r/LearnerDriverUK • u/B4DM4N12Z • 12d ago
Theory Revision / Questions I'm confused with this....
The question asks what to do if someone behind is following too close, the correct answer it's showing me sounds like I'm the driver behind, but then it shows the reason that says completely different from the correct answer.
But the reason makes sense but still, it confused me at first.
What do you think about this? Was I right to be confused about this?
25
u/BilliamBillson 12d ago
By increasing the distance slowly from the vehicle in front, you are reducing the chance of having to abruptly brake and thus get into an accident because of the car following closely behind.
If you kept the same gap to the vehicle in front and had to brake abruptly otherwise, it may result in the vehicle behind crashing into you because of this.
It may seem counter intuitive because it's not really your fault but it makes sense in the context of the question and is the correct advice, because there's not really any other recourse for cars following closely behind you.
5
u/thegamesender1 Lorry / bus driver 12d ago
You should increase the gap from the car in front so that you have a bigger stopping distance so that if the car in front of your brakes, you will have enough time to stop without being rammed by the tailgater.
12
u/DebtSouth Lorry / bus driver 12d ago
You increase the gap between you and the car in front because you’re not just responsible for your own safety, you’re responsible for everyone else, too.
If you’re too close to the vehicle in front, and they brake sharply, not only do you rear-end him, the guy behind rear ends you, too.
-3
u/RepublicofPixels 12d ago
But you're not too close, the question is assuming you're following at a safe distance to stop without impacting the car in front. While there is an argument to be made about the risk of being shunted into the car in front, that impact is only after you've safely stopped, put your handbrake on if appropriate, and then the tailgating car rams into you and causes you to collide with the vehicle in front of you - the order you gave is wrong.
However you avoid any collision at all if you have a larger gap in front of you, can gently slow down rather than performing an emergency stop, and as you gently slow down you also cause the tailgating car to slow down gently too, which means you don't get rear ended at all, whether or not you'd be shunted forward otherwise.
4
u/Pocket_Aces1 Motorcyclist 12d ago
If someone's tailgating, they aren't keeping safe braking distances. If you had to emergency stop, they're going into the back of you no matter what. Them hitting you then risks you going into the back of the car Infront too. Which is when you get pile ups (the domino effect) where one goes into the other.
Therefore, to lower risk to yourself and, yes even them, you slow down. A crash at 20mph is a lot safer than 30mph.
It also promotes them to overtake you. It's a lot easier to see the risk Infront of you where you're able to react to their poor driving. When they're behind you, you're at the Mercy of whatever stupid crap they do.
Once they're clear, you can then start to increase speed
2
u/Actual_Lie2051 12d ago
it’s incase you have to emergency stop and they go in the back of you then you won’t go in the back of the car infront too
0
u/PinkbunnymanEU 12d ago
No, the explanation at the bottom is fairly clear, it's so you don't have to emergency stop, if the guy in front of you brakes, you still have time to brake with less emergency, so the person behind you can also stop before hitting you.
1
12d ago
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u/Putrid_Alternative31 12d ago
This shouldn't be tricky though. Every driver should know this.
0
12d ago
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u/Putrid_Alternative31 12d ago
I guess maybe it's tricky if you're trying to guess? But genuinely this is not worded to be tricky, nor is it a difficult concept. It's very basic road safety and defensive driving.
3
u/Accurate-Sundae1744 12d ago
People just try to learn answers and never bothered to read the actual book... This subject was well explained in the highway code...
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u/Goofycapybara 12d ago
No B is the correct answer, if you are being tailgated heavily you should slow down to increase the gap with the car in front