this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2025
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Mildly Infuriating

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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?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

I leave a couple of feet between the front of my Miata or Wrangler and the next car ahead. I've been driving since the late 70s and this is the first I've heard of the "botton of the tires" rule of thumb. It wasn't taught back in the day (is it, widely, now?) and it doesn't make much sense to me since it's a function of the size and the shape and height of one's vehicle, which can vary greatly, whereas I know where my front bumper is and I can (usually) clearly see where the rear of the car in front of me is, and hence create the appropriate gap. Sure, I might leave more space if I'm on a steep hill and think the person in front might have a manual (another Miata for example) but that's rare.

Up until very recently people seemed to always keep just a couple of feet between cars at stops like I did. This business of "a car length or two" seems like a very new thing - the past 5 years mostly - and that led me to think it's some kind of stupid new internet cancer. Probably some "influencer" telling his/her audience that you should put your dominance on display at stoplights by pissing people off and preventing them from getting through intersections. Or putting your dominance and alpha-hood on display by blocking them from getting into the turn lane at all. Anything to get attention, anything to show that you're not (truly) a nobody, even when you are, because you have power!

I've only been rear-ended once in 45 years of driving. Being a d*ck on the road in order to (allegedly) absolutely f-ing MAXIMIZE your own self-perceived "safety" (from highly unlikely events) at the expense of everyone else is a totally modern-American sort of thing to do I guess. But I'm not doing it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Tyres and tarmac!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago (3 children)

When I took my driving test. The correct spacing was taught as, if you can see their bottom back tires visible above your hood, then that's the correct distance.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

so with modern hood heights, that's... 30 meters?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

I still hear my driving instructor saying this, 30 years ago. Thanks. :D

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

I don't know... People have wildly different positions in a car and this easily fluctuates for a few car lengths. Then again, people in general suck at estimating distances.

[–] [email protected] 51 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Evkob 24 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's likely true. I drive a little car, so it still makes sense for me

[–] Evkob 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for not participating in the vehicular arms race!

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 days ago (4 children)

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.

[–] corsicanguppy 2 points 1 day ago

Once the light turns green I give a solid three count then I honk

In Ottawa it's a customary 4 picoseconds.

[–] isVeryLoud 11 points 2 days ago

In case of armed road rage, remember that your car is a weapon. It's self-defense if a gun is drawn on you.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 days ago (36 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Though, of course, don't use them until you're already halfway through the turn or lane change. It's not like the signal is to show your intention, it's to assert that You Had The Right Goddamn It to have just made that abrupt and dangerous maneuver that you just made. You signaled, so all's OK, you're in the right, no matter what happens.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

...i try to leave enough space not to touch bumpers when the front car's suspension rocks back under acceleration...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

I don't leave any space

I just ram them

[–] i_stole_ur_taco 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'd just be like "my bad dude" and pull a little bit closer after that. What a weenie.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

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.

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