You are driving a 40-foot bus at 50 mph. What is the minimum number of seconds of space you should keep in front of your bus?

To determine the appropriate following distance for a 40-foot bus traveling at 50 mph, it is essential to consider the factors that affect stopping distance and safety. The general rule of thumb for following distance is to maintain at least one second of space for every 10 feet of vehicle length when driving at speeds up to 50 mph.

Since the bus is 40 feet long, this would suggest maintaining a following distance of at least 4 seconds (rounded to one second for every 10 feet) at that speed. However, when driving at higher speeds, additional safety margins are necessary to account for variables such as reaction time, road conditions, and the increased stopping distance required by larger vehicles like buses.

In this scenario, the best answer reflects that driving a larger vehicle and at high speeds requires a more comprehensive safety buffer than the initial calculation may suggest. Therefore, the correct answer indicates that for a 40-foot bus traveling at 50 mph, a minimum following distance of 5 seconds is advisable to ensure adequate reaction time and maintain safety on the road. This allows for a more cautious approach under various driving conditions.