You may think leaving one car length between you and the car in front of you is safe.

But, that's not always the case.

Safe following distances vary according to traffic speed and weather conditions and according to the type of vehicle you're driving.

In good conditions, you should allow 2 seconds between your car and the vehicle in front of you.

Here's an easy way to work that out.

Pick a mark on the road or an object close to the left hand side of the road, such as a power pole.

When the rear of the vehicle in front of you passes that object, count 'one thousand one, one thousand two'.

If the front of your car passes the object before you've finished counting, drop back, you're following too closely.

Now if you're towing a trailer or caravan, you'll need to allow 2 seconds, plus an extra second for every 3 metres of trailer.

If you're driving a heavy vehicle, double the distance and allow at least 4 seconds following distance.

If conditions are poor, also allow 4 seconds between you and the car in front, more if you are driving a heavy vehicle.

Rear-end collisions are the most common types of crashes, so play safe and keep your distance.