used in the Directive 2015/413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 facilitating cross-border exchange of information on road-safety-related traffic offences. In this directive "failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front" means not maintaining sufficient distance from the vehicle in front, as defined in the law of the Member State of the offence.