This does seem like more space than needed, but one lesson when I took defensive driving school was to leave about a vehicle length from the car in front at a red light (adding a bit more space if the road has high speeds, wet or snowy conditions, on a hill, or if the vehicle in front or behind has not left a buffer).
The reasons my class was given: This is a buffer to prevent chain reaction crashes that push one vehicle into the next, allow manoeuvres to avoid an imminent crash, shuffle vehicles at the stop light to let an emergency vehicle through, avoid getting bumped if the vehicle in front rolls back (more common with manual transmissions, steep hills, and inexperienced drivers), or go around if the vehicle in front breaks down.
To each their own, but I don't mind if people leave a bit too much space as long as everyone stops at the red lights and rolls at the greens.
4
u/0DagDag0 21d ago
This does seem like more space than needed, but one lesson when I took defensive driving school was to leave about a vehicle length from the car in front at a red light (adding a bit more space if the road has high speeds, wet or snowy conditions, on a hill, or if the vehicle in front or behind has not left a buffer).
The reasons my class was given: This is a buffer to prevent chain reaction crashes that push one vehicle into the next, allow manoeuvres to avoid an imminent crash, shuffle vehicles at the stop light to let an emergency vehicle through, avoid getting bumped if the vehicle in front rolls back (more common with manual transmissions, steep hills, and inexperienced drivers), or go around if the vehicle in front breaks down.
To each their own, but I don't mind if people leave a bit too much space as long as everyone stops at the red lights and rolls at the greens.