Think you can count to 3?

It takes three seconds of travel time to stop after hitting the brakes.
Can you get it right when every second counts?


Car Game

Why we love the 3-second rule

There's nothing like a tailgater to ruin a person's day. First, there's the inevitable spike in your blood pressure, but tailgating also is a major cause of rear-end crashes.

The 3-second Rule

One-thousand One… One-thousand Two… One-thousand Three…

In normal driving conditions, leaving three seconds between you and the car in front of you gives you enough time to stop if they slam on the brakes. Here's how it works:

Choose your marker

Choose your marker

Choose any stationary object that is on the side of the road in front of the car in front of you.

Start counting

Start counting

When the car in front of you passes the object, start counting to three.

Count slowly

Count slowly

Add "one-thousand" before each number to keep yourself legit.

Finish

Finish

You should finish all three "one-thousands" before your car reaches that object.

Not in a Hurry?

The Right Lane Is Calling Your Name

Maybe you are a smart commuter who actually manages to leave for work on time. Or it's your day off. Or you are a cautious driver who likes to take it slow.

Kudos to you! And yes, you may have every right to plant your car in the left lane and go any safe speed. But when you go slower than the flow of traffic, you turn yourself into tailgate bait and put yourself and other drivers at risk.

Give other drivers a break and keep yourself safe. Leave the left lane open for passing.

Other helpful tips

Merge Like A Master

Merge Like A Master

Hint: Turn signals exist for a reason

Let’s go!
Get Your CARma On

Get Your CARma On

Tips for a calm commute

Let’s go!
Smart Drivers. Safe Workers.

Work Zone Safety

Smart Drivers. Safe Workers.

Let’s go!
cars colliding in an accident

Can you pass the crash test?

What to do if you get in a wreck on the highway.

Driving smart helps keep you safe every day. But smart drivers also are ready for the worst. Here are the top 5 things to do when one bumper meets another.

  1. Dial 911 or *FHP. Tell the dispatcher if someone is hurt and needs an ambulance.
  2. Turn on your hazard flashers. Help other drivers see you so one wreck doesn't become two.
  3. Get out of the travel lane. Pull off the road. If you crash near a work zone, you may have to drive up the road a bit to a safer location.
  4. Get away from the road. If you have to get out of your car, keep as far away from traffic as possible.
  5. Document the wreck. Snap a picture of the crash. And exchange information with the other driver (name, address, phone, license plate, driver's license).

Want to really know your stuff?
Check out the Official Handbook for Florida drivers.

Official Handbook - pdf opens in a new window
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