You're following a fire truck that just passed a garbage can. How long should you wait before reaching that garbage can?

When following a fire truck, it's essential to maintain a safe distance for both your safety and the safety of others on the road. The recommendation to wait for two seconds before reaching a garbage can that the fire truck just passed is based on the need for adequate stopping distance and the potential for unexpected actions from the fire truck or the environment.

Fire trucks often respond to emergencies and may stop suddenly. By waiting for two seconds, you give yourself a buffer that allows you to react if the fire truck stops or if other vehicles make sudden moves. This two-second rule also aligns with general safe following distances, which are designed to help any vehicle maintain a safe space between them and the vehicle in front.

Waiting a shorter period, such as one second, would not provide enough time to react to sudden changes, and waiting longer than two seconds could unnecessarily increase congestion and disrupt traffic flow. Thus, the two-second rule strikes a balance between safety and practicality when following emergency vehicles.