• Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    What I don’t get is the current trend of leaving 1-2 car lengths at traffic lights. At first I thought it was maybe all the new cars with their assisted driving features. But I’ve seen older cars do it too.

    • Gimpydude@lemmynsfw.com
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      1 month ago

      Should be about one car length for every 10mph. On a highway unless you’re going slow that would be too close.

    • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      You should be able to see the tires (generally) of the car ahead of you. That means you can easily / quickly turn out if the car ahead is stalled or something.

      It also means you might not rear end the car ahead of you if someone hits you

    • BallsandBayonets@lemmings.world
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      1 month ago

      Cars are getting bigger, but people aren’t getting taller (as fast). Little granny can barely see her hood over the steering wheel so she needs to leave 2.75 miles of space between her and the car in front.

      • Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        Little granny needs to jack up her seat to its maximal height. And maybe get a booster seat if necessary. Either that or a periscope.

        • FrederikNJS@lemm.ee
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          1 month ago

          This one terrifies me every time… When you pass a car going the opposite way, and it basically looks wike the steering wheel have a wig on… It’s always an old woman… Can they even see the road? Or are they navigating using the sky?

    • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 month ago

      It’s in case some jackass on their phone rear ends you, if you’re too close you’ll get pushed into the car in front of you. IIRC you can be liable for the damages to the car in front of you while stopped if a multiple car accident happens.

    • dingus@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      You don’t need to leave a crazy amount of space when stopped at a traffic light, but you still should be leaving some. So if someone rear ends you, it minimizes the risk of your car then smashing into the person in front of you, so it reduces the risk of additional people being involved in an accident.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        On the other hand if you’re in a real city and someone is already behind you, please pull up tight. That way someone else farther back can make a light or turn lane.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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      1 month ago

      That’s a thing? Seems pretty silly to me. You need space but not that much.

      What annoys me here is that people will enter the intersection before traffic on the other side has a chance to clear thus blocking the road when the light changes.

      I also don’t think the people who speed though the turn light. The light turns green and I have to sit and wait for traffic to clear

      • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        That’s a big enough issue that it is illegal in some cities with signs posted, “Don’t block the box.”

        • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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          1 month ago

          To be fair sometimes the timing of the light is problematic. However, if you see that there are cars ahead you should not enter the intersection