NC General Statutes
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-152 (2026)
Following too closely
✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.
(b) The driver of any motor vehicle traveling upon a highway outside of a business or residential district and following another motor vehicle shall, whenever conditions permit, leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a motor vehicle from overtaking and passing another motor vehicle. This provision shall not apply to funeral processions.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to the driver of any non-leading commercial motor vehicle traveling in a platoon on any roadway where the Department of Transportation has by traffic ordinance authorized travel by platoon. For purposes of this subsection, the term "platoon" means a group of individual commercial motor vehicles traveling at close following distances in a unified manner through the use of an electronically interconnected braking system. (1937, c. 407, s. 114; 1949, c. 1207, s. 4; 1973, c. 1330, s. 17; 2017-169, s. 1.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32
cases, 1944–2018 · leading case: State v. Wilson, 574 S.E.2d 93 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002).
State v. Wilson, 574 S.E.2d 93 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002). “” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-152 (a) (2001). As referenced in Judge Greene’s concurring opinion, our Supreme Court has held that where a “defendant’s vehicle was .”
State v. Bullock, 805 S.E.2d 671 (N.C. 2017). “Defendant was driving ten miles per hour over the speed limit; following a truck too closely, which is forbidden by N.C.G.S. § 20-152 ; and weaving over the white line marking the edge of the road, which is forbidden by N.”
State v. McClendon, 517 S.E.2d 128 (N.C. 1999). “§ 20-141, and defendant’s vehicle was also following too closely, which is a violation of N.C.G.S. § 20-152. Because of the violations of these traffic laws, the officers had probable cause to stop the vehicles and to issue a warning ticket to each driver.”
State v. Hernandez, 612 S.E.2d 420 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). “This Court, however, disagreed,' finding: Defendant Wilson’s violation of Section 20-152(a) established the probable cause needed to initially stop the vehicle .”
Goins v. Time Warner Cable Se., LLC, 812 S.E.2d 723 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). “Specifically, Defendant claims Plaintiff Knapp's actions fall within the purview of Section 20-152(a) of our General Statutes, in that "[t]he driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely *726 than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the…”
State v. McClendon, 502 S.E.2d 902 (N.C. Ct. App. 1998). “In the instant case, the evidence supports the trial court's findings that both the mini-van driven by Contreras and the station wagon driven by the defendant were traveling in excess of the posted speed limit in violation of N.”
Beanblossom v. Thomas, 146 S.E.2d 36 (N.C. 1966). “G.S. 20-152(a). It further discloses, however, that at the-, time the patrolman made his investigation of the wreck he had no evidence which would have justified such a charge against Anderson.”
United States v. Mantel Mubdi, 691 F.3d 334 (4th Cir. 2012). “" N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-152 . Notably, the statute is silent as to what constitutes a "reasonable and prudent" distance.”
Smith v. Rawlins, 116 S.E.2d 184 (N.C. 1960). “G.S. 20-152(a), and the complaint alleges a violation of this statute, provides “the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, *69 with regard for the safety of others and due regard to the speed of such vehicles and…”
Hamilton v. McCash, 127 S.E.2d 214 (N.C. 1962). “McCash was in clear violation of the safety provisions of G.S. 20-152 (a) and was negligence on her part, that by such driving Mrs.”
Ratliff v. Duke Power Co., 151 S.E.2d 641 (N.C. 1966). “G.S. 20-152 forbids the driver of a motor vehicle to follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, and a violation of this statute is negligence per se.”
White v. Mote, 155 S.E.2d 75 (N.C. 1967). “Corbett, supra, is bottomed on a violation of G.S. 20-152 (a) which appeared from the plaintiff’s own testimony.”
— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-152(a) — 11 cases
State v. Wilson, 574 S.E.2d 93 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002). “” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-152 (a) (2001). As referenced in Judge Greene’s concurring opinion, our Supreme Court has held that where a “defendant’s vehicle was .”
State v. Hernandez, 612 S.E.2d 420 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). “This Court, however, disagreed,' finding: Defendant Wilson’s violation of Section 20-152(a) established the probable cause needed to initially stop the vehicle .”
Beanblossom v. Thomas, 146 S.E.2d 36 (N.C. 1966). “G.S. 20-152(a). It further discloses, however, that at the-, time the patrolman made his investigation of the wreck he had no evidence which would have justified such a charge against Anderson.”
Goins v. Time Warner Cable Se., LLC, 812 S.E.2d 723 (N.C. Ct. App. 2018). “Specifically, Defendant claims Plaintiff Knapp's actions fall within the purview of Section 20-152(a) of our General Statutes, in that "[t]he driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely *726 than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the…”
Smith v. Rawlins, 116 S.E.2d 184 (N.C. 1960). “G.S. 20-152(a), and the complaint alleges a violation of this statute, provides “the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, *69 with regard for the safety of others and due regard to the speed of such vehicles and…”
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