How does my Buick car’s following distance indicator work?

What is a following distance indicator? 

The following distance indicator in your Buick shows you how far behind the vehicle ahead you are. Watch the video and review the information below to learn more about this Buick safety feature. You can find Buick models with the latest safety features here at Carl Black Orlando in Orlando, FL. 

How To Use Following Distance Indicator | Buick Envision How-To Videos 

See the following distance indicator in action by watching this video. As you’ll see, it gives you real-time information that’s constantly updating you on how far behind the next vehicle you are. It tells you this in “gap time” which means how long it would take for your car to pass the same object that the car ahead has passed. We’ll explain in more detail below. 

How far behind the next vehicle should I drive? 

Some safety experts recommend a following gap time of three seconds. Three seconds gives you more time to react if the driver ahead loses control, hits an animal, or has to slam on their brakes for any reason. An extra second to react can make a big difference when you’re driving at high speeds. 

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What does the gap time on my following distance indicator mean? 

The gap time is how far behind the vehicle ahead you are, measured in seconds. So, if they pass a light pole and your following distance indicator says two seconds, you’ll pass that same pole two seconds later. It’s a good measurement to use when talking about following distance because it’s easier to visualize than feet or meters of space and gives you a good idea of how much time you’ll have to react in an emergency. 

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