FOLLOW TOO CLOSELY - HTA- section 158

Prohibition on following another vechile too closely is covered by s. 158 of the Highway Traffic Act . This Section States:

158. (1) The driver of a motor vechile or street car shall not follow another vechile or street car more closely than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for the speed of the vechile and the traffic on and the conditions of the highway.

(2). The driver of a commercial motor vechile when driving on a highway at a speed exceeding 60 km/h shall not follow within 60 meters of another vechile, but this shall not be constructed to prevent a commercial vechile overtaking and opassing another motor vechile.(1).

In the context of a Dangerous Driving or Careless Driving case , the BC Court of Appeal had this to say about the offence of Following too Closely:

Driving without sufficient space behind the vechile in front creates a number of hazards. The view ahead is obstructed. That is particular so in a case like this where the vechile being followed is a large truck. Another obvious hazard is that there is insufficient stopping distance if sometjhing unexpected happened.. (2)

A breach of the statutory duty establishes a prima facie case of civil negligence.