In the stop light line: how much space between cars?

[SailDesign]

I don't mind the folks that stop a little short (unless they're first in line and don't "trip" the pad) but I really dislike those that then creep forward coz they're too lazy to keep their foot on the brake pedal...

I drive a stick shift, and all that creeping kills my clutch. I usually wait until there's a full car-length (or two - I drive a tiny car) and then pull up close, knowing they'll creep some more.

Stop where you want to stop - then stay there!

Grr....

 

[Arik]

If I remember correctly you should be able to see the rear wheels of the car in front of you. That's considered safe distance. However, here it's basically as long as you stopped without an accident

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[NYlakesider]

I don't mind the folks that stop a little short (unless they're first in line and don't "trip" the pad) but I really dislike those that then creep forward coz they're too lazy to keep their foot on the brake pedal...

I drive a stick shift, and all that creeping kills my clutch. I usually wait until there's a full car-length (or two - I drive a tiny car) and then pull up close, knowing they'll creep some more.

Stop where you want to stop - then stay there!

Grr....

Drove large CDL type delivery trucks for a few years and tend to stay back a bit on tight corners that have truck traffic. It makes their turns easier. It also helps out the person with a camping or boat trailer.

As far as stick shift, SOP for me is to just sit where I stopped and wait for my light, unless there is a reason to move!

 

[keith44spl]

Just enough room to allow my vehicle an escape route, if necessary.


.

 

[johngalt]

I leave some space, probably a car length. I want to have room to get around a potentially stalled car.

I don't get the creepers either. My GLK has a cool 'hold' feature. When stopped, press the brake hard to activate. This lets you take the foot off the pedal but the brakes stay engaged. Step on the gas to release. Solves any inclination to follow the creeper ahead of me.

In my manual car, I shift into neutral. I don't clutch in/out to follow the creeper.

 

[Rustyt1953]

This has been a chigger under my skin for 35 years. Ruthie has a built-in proximity detector. She will stop a car length, or more, behind any vehicle. She is oblivious to those honking behind her.

On the highway, she will maintain a two car length distance. As to be expected, a car will pass her and pull into the gap causing her to drop back to a two car length distance allowing yet another car to fill the gap. This reverse leap flogging continues on until she reaches her destination. Couple this with slowing down to allow every car merging from the on ramp to get ahead of her and she will eventually arrive at her destination 400 places back from where she should have been.

She does not swim with the rest of the salmon.

I have never been able to change her so I have resorted to keeping a pillowcase in the car so I don't have to watch.

 

[BB57]

The turn-signal thread reminded me of something I've been meaning to ask the national audience here on the Forum.

Where I now live in the Fayetteville, North Carolina area, I have observed a phenomenon I don't ever remember seeing anywhere else I have lived. I can't figure it out, and I wonder if anyone else sees it and whether it's some kind of new trend.

When coming to a stop for a stoplight, my habit has always been to leave perhaps 3 to 5 feet or so between me and the car ahead. This is what feels like a comfortable space, plus I do it in consideration of people behind me so when the light changes, most or all of us can get through the light before it turns red again. Simple, right?

Well, it's amazing to me that so many drivers here will stop a full car length, or even more, behind the one in front of them. Some even stop that far behind the stop line if they're first in line. In a long line of stopped traffic, this means that the folks near the end of the line are gonna have to wait through another light cycle to move through.

Not to mention the fact that when someone "stops short" ahead of me as I'm decelerating, I have less room to stop and sometimes have to brake hard, even if I had not been following too closely. We have a ton of rear-end collisions in our area, and I wonder if this is partly why.

This behavior puzzles, and frankly, gripes me. It's another grrrrrrrrrrrr moment among the many others I have when driving these days.

Do people do this where you live? Is there a reasonable explanation?

I've noted the same phenomenon here in NC and I have not seen it elsewhere (and between PCS and TDY over the years, I've been a LOT of places.

I find it particularly annoying when the line of overly far spaced cars extends back far enough to cut off access to the turn lane.

Only slightly less annoying are the drivers here who see a stop light turn red at the next intersection and then slow down so they can coast to a stop - once again effectively blocking access to turn lanes, while spacing themselves so much that absolutely no one can enter the street from any of the parking lots along the street.

All of this is aggravated by the cities of Greenville and Winterville that can't seem to time the stoplights on the major avenues to ensure that traffic actually flows through town with cars doing the speed limit not having to stop at more than one traffic light.

In some cases, it appears the drivers are just old. However in other cases my suspicion is that a fair percentage of people are:
- leaving extra space to compensate for the phone stuck to the side of their face and/or texting while driving; or
- are not carrying full coverage insurance; and/or
- fear being deported; and/or
- fear being arrested on an outstanding warrant;
if they are involved in an accident.

----

Now...there are times and places where I will leave enough space in front of my car (6-8 ft, not 20 ft) where I can turn left or right to get around a car in front of me, and in those places I also avoid getting stuck in the center lane.

Those places are neighborhoods where car jacking is a possibility. I'd much rather be in the left or right lane and be able to stomp on the long skinny pedal and drive my way out of a situation with my 5000 pound vehicle rather than get involved in a gun fight. Besides, running over would be car jacker is just as effective as a double tap center of mass.

 

[LVSteve]

This has been a chigger under my skin for 35 years. Ruthie has a built-in proximity detector. She will stop a car length, or more, behind any vehicle. She is oblivious to those honking behind her.

On the highway, she will maintain a two car length distance. As to be expected, a car will pass her and pull into the gap causing her to drop back to a two car length distance allowing yet another car to fill the gap. This reverse leap flogging continues on until she reaches her destination. Couple this with slowing down to allow every car merging from the on ramp to get ahead of her and she will eventually arrive at her destination 400 places back from where she should have been.

She does not swim with the rest of the salmon.

I have never been able to change her so I have resorted to keeping a pillowcase in the car so I don't have to watch.

Short version : Everybody else other than Rusty's wife described in his post cannot drive, and I'm not joking.

 

[PALADIN85020]

This has been a chigger under my skin for 35 years. Ruthie has a built-in proximity detector. She will stop a car length, or more, behind any vehicle. She is oblivious to those honking behind her.

On the highway, she will maintain a two car length distance. As to be expected, a car will pass her and pull into the gap causing her to drop back to a two car length distance allowing yet another car to fill the gap. This reverse leap flogging continues on until she reaches her destination. Couple this with slowing down to allow every car merging from the on ramp to get ahead of her and she will eventually arrive at her destination 400 places back from where she should have been.

She does not swim with the rest of the salmon.

I have never been able to change her so I have resorted to keeping a pillowcase in the car so I don't have to watch.

My wife operates in much the same manner, giving me white knuckles while she does it.

The rule of thumb (by traffic safety experts) is to maintain 3 seconds or more of distance between you and the car in front of you. "Two car lengths" is but a split second at 75 MPH and could get you a ticket for tailgating.

Count 0 to three at one second intervals from the time the car in front of you passes a discernible stationary object or mark. You should not also pass that object or mark in less than 3 seconds. The 3 second rule works no matter what speed you may be going. I taught this rule to one of my granddaughters while driving recently in the hope that it may save her life someday.

John

 

[rwt1405]

Driving Emergency vehicles for 35+ years, I was always taught to leave enough room to be able to get out, and around of the vehicles in front of me.

These days (actually always) I leave plenty of room, with my personal vehicle, for the same reason, and in case of getting rear ended, etc., not even to talk about the potential of a carjacking.

I've never understood people who pull up so close to the vehicle in front of them, that if they get rear-ended, they will rear end the vehicle in front of them.

But hey, what ever floats your boat.

 

[djohns6]

Have you ever been sitting in line at a red light , the light changes and the vehicle in front of you doesn't move ? You tap the horn and a few seconds later the other guy's hazard flashers come on . Damn ! Stalled vehicle . Can you cut the wheel hard and go around , or do you have to back up ( after everyone behind you does first ) to get room ? No brainer . Leave yourself room to maneuver .

 

[SailDesign]

My wife operates in much the same manner, giving me white knuckles while she does it.

The rule of thumb (by traffic safety experts) is to maintain 3 seconds or more of distance between you and the car in front of you. "Two car lengths" is but a split second at 75 MPH and could get you a ticket for tailgating.

Count 0 to three at one second intervals from the time the car in front of you passes a discernible stationary object or mark. You should not also pass that object or mark in less than 3 seconds. The 3 second rule works no matter what speed you may be going. I taught this rule to one of my granddaughters while driving recently in the hope that it may save her life someday.

John

3 seconds at 50 mph is 220 ft.... In RI, if you leave even a quarter of that, you will have cars jumping in front of you on the highway.

At 30 mph, it is 132 ft, which allows 2 max-length semis to be between you and the car in front, or 3 school buses. That's fine if everyone is rolling down the country roads, but in any sort of traffic is ludicrously far apart.

IMHO.

 

[LVSteve]

3 seconds at 50 mph is 220 ft.... In RI, if you leave even a quarter of that, you will have cars jumping in front of you on the highway.

At 30 mph, it is 132 ft, which allows 2 max-length semis to be between you and the car in front, or 3 school buses. That's fine if everyone is rolling down the country roads, but in any sort of traffic is ludicrously far apart.

IMHO.

Maybe, but if you do the math on reaction times and stopping distances you might be surprised how quickly that 132 ft can disappear. Dial in America's love of "no season" rubber and undersized brakes on a 4000 lb vehicle and things can get mighty close.

Stopping distances and the required following distances are something that comes up in the UK driving test. I don't recall much about my NV test after fogging the spoon.

 

[snubbyfan]

I like to give myself enough room, so I can pull onto the shoulder if it looks like the person behind me isn't going to stop in time.
I've learned this from my Dad and it's helped a few times over the years.

 

[mckenney99]

I was trained to always leave myself an "out", so I want enough room to get around the vehicle in front of me with the least amount of time required to do so. Drilled into me during training and still do it today. Also watch all my mirrors while stopped, so I'm not surprised by anyone coming up from behind. It's not paranoia if they're really trying to get you.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Short version : Everybody else other than Rusty's wife described in his post cannot drive, and I'm not joking.

I don't always drive perfectly, but I try. I CAN let others in front of me and then re-establish proper distance. I have never once ended up driving backwards. In fact, in MA, usually the the impatient ones are driving fast enough that they re-establish it for me.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

If somebody rear ends you while you are sitting at a red light and drives you into the car in front of you, you are responsible for that damage to the car ahead. You were too close. What's a few more feet? Ease up and stay back. I would wager that impatience is a leading cause of accidents.

John

 

[eveled]

I like to be able to see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front of me touch the road. A minor impact shouldn't push me into the vehicle in front of me.

This is the current correct answer. I have to go to driver safety training every year.

 

[Big Cholla]

I generally leave enough room between my car and the one in front of me that I can turn the wheel hard and get around that car in an emergency without having to do any more maneuvering. I try not to leave much to chance - plan ahead.

John

I wondered when someone would post what I think is the most important consideration of stopping in traffic behind another vehicle. John stated exactly that. I learned the hard way while living in Anchorage, AK about rear end collisions at stops. I was hit during the winter for a fender bender. But, I was hit at a downhill stop sign during the summer by a drunk driving an older 3/4 ton Dodge PU. I was driving my 3 month old Toyota Land Cruiser. I saw him coming in my rear view mirror and realized that I couldn't do a darn thing about the oncoming collision. I pressed hard on my brake pedal and laid my head on my arms folded over the top of the steering wheel. That was a mistake. I should have put my head back against the headrest. This was before air bags. The drunk put himself into the hospital, totaled his PU, totaled my Toyota, totaled the GTO ahead of me, severely damaged a VW Bug and gave a significant 'bump' to a school bus. I went straight to my Doctor with back and neck pain. I wound up having to sue Farmer's Insu. to get medical treatment and a new Toyota Land Cruiser. A long story to get to the point; I always leave enough room for me to turn the direction that is the safest for minimal damage to me and my vehicle. When I get a new vehicle I go to a parking lot with tape measure and chalk to measure the exact distance to clear a vehicle I have stopped behind. I then watch my rear view mirror more than anything else. And, you are not safe until there are two or three vehicles fully stopped behind you.

The above habit has saved me twice right here in the Las Vegas area. Once on a Harley and once in my wife's VW Bug. The Bug incident occurred at the last stop sign on a four lane, 55 mph arterial that I have to use to turn towards my house. A young man driving an older Lincoln Continental turned into my turn lane at a much too fast speed to stop before hitting me. I turned to the left and drove into the gravel median. He hit the car that I was behind causing significant damage. Darned if he didn't restart his car and attempt to pull back. I ran up to him and flashed my retired badge and told him to stop, turn off his engine and give me the keys. He started to give me grief but saw my hand down under my coat and yes, I had it on the grip of a very nice Colt Commander, 38 Super. He complied and I went and checked on the lady he hit. She was shook up but otherwise OK. The first arriving cop assumed I was the driver of that car. It took him awhile to get the story right in that I saw the accident coming and that the VW in the median was mine. The second arriving cop was an old friend of mine that I knew when I was with another Agency. He remarked, "I see that you are still practicing situational awareness." I told him that was a lesson that I learned the hard way.

 

[Abbynormal]

I was always taught to leave space between the top of your hood to be able to see the tire touching the pavement of the car in front.

I usually add a foot or two in case an 1D10T behind me doesn't understand physics and thermal dynamics.