[Andy2009]

Stuck in a nightmare traffic jam last week, but I tried as usual to keep calm and carry on (or not as the case might be).

That was easier said than done. Why, why oh please someone tell me why, certain people, when in a queue of traffic, see it fit to leave a gap between their car and the one in front that is big enough fit the Titanic in?

This caused two problems. One being cars on either side jumping into the gap, thereby increasing travelling time for people stuck behind the gap leader. Secondly, there was a snall at a junction behind - cars could not come off an adjoining road further behind because of the traffic not moving, thus holdng up traffic elsewhere that would otherwise be on the move.

It also seems that people do not know how to react at slip roads in slow moving traffic. If I can't get into the middle lane, then I leave a gap for one or two cars on the slip road to enter the motorway and keep traffic moving. And then what happens?

Either the car that has just entered decides he should stop to wait for a gap in the middle lane or
Someone in the middle lane decides they need the space more than the poor sot stuck on the slip road
Someone on the slip road, not even past the chevrons, decides to jump in.

Oh, and well done to the HGV on the M61 at j9 yesterday (about 1 pm) who, without even bothering to indicate, decided that it would be a good idea to move from the middle lane to the near side right at the entry point of the slip road just as I was about to enter the motorway in a correctly proceeding manner. I ended up having to go on the hard shoulder to avoid smacking into the HGV or causing a pileup behind me. And thanks to the passing patrol officer for making enquiries - unfortunately I did not get the details of the HGV and he was unable to follow up.

[Airbag]

What irritates me is when someone stops with a large gap in front of them, you come to a stop behind them and then they pull forward leaving leaving a gap in front of you. Do they do it on purpose?

[MrDanno]

I would much rather they left a large gap between them and my rear bumper than the usually idiots that seem to think that you have to be within a centimetre of the car in front.

[Rolebama]

I never leave more than a two-car length between me and the guy in front in stop-start traffic, similarly, I never get so close to the car in front that I cannot drive around them. (I was caught a few times in my early years of driving by people parking when I had thought they were in the traffic queue.)

[MrDanno]

It is soo easy to gauge the right distance between yourself and the car stopped in front of you. If you cannot see where the rear tyres of the car in front touch the road - you are too close.

Like Rolebama has said, you never know if that car in front is going to move off and you don't want to be reversing to get around it or maybe your on a hill and that person in front might roll back a bit trying to do a hill start.

[wagolynn]

There you go again Rolebama and Mr Danno, expecting common sense from drivers. How are they going to enjoy their stereo, texting, and smoking and make sure no one gains an inch over them, if they have to concentrate on maintaining a safe gap?

[smudger]

Some of them are just as bad with shopping trolleys!;)

[Andy2009]

But 7 or 8 car lengths is a bit extreme don't you think?

[wagolynn]

But, does it matter anyway, the traffic is or will be stopped or not moving.

[MrDanno]

I suppose it depends if your the kind of person that moves forward if the car in front moves 2 feet or if your like me and lets it move a sensible distance before you bother to move.

I'm a firm believer that impatience is a major cause of accidents and that the extremely small time gain of trying to get thru traffic is not worth all the stress these impatient people put on themselves.

[wagolynn]

In the best possible way, I think we should call you a wise old man MrDanno. Your way results in much less ware and tear on the vehicle and the driver for that matter.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

In the best possible way, I think we should call you a wise old man MrDanno. Your way results in much less ware and tear on the vehicle and the driver for that matter.

Yes, I do have alot of mechanical sympathy for the vehicle.

But, Having done over a million miles behind the wheel you observe these people trying to tear thru traffic and at the end of it they are usually only about 2 or 3 cars ahead of you and in some cases, Stationary at the side of the road exchanging details while you pass unnoticed.

[smudger]

Aye! I've seen that a few times over the years, they go flying past you, cut you up, making you break when they pull back in, then off again roaring past the car in front.

Then a mile or so later, you pull up behind them at a queue for a roundabout:rolleyes:

[Snowball]

Too many drivers seem to have forgotten that there are two elements to braking; thinking distance plus stopping distance. Many of them drive so close that, whilst they have allowed a distance which would allow their vehicle to stop in time, much of this is lost by the dwell between the brake lights in front illuminating and their own reaction. And how many drivers even consider the possibility that the brake lights in front may not be working?:eek:

Another factor that is an advantage of driving well back is that, the further back you are, the greater your range of visibility to see what's happening ahead.

Also, if a madcap wally at the rear does decide to overtake, he has less need to cut you up and not to have to brake rapidly after he has pulled back in.

I prefer to leave room for these drivers to get by. Much better to have them in front where I can keep a watchful eye on them, than having them at the rear where I am at the mercy of their capers.:D

[Rolebama]

Snowball, your comment: 'Too many drivers seem to have forgotten that there are two elements to braking; thinking distance plus stopping distance.'
When I did the speed awareness course, part of the content was with regard to stopping distances. A woman stated quite positively that her thinking and stopping distance combined was less than 27ft at 30mph. There were 15 of us on the course, and 7 others agreed with her. Specifically, we were talking about passing a stationary bus, and ex-passengers crossing the road in front of it.

[MrDanno]

Originally Posted by Snowball

Another factor that is an advantage of driving well back is that, the further back you are, the greater your range of visibility to see what's happening ahead.

I've noticed that in mainland Europe alot of drivers seem to drive soo close behind the vehicle infront the only way they can see what is coming to overtake is to edge out.

Much better to have them in front where I can keep a watchful eye on them, than having them at the rear where I am at the mercy of their capers.:D

If I tend to get some tailgating wally, I simple wait until the road ahead is clear then stick on a left indicator and slow down gradually using the brakes until they overtake. I quite like the shape of the rear of my vehicles the way they are.

Originally Posted by Rolebama

When I did the speed awareness course, part of the content was with regard to stopping distances. A woman stated quite positively that her thinking and stopping distance combined was less than 27ft at 30mph. There were 15 of us on the course, and 7 others agreed with her. Specifically, we were talking about passing a stationary bus, and ex-passengers crossing the road in front of it.

The highway code stopping distances have been the same for as long as I have been driving from what I remember and they allow for the reaction time of even the slowest thinkers. I would much rather that the figures erred on the large side than have people thinking they can stop and cannot. Still, I don't think it matters what they teach. People forget all about the highway code after taking the test.

[Snowball]

If they ever do bring in driving test renewals after a certain number of years, as oft suggested (threatened?), those who have neglected their driving skills/discipline will probably be sorry.:D