- Everyone else is doing it -

by Guest » Thu May 05, 2011 08:45 pm
Guest

Alright so I've got a question. My father indicates I tailgate and referenced the 1 car length for every 10 MPH. Based on this... he's right!

Now I know that everyone else likes to go 5 MPH over the speed limit but I diligently try not to. The law is good and I agreed to it so I should live it.

What is the law regarding spacing between cars?

In my mind it goes like this. If it takes the car in front of me X time to stop then I simply need X + R (reaction time) to stop.

What is the standard reaction time from visual input to application of pressure on the break anyways?

After all, the car in front of me needs just as much time to stop as I do and the 1 car per 10 MPH would apply only under conditions where the car in front of me was at a standstill.

Now should there be an unseen accident up ahead... the possibility of a pileup occurs and this is where I see the 1 car per 10 MPH (or 3 second rule) being applicable.

However the previous scenario would still apply. If car A is at a standstill and car B hits them due to not having enough time to stop then B is at fault. If car C then hits car B then it’s car C's fault and if car D hits car C then it's car D's fault ad infinum. Right?

If even one car actually maintained the 3 second rule and everyone is paying attention then no other car should actually hit the car in front of them based on my logic under section 4. Right?

Is my logic wrong?

If my logic is indeed wrong and the law is that you provide safe distance of 3 seconds at all times... doesn't that mean that we're a nation of law breakers?

If there isn't a law regarding distance, why are people held accountable? Of course logic can tell you who is at fault but shouldn't there be a law too?

Thoughts? Answers? Explanations?

Total Comments: 2

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 10:25 pm Post Subject:

There is no "law" that defines the amount of space between cars in motion. The statute is usually called something like "Following Too Close" and it's pretty much a judgment call on the part of the citing officer.

The distance is too close if you would not be able to stop without being involved in a collision.

One car-length per 10 mph may or may not be sufficient. The IIHS recommends 30 seconds between vehicles at speed. However, in congested areas such as here in Southern California, trying to leave 30 seconds between cars would probably mean having to drive in reverse!

If there isn't a law regarding distance, why are people held accountable?



Because we are expected to drive with regard for the safety of others and their property, we are held accountable for our negligent driving behavior.

1 car per 10 MPH (or 3 second rule)



The "3-second rule" is an aberrant formula. For every 10 mph, a vehicle is traveling 14-2/3 feet per second. A car length is about 12 feet. At 60 mph, traveling 88 feet per second, 3 seconds = 264 feet. 6 car lengths = about 80 feet, or less than 1 second. Neither formula works properly. Including 1 second for reaction time, the stopping distance on a dry surface for most vehicles traveling 60 mph is a bit more than 300 feet. Either way, a collision will probably occur using the 1-car-length-per-10-mph formula or the 3-second rule.

An alert, aggressively defensive driver needs to watch traffic 300-500 feet ahead in order to anticipate the need to take evasive action. Too many drivers are distracted by things much closer than this.

Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:21 am Post Subject:

Do 90% of the people driving follow too close? Well, for the most part yes. But 99.999% of the time you simply are not going to be placed in a situation where this is an issue.

The law exists so that a police officer can prevent an accident from happening. There are a lot of people that ride the bumper of the person in front of them. After the accident happens it's too late to prevent the property damage, the injury or the death.

I have handled a _lot_ of claims in the past upteen years. I can saw that a _vast_ majority of the claims for younger drivers is because they did not have enough time to stop and rear ended someone. That is a huge majority of the claims. Young driver think that they can react on a dime and really don't know how to read traffic or seen enough to know ahead of time what another driver is going to do. Not because they are not smart... but simply because they have not seen the same thing happen a thousand times yet.

But let me also ask you this... and here is what I always say... how much quicker are you going to get to your destination by following a person a little closer? I've done the math. It's about 5 seconds quicker at the _most_. Is this going to make any difference? So the _real_ question is... why not add some extra room?

The other thing is people who learn the bad habit of driving too close are just going to continue to drive too close. Just like people who speed are always going to speed. I always use my blinker and you know what... I don't even think about it any more... I just turn it on without thinking. Same thing with my seatbelt. So curb your habit and allow extra room. It will feel normal after while and you know... you won't be rear ending anyone anytime soon. I also tell people, practice stopping a cars length behind people at stop lights. It's different. Don't be like everyone else. Stand out. You know... now people will be less likely to rear end you as you are not slamming on your brakes at the last moment. Same thing when following people. Why be like everyone else. Kick back and take that extra 5 seconds. If someone cuts in front you, just let them. Who cares. It really did not affect you at all. Just think... perhaps he/she is having a really bad day and they are just venting a little. Good for them. Then you continue on with where you were going and forget about it.

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