Scanning, following distance, phones and traffic stops

Key points

1. Always look left, right and then left again when turning, driving through or entering an intersection.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Always look left, right and then left again when turning, driving through or entering an intersection.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 18

2. Look at least 10 seconds ahead: about one block in the city, half a mile on the open road.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “you should look down the road at least 10 seconds ahead of your vehicle (city one block, open road half a mile).”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 18

3. Check traffic behind you in your mirror every 5 to 8 seconds.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “You must check traffic behind you in your rear view mirror every 5 to 8 seconds.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 18

4. Under normal conditions, use the three second rule with a fixed reference point.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Under normal conditions, use the three-second rule to gauge how much space you should leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 18

5. Texting while driving is banned unless you are contacting police or the fire department, or it is an emergency.

   Source: Handbook p. 18

   “Colorado law also prohibits the use of mobile devices for text messaging while driving unless it is to contact law enforcement, the fire department or it is an emergency.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 18

6. In a zipper merge, cars take turns filling the open lane just before the lane ends.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Just before the lane ends, cars should take turns filling in the open lane carefully and resume full speed.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 19

7. If police stop you, signal and pull off to the right as soon as it is safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Activate your turn signal and pull off or to the right side of the roadway as soon as it is safe to do so.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 19

8. Keep your hands on the steering wheel or somewhere the officer can easily see them.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Keep your hands on the steering wheel or in a visible location so they are easily observable.”
   Colorado Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 19

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Colorado practice test

1. 1. How far ahead should a Colorado driver look to reduce last-minute braking?

   1. Only one car length ahead
   2. At least 10 seconds ahead
   3. Exactly three seconds ahead
   4. No farther than the next lane marking
   Show answer

   At least 10 seconds ahead. Scanning well ahead gives time to spot slowing traffic, pedestrians, signals, and hazards before they become urgent. Colorado recommends looking at least 10 seconds down the road, which is about one block in the city or half a mile on open road. A three-second count is for following distance, not visual search. Use distant traffic flow as your cue. This habit creates room for calm decisions.

2. 2. How often should you check traffic behind you in the rearview mirror?

   1. Only before backing up
   2. Every 5 to 8 seconds
   3. Every 30 seconds on city streets
   4. Only after another vehicle honks
   Show answer

   Every 5 to 8 seconds. Rear scanning should be routine, not limited to lane changes or backing. Colorado recommends checking the rearview mirror every 5 to 8 seconds so you know whether a vehicle is closing fast or following too closely. Waiting thirty seconds can leave you unaware of a developing hazard. Use each straight, low-workload moment as a cue to glance behind. Frequent checks keep surprises from building unnoticed.

3. 3. Under normal conditions, how should a Colorado driver judge the space behind another vehicle?

   1. Keep exactly one car length for every ten miles per hour
   2. Use the three-second rule with a fixed roadside reference point
   3. Wait until the vehicle ahead begins braking before choosing a gap
   4. Use the vehicle's brake lights as the distance measurement
   Show answer

   Use the three-second rule with a fixed roadside reference point. Colorado recommends the three-second rule in normal conditions. Watch the vehicle ahead pass a mile marker, sign, or telephone pole, then count one-thousand-one through one-thousand-three. If your vehicle reaches that reference before the count ends, increase the gap. A car-length formula changes with vehicle size and speed, while waiting for brake lights leaves less time to respond. Brake lights also tell you that the other driver is slowing, not whether your following distance is adequate. Rain, ice, darkness, traffic, and other conditions require still more space.

Source: the Colorado Driver Handbook, Safe Driving Tips. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.