How many car lengths do you leave in front of you at a stoplight?

[XH29N0G]

I understand people are taught to leave space in between them and the next car when at a stoplight as an escape (maybe to avoid carjackers/maybe to get around the car in front if it stops working/maybe in case they are rear ended so they don't bump the car in front/maybe....).   About 2 hours ago, I had someone stop this way (with 2 car lengths in front of them(and block my access to the turn lane).  My arrow turned green and then red while I watched like a goldfish in a bowl....   This happens a lot.  I don't remember being taught this behavior, and by now it no longer bothers me.  I just shake my head and wait.

How many of you do this?  And for what reason???

[Steve P.]

I hate it when people do that. Especially in high traffic hours. I don't remember anyone doing this years ago, but several years ago, maybe 10 or so, they were recommending that people leave more room in front of them in case of carjackers. Now so damned many people do it no one gets to make a light until the lights make a full round again.. 

I have been known to honk a few time to get people to tighten up and sometimes it works, but many times not.

I cannot remember the last time I have heard of a car jacking...

[polywideblock]

 I have watched with amusement as another car "fills" the space left in front while said space leaver throws a fit     what I hate is when they leave their 2 car gap right from the lights so the first car has gone and their still sittin there waiting , counting 1 ,2, 3 etc , waiting ,then go as the lights turn amber 

[twodko]

Well guys as mercenary as this may sound I don't leave much more than half a car length in front of me.
If it's Pious in front of me I'm close up agin' it.
I drive a pickup, I've always driven a pickup. I've also always been in the habit of locking my doors before I move my vehicle......every time. Granted a locked door won't stop a bullet but they are locked anyway. If push comes to shove I'll shove with everything my pickup has.

[A383Wing]

when ever I am stopped behind a car, I always gauge my distance this way, "If I can see the rear tires under the car in front of me, I'm good"

[Steve P.]

I know if I were car jacked I would grab my cell phone and smokes and tell him to make sure he destroys it.. lol....

[RallyeMike]

when ever I am stopped behind a car, I always gauge my distance this way, "If I can see the rear tires under the car in front of me, I'm good"

Exact same here - about a car length. Enough room to get out of the lane if need be, plenty of roll back room for a clutch stall (not that this matters much anymore), enough room that if I'm rear ended hopefully I'm not front ended too, but close enough not to take up more space than needed.

[A383Wing]

I mainly started doing it this way when we got the Daytona finished....there's a lot of nose out there that I can't see where it ends

[JB400]

Probably only half a car.  I leave enough space to clear in case the vehicle in front of me has stalled.  In my area, there are several businesses that have entrances real close to the intersections, and most of the time, the people in front of me don't use the turn signal to let me know they're turning in there.  Gotta be prepared for that

[Tilar]

when ever I am stopped behind a car, I always gauge my distance this way, "If I can see the rear tires under the car in front of me, I'm good"

I got in that habit driving truck and it pisses me off to see people pull right up on someones ass whether driving down the road or parked at a light.

[Mike DC]

 
I would be thrilled if the people behind me every day would start leaving an entire car-length or two between us.  Like, when we are rolling at full speed on the highway.  That would be nice. 

 

[billssuperbird]

I will move up to let them turn. 

[Drache]

36mm give or take.

[myk]

I was told by my driver's 'ed teacher to pull up and stop when you can see the bottom of the car's tires in front of you meeting up with the sight-line on the top of your hood.  IMO this leaves a reasonable distance between the car in front of you and...you.

Question: have any of you guys noticed a trend where people stop maybe one or even two car lengths behind the line at a stop?  Why the hell do people do that? 

[paironines]

Yes, if I pull up to the line almost noone pulls up door to door. I think they dont want to feel as if I can see their face!

[John_Kunkel]

when ever I am stopped behind a car, I always gauge my distance this way, "If I can see the rear tires under the car in front of me, I'm good"

Do you realize this varies with the height (from butt to eyeballs) of the driver. If shorter drivers did this the average stoplight que would be a half-mile long.

Three feet from bumper-to-bumper is reasonable.

[RoscoePColtrain]

I was told by my driver's 'ed teacher to pull up and stop when you can see the bottom of the car's tires in front of you meeting up with the sight-line on the top of your hood.  IMO this leaves a reasonable distance between the car in front of you and...you.

Question: have any of you guys noticed a trend where people stop maybe one or even two car lengths behind the line at a stop?  Why the hell do people do that? 

Some people do that here to activate the pressure sensor for the advance green.

[tan top]

 depends of the situation !!  prolly stop a carish length , then once cars have stopped behind , I roll up closer to the car in front that has stopped  may be half / quarter car length , if than makes sence ,

[charger490]

i leave a couple of car spots between me and one in front.so if i get hit in the rear i wont danage the front of mine also if i see a truck ready to turn i stay back from the crooswalk

[A383Wing]

when ever I am stopped behind a car, I always gauge my distance this way, "If I can see the rear tires under the car in front of me, I'm good"

Do you realize this varies with the height (from butt to eyeballs) of the driver. If shorter drivers did this the average stoplight que would be a half-mile long.

Three feet from bumper-to-bumper is reasonable.

so you must be one of those people that look "through" your steering  wheel, huh?

[4cruzin]

I was taught that if you cannot see the bottom of the bumper in front of you, you are too close . . . .   

[RallyeMike]

Question: have any of you guys noticed a trend where people stop maybe one or even two car lengths behind the line at a stop?  Why the hell do people do that? 

Yes, this can be maddening sometimes. Traffic signals are either timed or work off sensors. If sensors, they are typically loops inside the pavement that detect steel over them, or camera's. If you don't stop in the right place, sometimes everyone will be waiting for a loooong time. That's why there is a white line called a stop bar. Stop at it.

[Mike DC]

 
Maybe people are stopping early to make sure a traffic camera doesn't register them as having run through the light.

[myk]

They've dismantled all of the traffic cameras in San Diego; there's no reason to behave in such a manner. I think Californians are either clueless, don't' care or both.

[tan top]

depends of the situation !!  prolly stop a carish length , then once cars have stopped behind , I roll up closer to the car in front that has stopped  may be half / quarter car length , if than makes sence ,

i leave a couple of car spots between me and one in front.so if i get hit in the rear i wont danage the front of mine also if i see a truck ready to turn i stay back from the crooswalk

yeah incase the driver behind cant stop !! ,

been rear ended twice when ive been sitting at a stop light in traffic ! that's why now I leave a car length , then roll up to half a car lenghtish , when I see cars behind have stopped !

& now   always sit with my foot on the brake , or flash the brake lights , make sure the driver behind knows ive stopped  ,

[TruckDriver]

As a truck driver, it is second nature to me to leave a 1/2 to a full car length in front of me. I wish people the pull up behind me would do the same when I am is either my personal pickup truck, or the dump truck.

[A383Wing]

I was taught that if you cannot see the bottom of the bumper in front of you, you are too close . . . .   

[HeavyFuel]

I was taught that if you cannot see the bottom of the bumper in front of you, you are too close . . . .  

Never heard of that one.    

Maybe you're joking. ?  


Might make sense if behind a similar vehicle to yours.  But you would never not see the bumper of a F250 if behind in a Camry.


The rule of seeing the tires of the car in front of you contact the pavement seems to have the most universal application.  

[moparjohn]

LOL, I just wish people would acellerate as fast away from the light as they brake when they see a yellow/red light. I leave 3ish feet. MPJ

[A383Wing]

The rule of seeing the tires of the car in front of you contact the pavement seems to have the most universal application.