Ordered that the order is affirmed, with one bill of costs.
The defendant Mary Brucculeri was under a duty to maintain a safe distance between her vehicle and the vehicle which she struck in the rear, operated by the plaintiff Frank Inzano ( see, Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1129 Veh. Traf. [a]). Her failure to do so, in the absence of an adequate explanation, constituted negligence as a matter of law ( see, Rebecchi v. Whitmore, 172 A.D.2d 600).
Miller, J.P., Thompson, McGinity and Luciano, JJ., concur.