Following distance and heavy trucks

Key points

1. Use the two second rule for a car; you are too close if you reach the fixed point before counting two.

   Source: Handbook p. 75

   “If the front of your vehicle passes the fixed point before you count off two seconds, you are too close to the vehicle ahead.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 75

2. Allow at least two seconds for each 20 feet of vehicle length; buses 4 seconds and tractor trailers 6.

   Source: Handbook p. 75

   “YOU MUST ALLOW AT LEAST TWO SECONDS FOLLOWING DISTANCE FOR EACH 20 FEET OF VEHICLE LENGTH. If you are driving a car, stay at least two seconds back from the vehicle ahead. Bus drivers should stay at least four seconds back and tractor-trailer drivers at least six seconds back.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 75

3. Triple your following time on snow (6 seconds) and quadruple it on ice (8 seconds).

   Source: Handbook p. 76

   “Tripling covered with snow and slush (cars, six seconds); and the number of seconds when ice covers • Quadrupling the road (cars, eight seconds).”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 76

4. On the interstate keep at least two seconds, doubling or tripling it when pavement is slick.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “Always leave at least two seconds space cushion between you and the vehicle ahead. When the weather is bad or the pavement is slick, double or triple your following time.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 61

5. A car at 55 mph stops in about 130 to 140 feet; a loaded truck needs about 190 to 200 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “A passenger vehicle traveling 55 mph can typically stop in about half the length of a football field (about 130-140 feet). A heavy vehicle with a loaded trailer will usually take over two-thirds the length of a football field (about 190-200 feet) to stop.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 50

6. With hot brakes in heavy traffic, a truck's stopping distance may double to 400 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “In heavy traffic, when a truck's brakes may be hot, the stopping distance may double to 1.5 times the length of a football field (400 feet).”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 50

7. After passing a truck, see both headlights and the whole cab in your mirror before pulling in.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “be sure you can see both headlights and the entire cab of the truck in your rearview mirror before pulling back into your lane.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 57

8. Some double trailer rigs are as long as 100 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “Some can be as much as 100 feet long.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 57

9. If tailgated, move right on a multilane road or slow down to let the driver pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 76

   “Move to the right lane of a multilane highway; and Reduce your speed to encourage the driver behind to pass.”
   Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 76

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Wyoming practice test

1. 1. What following distance rule does Wyoming recommend for a passenger car in normal conditions?

   1. Exactly one car length at every speed
   2. At least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead
   3. At least ten seconds in every driving situation
   4. No set interval if the driver can see brake lights
   Show answer

   At least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. For a passenger car, leave at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead. Measure it by choosing a fixed point and counting after the lead vehicle passes it. One car length is unreliable because stopping space changes with speed, while ten seconds is not the ordinary baseline. Seeing brake lights is not permission to follow closely. Add more time when roads are wet, snowy, icy, dark, or when your vehicle is carrying extra weight.

2. 2. How should following time change when Interstate pavement is slick?

   1. Add only half a second no matter how slick the pavement is
   2. Cut the gap in half to keep traffic flowing
   3. Use the same interval because tires stop identically
   4. Double or triple the normal following time
   Show answer

   Double or triple the normal following time. Bad weather or slick pavement reduces traction and increases the distance needed to stop, so Wyoming advises doubling or tripling the normal following time. The normal Interstate baseline is at least two seconds, making a longer cushion essential when conditions worsen. Cutting the gap or holding the same interval ignores the reduced braking margin. Tail lights alone are not a distance measure. Choose a landmark, count the seconds after the lead vehicle passes it, and increase that count before your vehicle reaches the landmark when the road is wet, icy, or otherwise slick.

3. 3. How far does a loaded heavy truck need to stop from 55 mph, and what happens when its brakes are hot?

   1. About 100 feet in all cases
   2. About 140 feet like a car
   3. About one mile
   4. About 190 to 200 feet, doubling to about 400 feet with hot brakes
   Show answer

   About 190 to 200 feet, doubling to about 400 feet with hot brakes. A heavy vehicle with a loaded trailer will usually take over two thirds the length of a football field, about 190 to 200 feet, to stop from 55 mph, and in heavy traffic when a truck's brakes may be hot the distance may double to 1.5 football fields, about 400 feet. A car stops in 130 to 140 feet, so a truck cannot save you if you pull in close.

Source: the Wyoming Rules of the Road Driver License Manual, Sharing the Road 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.