As the season of holidays and road trips begins, SGI is reminding drivers to leave enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Spokesperson Tyler McMurchy says you need three seconds of space. It’s the distance you need to be able to stop suddenly without crashing into the vehicle in front of you.

McMurchy explains that since the distance you need to stop increases as your speed increases, using the amount of time it takes to reach the car in front of you is more useful than a specific distance. Choose a non-moving object near the road, like a sign, and when the car in front of you passes it, start counting the seconds before you reach it. If you count three or more seconds, you are following at the right distance.

McMurchy adds that when conditions are less than perfect, increase your following distance to six seconds or more, whether you’re in town or on the highway and he reminds drivers while leaving room for the vehicle in front of you, to also be alert for other road users like construction and emergency workers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and farmers – slow down and give them space.