What distance from the preceding vehicle should you keep if you drive a bus in a built-up area?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
C. A distance necessary to avoid a collision in the event that the preceding vehicle brakes.
Explanation
In the photo you can see a wide city street with two lanes in one direction and cars driving ahead of you. In a built-up area you keep the following distance needed to avoid a collision if the vehicle in front brakes - answer C.
The Road Traffic Act requires every driver to keep the distance needed to avoid a collision if the vehicle in front brakes or stops - this is a general rule that also applies in towns. A distance that allows overtaking vehicles to pull in front of the bus (answer A) is required only when driving outside a built-up area on two-way roadways with two lanes. The regulations do not set any fixed minimum of 50 m in towns (answer B) - 50 m is the distance in long tunnels outside a built-up area. You choose the actual distance according to your speed, the road surface and your brakes. In a bus, remember that you brake more gently than a passenger car, because you are carrying standing passengers.
Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 2 point 3 and para. 3 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)