So this has been annoying me lately; drivers leaving excessive spacing when stopped for a red light. I get it, you don’t want to be right on the next guys bumper, you should leave space to escape if the guy in front stalls or somebody tries to carjack you. But 2-3 car lengths? It really bugs me when they do it in a left turn lane causing a back up to the travel lane resulting in overall congestion. Or, if they’re first at the light, they don’t pull up far enough to reach the road sensors that trigger a light change. I haven’t been able to isolate to a specific demographic, seems to be young, old, black, white, you name it. Maybe they’re just stoned at the wheel. I’m tempted to roll down my window and ask ‘wtf’? I’m in the Northeast US. Has anybody else witnessed this?
I don’t leave any space
I just ram them
So much that it’s reasonable.
Example:
A driver fucking up and fumbling the start during shift (for manual). The car could jump forward/backwards and/or roll.
Which is bad.Just care about your own distance as you can’t do anything against those other drivers anyway.
But 2-3 car lengths? It really bugs me when they do it in a left turn lane causing a back up to the travel lane resulting in overall congestion.
This reminds me of one time I witnessed instant karma. I was driving behind someone doing this in crawling-slow heavy traffic, and got to one of those large intersections with such lanes. Here in Australia they’re right turn lanes, though that’s irrelevant for the story I wanted to share.
So right in front of me there was this car with at least four guys in it, loud music, and an imbecile on the wheel. I got stuck behind him on a single lane road with no means to overtake. He was driving somewhat below the speed limit for no apparent reason and leaving a massive gap before the next car in front. He still left a large gap when we both merged on a crowded multi lane road, and he kept that 3 car spaced gap at every red light stop. He would lag several seconds before starting to move, obviously not paying attention. I honked a couple times to nudge him.
One of those irritating assholes I guess.
Now, somewhere behind me on the lane to the left there was some other guy with a red convertible and an attitude that screamed “YES I’M OVERCOMPENSATING”.
We got to the intersection where the turn only lanes appeared, and the idiot in front of me was once again holding traffic as he lagged to resume driving. But the lane on my left, which continued straight, moved just enough to let the red convertible guy right beside the idiot. And then all of a sudden the convertible revved and zoomed right in front and across the idiot, cutting him off and overtaking him on the turn only lane, sliding right in that annoying massive gap he was leaving.
That was the only time in my life I celebrated such a douchebag move. The slow idiot went insane. Started yelling at the convertible, gave him the finger. The convertible was the last car able to turn on that change of lights so the idiot and everyone behind had to wait yet again for green, but I wasn’t mad. Watching the car in front of me shake with rage until the lights changed again made up for it. He didn’t lag once they went green again.
I recall i was driving with a friend, and he was surprised I pulled up, leaving only a feet between my car and the car in front of me. I asked him why.
He said he grew up in an area prone to car-jackings. His dad taught him to leave that extra space in case someone tries to car-jack you. The extra space is so you’re not boxed in by the driver in front and can get around them no matter what. Even if you have to jump the curb and escape on the sidewalk.
I agree that the sensor lights are annoying to deal with, but perhaps the driver has a reason.
You should just be able to see the ground under the back tires of the car in front of you. That’s the appropriate distance.
I got the advice once to make sure you can see the bottom of the tires in front of you. As a general rule, your turning radius tends to align with that. This falls apart with big trailers and snub nose trucks, but it’s a good start.
I think this advice made more sense when the majority drove reasonably-sized vehicles rather than the huge trucks and SUVs that pollute our roads now (at least in North America).
I wouldn’t be surprised if this bit of advice contributes to the problem in OP.
That’s likely true. I drive a little car, so it still makes sense for me
Thanks for not participating in the vehicular arms race!
I would bike more for utility if there were places to park it safely (though I would have to add the rack back onto the bike, and it interferes with the tag-along)
Usually this is the result of distracted driving. At a stop light? Perfect time to check your phone! Once the light turns green I give a solid three count then I honk. I’ll probably end up shot dead sooner than later but fuck it and fuck those assholes on their phones.
In case of armed road rage, remember that your car is a weapon. It’s self-defense if a gun is drawn on you.
I usually flash my high beams first as a more gentle “look up” and then do the horn if they don’t notice that one
Yup, I see this shit all the time. “The sooner I stop the faster I can stare at my fucking phone!” It’s one thing I wish was actually policed, cause these people are a menace. It’s one thing to risk your own life, but those dumb asses are making it dangerous for all of us around them. Throw in two or more and baby you’ve got a stew going.
I believe this happens everywhere. I think maybe some people lack correct depth perception or something and maybe they are overcompensating for it? It is highly annoying though, I would agree.
Also: TURN SIGNALS, PEOPLE!!! USE THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. EVEN IF YOU THINK NO ONE IS LOOKING OR YOU’RE IN A TURN ONLY LANE. No excuses
You don’t need them in turn only lanes, but otherwise yes, use the damn turn signals.
I disagree. Mainly for the reason that if pedestrians are around, they might not know the lane your vehicle is in is a turn only. It’s just good etiquette and makes things safer.
Nice advice to fail a driving test.
No it isn’t, you’re not required by law to use a turn signal in a turn only lane. If I was giving a driving test I’d fail you for using a turn signal in the turn only lane as it demonstrates you don’t know the law.
I was a Driver Examiner in the Province of Ontario.
You wouldn’t fail for this, but it is an infraction.
You must ALWAYS SIGNAL YOUR INTENTION.Also, cite this ‘law’ you pulled from your ass.
Ah, OK might be a Canadian thing then. There is no law in the US that requires usage of a turn signal in a turn only lane. I didn’t pull a law from my ass, you’re pulling one from yours, or rather I’m talking about US law and it seems you’re talking about Canadian.
It seems you’re a shitty driver in every country.
Wrong.
Minnesota (this is a state in the US) traffic code 169.19 Subd. 5 Signal to turn:
A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. A person whose vehicle is exiting a roundabout is exempt from this subdivision.
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I stated there wasn’t a law.
A law not saying you need to, is not the same as a law saying you need not to.
Wrong.
Minnesota (this is a state in the US) traffic code 169.19 Subd. 5 Signal to turn:
A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. A person whose vehicle is exiting a roundabout is exempt from this subdivision.
There isn’t a federal law on turn signal use that I can find and it’s left up to the individual states. Every law I looked at said you have to have a continuous signal before the turn and when turning into a different lane. I did not see any exceptions listed anywhere, including turn lanes.
When turning from a turn lane, to a different lane, that is a change of lane and therefore falls under the law. If you have any other evidence to the contrary or happen to live in a state that I didn’t check where that is an exception, I and the others here would love if you’d source that. If you can’t, then you’re just making shit up and should just take the “L”.
The only law in my state that requires usage of turn signals states this:
No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.
The key there is “direct course”. The direct course in a dedicated turn lane is the turn, so no signal is required. If it’s a turn or straight lane it is required as in that case the direct course is straight.
You conveniently left out the rest of the law…
(1) No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.
(2) A signal of intention to turn right or left must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning, except that such a signal by hand or arm need not be given continuously by a bicyclist if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.
(3) No person may stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear, when there is opportunity to give such signal.
(4) The signals provided for in s. 316.156 shall be used to indicate an intention to turn, to overtake, or to pass a vehicle and may not, except as provided in s. 316.2397, be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or “do pass” signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear. (5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
Cite this ‘law’.
What law, that’s the point, no law requires usage of a turn signal in a turn only lane. There is no law that requires that and a driving test is testing that you’re following the laws. It’s the same as if you turned on your turn signal in a straight lane and then didn’t change lanes.
So, is there a law or not, or are you simply full of shit?
You can’t prove a negative. You cite the law that says you need to use a turn signal in a turn only lane. Or are you full of shit?
Wrong.
Minnesota (this is a state in the US) traffic code 169.19 Subd. 5 Signal to turn:
A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning. A person whose vehicle is exiting a roundabout is exempt from this subdivision.
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Are ‘road sensors that trigger a light change’ a real thing? I thought lights are on a timed cycle.
There sometimes are induction loops under the street for this purpose: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_loop
Video, radar, and infrared are also common. In some places I’ve been, only older non-upgraded intersections have induction loops.
In Germany almost every traffic light has them nowadays. It can sometimes be annoying when you’re riding a bike made of carbon. But usually my phone and laptop seem to be enough to trigger them.
Add a magnet! Maybe idk if this works for sure or not
I was taught this in driving school. If you’re the last car slowing down, leave a gap of a few car lengths so if a car behind you is going to hit you, it gives you some room to escape either to move up, or enough room to turn out of the lane.
That sounds like some kind of superhero fantasy to me. In what scenario am I about to be rear ended and have enough time to move my car safely?
I usually leave enough space that I could turn into another lane without having to reverse, so if the car in front of me stalls I can go around without too much fuss. That’s like half a car length at best.
I agree it’s highly unlikely. However, I’ve been rear-ended once, and my car got pushed forward the space of at least another car and a half, in spite of my panicked reflex of pressing the brakes as it happened. I didn’t crash into anything because I was first on the lane, I got pushed into the intersection.
So yes, you can get rear-ended and the gap in front of you will save you in money and insurance claims bs time if you don’t hit anyone in front as well as a result. It will make little difference regarding your ability to switch lanes though.
In saying that, I don’t leave this massive space in front of me. I stick to the “see the next car’s tyres” rule and if traffic is really packed (as during rush hour, when everyone crawls start stop) I sometimes reduce it to curb parking distance.
You should be able to see pavement under the rear tires of the car in front of you when stopped
That works for small cars with hoods that slope to the ground like sedans and station wagons. It is outdated and useless advice for anyone in an SUV, pickup, or the vast majority of vehicles on the road today in the US.
It should be far enough back to be able to turn and move out if the car in front of you stalls, which should be easy to estimate for anyone who can parallel park.
Everyone should be able to parallel park, it is part of the driving test.
On the other hand I had a guy get out of his Jaguar the other day and yell at me a while because I stopped too close to his bumper.
I’d just be like “my bad dude” and pull a little bit closer after that. What a weenie.
I turned up my music and ignored him because historically nothing good happens when someone gets out of their car in traffic and you bet your sweet ass I made sure our bumpers were almost touching next red light.
I’m experiencing this daily in Los Angeles. Also people don’t seem to scoot up onto the sensor so the light takes longer than necessary to change (though stupidly half of those sensors are in the crosswalk or even beyond it).
Or worse, people who stop just past it, but not far enough to get the car behind it to actually touch the sensor
Enough that you can maneuver out of the lane in an emergency.
The correct answer
I’ve noticed this as well, first time was Texas in 2020. I’d lived in other places prior and never noticed it. I’ve sinced moved away from Texas, and the bahavior is a lot less common here. I couldn’t figure out why people did it. My theory is, people initially stop at a reasonable distance from the next car and pull out their phone. The next car moves a bit forward for some reason, and the person on their phone doesn’t notice.
