Alabama CDL Class A Permit Practice Test

Look ahead distance is about giving yourself a window to see hazards and react smoothly. At low speeds, you don’t need a huge horizon, but you still need enough distance to notice vehicles stopping, pedestrians stepping out, signals changing, or cars merging in front of you. About one block ahead is a practical working distance in city driving, giving you time to slow gradually, adjust your position, and respond to events without rushing.

A mile ahead would be impractical and slow to respond to things that are close by, especially in traffic. A distance of one foot is far too close to react safely to anything. Waiting until two blocks ahead reduces your ability to notice and react to hazards that appear quickly in urban settings. So, the appropriate look-ahead distance at low speed is about one block.