District of Columbia Truck Following Distance
No fixed feet, and no open-road carve-out - DC is all city. The one truck-flavored rule is a convoy gap: if you're towing and following another vehicle that's towing, leave room for a passing car to slot in front of you (18 DCMR 2201.10). It sets no number. Everything else - including a truck behind a car - falls under the plain reasonable-and-prudent rule (18 DCMR 2201.9), a $100 civil fine. In tight traffic, run the CDL seconds count.
How much room District of Columbia makes you keep
No fixed feet, and no open-road carve-out - DC is all city. The one truck-flavored rule is a convoy gap: if you're towing and following another vehicle that's towing, leave room for a passing car to slot in front of you (18 DCMR 2201.10). It sets no number. Everything else - including a truck behind a car - falls under the plain reasonable-and-prudent rule (18 DCMR 2201.9), a $100 civil fine. In tight traffic, run the CDL seconds count.
The required distance
- Rule: Gap between trucks
- Gap: Sufficient space for an overtaking car to merge in front of you - no fixed feet; applies only to a combination following another combination.
- Fine: $100 civil fine (18 DCMR 2201.9; MPD moving-violation collateral list).
District of Columbia Following Distance FAQ
How much following distance must a truck keep in District of Columbia?
What is the required gap in District of Columbia?
What is the following-too-closely fine in District of Columbia?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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: http://dcrules.elaws.us/dcmr/18-2201. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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