Visual search and following distance

Key points

1. Turn your head before you turn the wheel.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Something for drivers to remember: turn your head before you turn the wheel.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

2. Avoid following too close to a larger vehicle, because it limits how far you can see.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Drivers should avoid getting into situations that could limit how far they can see down the road, like following too close to a larger vehicle.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

3. Keep a following distance of at least 4 seconds from the vehicle ahead.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Drivers should always try to keep a minimum following distance of at least four seconds between their car and the vehicle in front.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

4. When counting, you should not pass the fixed point before you reach one thousand four.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “Not pass the stationary point before counting to one-thousand-four.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 30

5. Increase following distance on slippery roads and when following large vehicles like trucks, buses and RVs.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “On slippery roads. When following large vehicles like trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling a trailer.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

6. Leave more room behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings, like school buses or hazardous material trucks.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “When following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, like transit buses, school buses or vehicles carrying hazardous materials.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

7. Avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods; you may be in their blind spot.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods of time. The vehicle may be in their blind-spot”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

Numbers to know

3 questions from the New Hampshire practice test

1. 1. What short rule does the New Hampshire manual give for visual search before steering?

   1. Turn your head before you turn the wheel
   2. Check the mirrors after the turn
   3. Watch the vehicle behind you first
   4. Look only straight ahead
   Show answer

   Turn your head before you turn the wheel. The visual search section opens with a phrase to remember: turn your head before you turn the wheel. Drivers need to be aware of what is happening ahead, to the sides and behind the vehicle, and should develop a searching pattern used every time. Keep the eyes moving, look ahead past the vehicles in front, search the sides so other road users will not cross your path, and check mirrors continually before slowing, stopping, turning or changing lanes.

2. 2. In which situation does the New Hampshire manual say to increase the following distance?

   1. When following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, such as school buses
   2. When traffic is light
   3. When the road is dry and straight
   4. When following a motorcycle in daylight only
   Show answer

   When following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, such as school buses. Drivers should increase following distance on slippery roads, when following large vehicles like trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers, at night, in fog or in bad weather, and when following vehicles required to stop at railroad crossings, like transit buses, school buses or vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Those vehicles will stop at every crossing even with no train in sight. A dry straight road with light traffic is the baseline where four seconds is enough.

3. 3. Why does the New Hampshire manual say to avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods?

   1. Your vehicle may be in their blind spot, and it reduces the space needed to avoid a collision
   2. It uses more fuel
   3. It is illegal on multi-lane roads
   4. It blocks their view of signs
   Show answer

   Your vehicle may be in their blind spot, and it reduces the space needed to avoid a collision. Space on the sides of the vehicle is what lets a driver move right or left to avoid trouble. The manual says to avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods of time, because your vehicle may be in their blind spot and it reduces the space needed to avoid a collision. It also advises against crowding the center line, keeping as much space as possible from oncoming traffic, and making room for vehicles entering a limited access road by moving over a lane or adjusting speed.

Source: the New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Section 8: Driving Safely. 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.