Forget the 5-Second Rule — Minnesota Drivers Need to Know the 3-Second Rule

I saw a funny meme the other day about how the “5-second rule” has turned into the “10-second rule” because of today’s high grocery prices. If you’re not familiar with it, the 5-second rule says that if you pick up food within five seconds of dropping it on the floor, it’s still safe to eat. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly true because bacteria can latch on to your food the instant it hits the ground.

There is one rule you should follow in Minnesota, though. It's the "3-second rule" and it has nothing to do with food. Ignore this rule, and you could end up with a ticket, a $1,000 fine, or, in extreme cases, even jail time.

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Sgt. Troy Christianson from the Minnesota State Patrol says that applying the Three-Second Rule helps drivers maintain a safe distance between their car and the vehicle ahead. This rule applies to standard-length vehicles driving in ideal conditions.

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If you’re caught following too closely, you can be ticketed, and in extreme cases, charged with a misdemeanor, which could mean a $1,000 fine or even jail time.

According to Christianson, the best way to check your following distance is to pick a fixed reference point along the road, like a telephone pole, signpost, tree, or bridge. When the vehicle in front of you passes that point, start counting: “One-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three.”

If you reach the same point before you finish counting to three, you’re following too closely. And, with winter approaching, Christianson advises drivers to extend the Three-Second Rule to four or even five seconds when road conditions are slippery or visibility is poor.