When driving in the city how far should you look ahead?

The recommended following distance in urban areas is 3 seconds. This means you should be able to see the back of the car in front of you for at least 3 seconds. At higher speeds, you should increase your following distance to 4 or even 5 seconds.

This will give you enough time to react if the car in front of you stops suddenly. It will also help you avoid tailgating, which is a major cause of accidents.

In addition, looking ahead far enough will help you anticipate traffic conditions and make decisions accordingly. For example, if you see that there is a red light up ahead, you can start slowing down early. This will help you avoid having to brake suddenly, which can lead to an accident.