What is a safe following distance?

(Queensland University of Technology) Confusion over what is a 'safe following distance' has QUT road safety researchers calling for a standardised definition to prevent tailgating. Dr Sebastien Demmel, from QUT's Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety -- Queensland (CARRS-Q), said the results of the study which found 50 per cent of drivers tailgate, was being presented at the 2017 Australasian Road Safety Conference in Perth.