What is one key reason to maintain a safe following distance?

Maintaining a safe following distance is essential primarily to allow for sudden stops. When driving, you cannot predict the behavior of the vehicle in front of you, as they may need to stop unexpectedly due to various reasons, such as a sudden obstacle or road conditions. By keeping an adequate distance, you provide yourself with enough time and space to react to such situations without the risk of a rear-end collision. This practice increases overall road safety for you and other drivers.

The other choices do not contribute to safe driving. Intimidating the vehicle behind you is counterproductive and can lead to road rage or aggressive driving. Keeping your speed constant is important for safety, but it doesn't specifically address the need for reaction time in emergencies. Ensuring that no one can cut in front of you does not realistically account for the dynamics of traffic, as maintaining a safe following distance is about managing potential hazards, not preventing others from changing lanes.