Why the Extra Car Length

[Kennywood]

I was taught that you stop so that you can see the bottom of the rear tires of the car in front of you. Of course, due to individual heights, this is just a "rule-of-thumb" (like "car lengths"). Presumably, this is to leave yourself an opening, should you look in your rearview mirror and see that the car behind you will not get stopped in time. The gap between you and the car in front of you may allow you to quickly exit to the shoulder or the median.

 

[RangerPooh]

I give extra space to the car in front of me because the drivers here are so bad that if they crash into me it would start a chain reaction. Plus I try to leave a little extra room in case I need to abandon my lane for another. Due to recent events I've actually grown more paranoid about crime and carjacking's locally that I want an exit plan when driving in some areas.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Extra space between me and the car in front me of means I can start accelerating sooner when the light turns green. I don't have to wait for the car to move away from me, I can let go of the brake right away. Like people in marching bands.

 

[iivye]

My daughter's driving instructor, retired highway patrol officer, told her to leave at least one car length because it is always her fault if she rear-ends someone in the eyes of the insurance company, even if she is hit from behind and it is a chain reaction. This is in Missouri.

 

[John VN]

Extra space between me and the car in front me of means I can start accelerating sooner when the light turns green. I don't have to wait for the car to move away from me, I can let go of the brake right away. Like people in marching bands.

Tongue in cheek, right???

I give extra space to the car in front of me because the drivers here are so bad that if they crash into me it would start a chain reaction. Plus I try to leave a little extra room in case I need to abandon my lane for another. Due to recent events I've actually grown more paranoid about crime and carjacking's locally that I want an exit plan when driving in some areas.

2007, DW and I were stopped at a traffic light first in line. While waiting for the green I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw an approaching vehicle. I looked forward and saw the last car drive by and clear us passing from left to right then BAM!!!!!!

The driver of the approaching from behind vehicle never applied the brakes and as a result it was 200 feet after the impact and through the intersection with that vehicle in the trunk of our car that we finally stopped.

 

[Kennywood]

"Awwww....there's no need to involve the police and insurance companies! We can work this out between us, right??"

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Tongue in cheek, right???

No? I don't ride up on somebody's butt. If I stop right up on somebody's butt, I have to wait for them to move before I start moving.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

it is always her fault if she rear-ends someone in the eyes of the insurance company, even if she is hit from behind and it is a chain reaction.

That isn't accurate and police don't have anything to do with fault assigned by an insurance company. Even in MO (which I live next to) and has similar enough laws. The insurance company will often look at police reports though.

When it came to my accident (though I will say was in KS) that turned into a 3 car accident the driver who hit me from behind their insurance company was found 100% at fault for everyone's damage. The 3rd car received a minor scratch from the middle car's front license plate frame and drove off without being included on the police report. Because I used my insurance I paid my deductible, got my car fixed and my insurance company subrogated against the driver who rear-ended me and the second time pushed me into the car in front of me. My insurance company certainly didn't find me at fault for being pushed into the car in front of me nor did the car in front of me's insurance verified by the letter I received.

In terms of accidents there are always circumstances that are at play. There are also better insurance companies than others too.

 

[momz]

I leave enough room for me to escape. Seriously. I live in a city with a growing crime problem. I've had people come up to my car at stop lights and knock on my window. If i'm too close to the car ahead of me, I can't get away if I need to. I've had people looking for money, asking for a ride, or wanting me to buy the newspaper their particular news paper (there are special interest groups that sell their publications....it's all propaganda, but they intimidate people into buying them). The scariest place to be, by far is at the gas station, outside the car. People will walk up and ask for money....it can be scary. Always have something available to give them. Otherwise, drive to a different area for your gas.

 

[John VN]

No? I don't ride up on somebody's butt. If I stop right up on somebody's butt, I have to wait for them to move before I start moving.

Gotcha. I found that no matter where I stop I still can't get any farther than the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Gotcha. I found that no matter where I stop I still can't get any farther than the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

Well, there is the "MOOOOOOOVE!" problem still, yeah

 

[trip]

I was taught that you stop so that you can see the bottom of the rear tires of the car in front of you. Of course, due to individual heights, this is just a "rule-of-thumb" (like "car lengths"). Presumably, this is to leave yourself an opening, should you look in your rearview mirror and see that the car behind you will not get stopped in time. The gap between you and the car in front of you may allow you to quickly exit to the shoulder or the median.

That's the way I was taught.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I was out and about today and this thread came to mind when I saw this next to me (apologies on dredging up a slightly older thread):





Second picture is just to show how 1 car can throw off other cars. Both cars were fully stopped, not creeping forward, not just coming to a stop, both completely stopped.

This is unnecessary to do so and is almost certainly caused by the driver whose whole car is shown stopping so far from the line and the car next to them basing their distance off of that. My guess is the driver whose whole car is shown saw the white line to the left of them for the left turn lane and stopped there not paying attention to their line. Depth perception and paying attention are the most likely culprits not leaving room for escaping or anything like that

And this is why backups can occur.