Sec. 545.062. FOLLOWING DISTANCE. (a) An operator shall, if following another vehicle, maintain an assured clear distance between the two vehicles so that, considering the speed of the vehicles, traffic, and the conditions of the highway, the operator can safely stop without colliding with the preceding vehicle or veering into another vehicle, object, or person on or near the highway.
(b) An operator of a truck or of a motor vehicle drawing another vehicle who is on a roadway outside a business or residential district and who is following another truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle shall, if conditions permit, leave sufficient space between the vehicles so that a vehicle passing the operator can safely enter and occupy the space. This subsection does not prohibit a truck or a motor vehicle drawing another vehicle from passing another vehicle.
(c) An operator on a roadway outside a business or residential district driving in a caravan of other vehicles or a motorcade shall allow sufficient space between the operator and the vehicle preceding the operator so that another vehicle can safely enter and occupy the space. This subsection does not apply to a funeral procession.
(d) An operator of a vehicle equipped with a connected braking system that is following another vehicle equipped with that system may be assisted by the system to maintain an assured clear distance or sufficient space as required by this section. In this subsection, "connected braking system" means a system by which the braking of one vehicle is electronically coordinated with the braking system of a following vehicle.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 19 (H.B. 1791), Sec. 1, eff. May 18, 2017.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 7 - Vehicles and Traffic
Subtitle C - Rules of the Road
Chapter 545 - Operation and Movement of Vehicles
Subchapter B. Driving on Right Side of Roadway and Passing
Section 545.051. Driving on Right Side of Roadway
Section 545.052. Driving Past Vehicle Moving in Opposite Direction
Section 545.053. Passing to the Left; Return; Being Passed
Section 545.054. Passing to the Left: Safe Distance
Section 545.055. Passing to the Left: Passing Zones
Section 545.056. Driving to Left of Center of Roadway: Limitations Other Than Passing
Section 545.057. Passing to the Right
Section 545.058. Driving on Improved Shoulder
Section 545.059. One-Way Roadways and Rotary Traffic Islands
Section 545.060. Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic
Section 545.061. Driving on Multiple-Lane Roadway
Section 545.062. Following Distance
Section 545.063. Driving on Divided Highway
Section 545.064. Restricted Access
Section 545.065. State and Local Regulation of Limited-Access or Controlled-Access Highways
Section 545.0651. Restriction on Use of Highway
Section 545.0652. County Restriction on Use of Highway
Section 545.0653. Restriction on Use of Highway in Maintenance or Construction Work Zone