What is the "two second rule" in driving?

The "two second rule" in driving refers to the practice of maintaining a safe following distance by keeping a two-second gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This guideline helps ensure that you have enough time to react effectively should the vehicle ahead suddenly stop or slow down.

To apply the two second rule, you pick a fixed point on the road, such as a sign or a tree, and when the rear of the vehicle in front of you passes that point, you start counting “one thousand one, one thousand two.” If your front bumper reaches the fixed point before you finish counting to two, you are following too closely and should increase your distance. This rule helps to enhance safety by allowing a buffer zone for reaction times, particularly in varied driving conditions such as wet or icy roads where stopping distances can be longer.

The other options suggest different timing criteria or checks that do not relate directly to maintaining safe following distance while driving, which is the primary purpose of the two-second rule.