Arkansas Truck Following Distance
200 feet, and here it binds behind ANY vehicle, not just another truck. Your truck (or any rig towing another vehicle) can't follow within 200 feet of the vehicle ahead out on the open road, outside a business or residence district (A.C.A. 27-51-305(b)); passing is still fine. In town or stuck in traffic, the general reasonable-and-prudent rule governs (27-51-305(a)), and that's the tailgating ticket, a misdemeanor fine set by the local district court, typically on the order of $100 to $150 plus costs.
A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm with the state statute before you rely on it.
How much room Arkansas makes you keep
200 feet, and here it binds behind ANY vehicle, not just another truck. Your truck (or any rig towing another vehicle) can't follow within 200 feet of the vehicle ahead out on the open road, outside a business or residence district (A.C.A. 27-51-305(b)); passing is still fine. In town or stuck in traffic, the general reasonable-and-prudent rule governs (27-51-305(a)), and that's the tailgating ticket, a misdemeanor fine set by the local district court, typically on the order of $100 to $150 plus costs.
The required distance
- Rule: Fixed truck gap
- Gap: 200 feet behind any vehicle, outside a business or residence district — applies to any motor truck or any vehicle towing another vehicle; does not prevent overtaking and passing.
- Fine: Misdemeanor; no fixed statewide fine — district courts set the amount, and it commonly lands somewhere around $100 to $150 plus court costs.
Arkansas Following Distance FAQ
How much following distance must a truck keep in Arkansas?
What is the required gap in Arkansas?
What is the following-too-closely fine in Arkansas?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-27/subtitle-4/chapter-51/subchapter-3/section-27-51-305/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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