Transportation and Vehicle Safety: ACCIDENT, rear tires, implicit rules

Question
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CAR
BEHIND ME HIT ME AND PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS
FAR ENOUGH BACK TO SEE THE TIRES OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHICH
COULD BE DECEPTIVE AS I AM QUITE TALL. I RECEIVED A TICKET FOR
FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE. THE ACCIDENT WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IS THERE A
LEAGAL DISTANCE I NEED TO STOP IN ANTICIPATION OF BEING HIT?

Answer
Hello Robert and welcome to AllExperts!

The information regarding being far enough behind another vehicle so as to see their rear tires on the roadway only applies to stopped traffic. When you are moving, the rule of thumb is to be 3 seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you regardless of speed. It is entirely possible had you used this rule, your car would not have struck the vehicle in front of you. However, you being cited for this in my opinion was improper.

The causal factor for the collision was principally the vehicle who rear-ended you, causing a cascade reaction involving your car striking the vehicle in front of you. If the first collision did not occur (You being rear-ended), the secondary collision would not have happened either (You striking the car in front of you).

The officer usually has a choice for citing the principle driver who was primarily responsible for the collision. Based on your statement, that wasn't you. It is irregular and improper in my opinion to cite all the parties who may have had minor causal factor roles in the collision.

As to maintaining a legal distance to stop based on recognition of an impending collision, there are no implicit rules and can never be, as it would negate or diminish your ability to safely operate the vehicle in avoidance of another.

As an example, if you had no choice but to run a red light to avoid being hit by another car, you would not be found at fault in court for that violation (As long as your action did not cause something worse to occur).

The first most important rule to vehicle operation is to drive in a manner that is safe for all motorists and pedestrians using the roadways. If safety dictates a particular response to prevent a collision, you are expected to perform that action.

Hope this helps!

Terry