Near Akersloot you are driving 50 km/h on a road outside the built-up area. How many metres is the minimum 2-second distance per the book's rule of thumb?
Show the answer
Correct answer: 27.5 m
Correct: 27.5 m (±2.5).
The open legal standard for distance (RVV art. 19)
The law sets no fixed following distance in metres or seconds: under RVV art. 19 a driver must be able to stop within the distance over which they can see the road and over which it is clear. The 2-second rule is a rule of thumb, not the legal text.
How the exam asks it
Near Spanbroek you are driving behind a van. Your passenger asks how much distance the law says you must keep from that van. What do you answer?
- Exactly two seconds; that number is written literally in the law
- No fixed number: I must be able to stop within the clear road I can see ahead
- A fixed distance in metres, the same at every speed
Show the answer
Correct answer: No fixed number: I must be able to stop within the clear road I can see ahead
False — a safe distance grows with your speed. The law names no fixed distance; with the rule of thumb (speed divided by 2, plus 10%) it is 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 55 m at 100 km/h
Why learners get this wrong: The law literally prescribes '2 seconds' as the minimum following distance.
Near Hoogkarspel you apply the fixed-point method. Statement: 'You start counting as soon as you yourself reach a marker post, and stop as soon as the car ahead reaches that post.'
- True
- False
Show the answer
Correct answer: False
Why learners get this wrong: With the fixed-point method, you start counting as soon as you yourself reach the point, not when the car ahead passes it.
Near Heiloo you first drive 50 km/h, then you accelerate to 100 km/h on the same road. You want to stay at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead the whole time. Roughly how many metres is that at both speeds?
- About 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 110 m at 100 km/h
- About 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 55 m at 100 km/h
- About 30 m, at 50 km/h just the same as at 100 km/h
Show the answer
Correct answer: About 27.5 m at 50 km/h and 55 m at 100 km/h
False — you make the distance four times as large. The 2-second distance is time times speed: twice as fast is twice as many metres, so 55 m at 100 km/h, not 110 m.
Why learners get this wrong: If you drive twice as fast, the 2-second distance in metres becomes four times as large.
Near Hoofddorp you are driving 100 km/h on a road with no traffic jam. How many metres is the minimum 2-second distance?
Show the answer
Correct answer: 55 m
Correct: 55.0 m (±4.0).
Where this term is taught
- Challenge: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- The model: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Core: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Why it matters: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Active recall: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Teach back: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
- Memory hook: The 2-second rule: fixed point, counting, formula
Related terms
Nearby terms
- Wegtype buiten kom overige 80
- Wegtype kom 50 default
- Wegverkanting positief vs negatief
- Weven invoeger laat uitvoeger voor
- Winterbanden niet verplicht temperatuur profieldiepte
- Zebra 5m stilstaanverbod cross chapter
- Zebra inhaalverbod naast stoppen uitzondering
- Zebra voorrang oversteken of wachten
- Zebra voorrang uitzonderingen kolonne uitvaart rood
- Zelfde maataanduiding op een as
- Breaking a side window (car in the water)