Rant: Stoplight Stopping Distance

[AugieTN]

Why are some people now stopping 3 or 4 car length behind a stopped car at a stoplight? This never use to happen.

If these people are in the left hand lane, they can end up blocking people from getting into the left hand turn lane.

I don't get it

Rant done

 

[gjgalligan]

Maybe they are afraid of being boxed in between 2 cars full of thugs. Leaving an escape space can save your butt.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I had no idea Ruthie was in Tennessee. My apologies.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Maybe they are afraid of being boxed in between 2 cars full of thugs. Leaving an escape space can save your butt.

CCW to the rescue! If you are going to fire any gun inside the care, don't forget the ear plugs!

Ivan

 

[Rotorhead1026]

Maybe they are afraid of being boxed in between 2 cars full of thugs. Leaving an escape space can save your butt.

There’s truth in this, although four car lengths might be a little extreme.

 

[Chuck24]

If you’re far enough back to see the rear wheels of the car in front of you touching the pavement, you should have enough room to escape

 

[cougar14]

Whenever I am behind someone who does this, I crowd him/her in my tall pickup, makes them think I'm in their back seat. They usually begin to creep forward, while watching me continuously. I move up also, until they're at a reasonable distance from the car in front of them, then I stop.
There is one old dude driving a vintage early 60's Impala that I really enjoy coming up on him. He rolls down his window and angrily waves me back, which I blissfully ignore. I usually wave at him when the light turns green, while he shakes his fist. Makes my day.

 

[Denverd0n]

Whenever I am behind someone who does this, I crowd him/her in my tall pickup, makes them think I'm in their back seat.

Well, better not try that with me. I wouldn't creep forward even an inch. In fact, when the light turned green I would probably sit there just long enough to be sure that you were getting really annoyed before I started moving. And big pickups are not even the least bit intimidating to me in my little sedan.


(Of course, I also don't stop 4 car lengths back. I stop just far enough back that I can crank the wheel and get around if I need to.)

 

[sigp220.45]

If you leave me 4 car lengths, I’m pulling in.

 

[StrawHat]

It seems there are lots of inconsiderate drivers on this forum!

Kevin

 

[SMSgt]

People who think they can create an escape route at an intersection have never driven in Florida.

 

[Rustyt1953]

What constitutes a "reasonable distance" and who decides it?

 

[ameridaddy]

Why? I've noticed it seems to be either the scaredy-cat who doesn't know where the perimeter of her car is, or else a numbskull 'secretly' texting or otherwise messing with a cell phone in his lap. A dead giveaway it's a cell distraction is the furtive head bobbing up and down. The latter get a full blast of my horn after a three count.

 

[AugieTN]

What constitutes a "reasonable distance" and who decides it?

I suppose the Department of motor vehicles in your state could decide what is reasonable.

To me, a car length to a car and half length, seems reasonable. Just my opinion.

 

[Beemerguy53]

It seems there are lots of inconsiderate drivers on this forum!

There are also a lot of people who apparently get their rocks off by angering and provoking strangers. Sorry, but I don’t get that…

 

[Beemer-mark]

They come to an early stop to get on their smartphone.

 

[Doug M.]

Climbing up someone's backside as described above, especially knowing you have gotten the responses described, is unwise. It has a good chance of provoking violence. I stay back about a car length, which does facilitate escape. One my FTOs urged more too in a squad car - there are places where cops are targeted and having that room is a safety issue. Every once in a while someone would do something that could have been a pre-assaultive cue, and drawing but keeping the pistol out of sight was the norm.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Maybe I should start carrying a theodolite.

 

[gjgalligan]

CCW to the rescue! If you are going to fire any gun inside the care, don't forget the ear plugs!

Ivan

As far as I am concerned guns are the absolute last resort. I'll try to drive or run away if possible.

 

[gjgalligan]

Whenever I am behind someone who does this, I crowd him/her in my tall pickup, makes them think I'm in their back seat. .

That would probably be the odd time that my vehicle stalls and it takes a couple of cycles of the light to get it started again.