Distance between vehicles at a red light

[Jstpssng]

I am 6' 3" and shrinking, but at a light yesterday I checked and I can see the tire on the car in front and about 10-15' of blacktop in back of it. I feel comfortable there for reasons given.

We also have signal lights over the center of the intersections which gives me fits. I can't see them at all if I drive up to the white line. I usually drive up until I almost lose the line of sight under the roof line of my truck otherwise I am bending forward and cocking my head to see the light. Not a pretty sight. If I had a sunroof that would take care of that problem.

Ten-15 feet of pavement = 32-37 feet between me and the vehicle in front of me; if there are 10 cars at the intersection that means trafffic is backed up a long ways... probably through the next intersection. Itend to close up the space a little once there are a few cars behind me... the above mentioned rear ended argument is nil when there are 5 cars behind you.

It would seem that many drivers never learned to pull into the intersection when making a left turn. That way when the light turns red you can complete your turn (you are already in the intersection). If you failed to do that on your CDL test you would loose points. Now they sit there for six light changes, with traffic backed up behind them, because the oncoming traffic doesn't have a break in the flow.

I guess that I'm one of those guys. That way when I see a gap I am already moving when I'm in the intersection. (I also will abort my turn and go straight if there is a long line of oncoming traffic and I see cars stacking up in back of me. )

One really big peeve of mine; the lights should be synchronised so that if you are driving the main artery through town at or near the posted speed limit you will hit all or most of the lights green. I remember all too well driving through Rutland Vermont about 2 hours behind schedule due to construction; when I hit the main artery there was light traffic so I BLASTED through town at about 50; way too fast but it was the only way I could make the lights. I'm sure I earned some nasty comments about Maine drivers...

 

[Mace Canute]

Ten-15 feet of pavement = 32-37 feet between me and the vehicle in front of me; if there are 10 cars at the intersection that means trafffic is backed up a long ways... probably through the next intersection. Itend to close up the space a little once there are a few cars behind me... the above mentioned rear ended argument is nil when there are 5 cars behind you.



I guess that I'm one of those guys. That way when I see a gap I am already moving when I'm in the intersection. (I also will abort my turn and go straight if there is a long line of oncoming traffic and I see cars stacking up in back of me. )

One really big peeve of mine; the lights should be synchronised so that if you are driving the main artery through town at or near the posted speed limit you will hit all or most of the lights green. I remember all too well driving through Rutland Vermont about 2 hours behind schedule due to construction; when I hit the main artery there was light traffic so I BLASTED through town at about 50; way too fast but it was the only way I could make the lights. I'm sure I earned some nasty comments about Maine drivers...

I've seen the same thing here. Back in the late 70's early one morning I was returning home after spending the night with a date and I came off the freeway into downtown Saskatoon. I had to go through town but it was a straight drive down the main street/highway and as I approached the first light in a long string of them on the street it was green so I never had to stop. The next light went amber as I approached it so I upped my speed just a tad, since these lights were supposed to be "timed" with each other. As I approached every light thereafter, I had to up my speed just a little bit more in order to make it through before it turned red. By the time I made it through all the lights I was up to 60 mph in a 30 zone! (At that time of morning there was just a couple of other cars on the road so no problem with traffic pulling out in front of me). I do remember the official line from City Hall at that time was all lights were timed so traffic could make them all while doing the speed limit. Lying buggers...

 

[Streetcar]

I've seen the same thing here. Back in the late 70's early one morning I was returning home after spending the night with a date and I came off the freeway into downtown Saskatoon. I had to go through town but it was a straight drive down the main street/highway and as I approached the first light in a long string of them on the street it was green so I never had to stop. The next light went amber as I approached it so I upped my speed just a tad, since these lights were supposed to be "timed" with each other. As I approached every light thereafter, I had to up my speed just a little bit more in order to make it through before it turned red. By the time I made it through all the lights I was up to 60 mph in a 30 zone! (At that time of morning there was just a couple of other cars on the road so no problem with traffic pulling out in front of me). I do remember the official line from City Hall at that time was all lights were timed so traffic could make them all while doing the speed limit. Lying buggers...

As it was downtown , the lights are probably set for lower than speed limit due to anticipated congestion. Lights in downtown Cincinnati are set for 20 mph to make all green

 

[Walkin Horse]

I doubt it's 32' unless your still driving a 77 Chrysler Córdoba with the long hood. I learned to leave space between the cars in a CCW class. If you can't see the tires on the car in front of you, you are trapped. I think with the number of carjackings these days it's a wise practice.
One other tip I remember is to use a stall and not a urinal in a public restroom. You are relaxed trying not to look around too much with your back to the room and your hands full. In walks the bad guy and slams your head into the cinder block wall.
So I don't worry too much about wasting pavement or taking up a stall because after all it's all about me.

 

[Mace Canute]

As it was downtown , the lights are probably set for lower than speed limit due to anticipated congestion. Lights in downtown Cincinnati are set for 20 mph to make all green

At the time it was THE only truck route from the south side of the city to the north side, part of the highway system including the Yellowhead, and while it wasn't the very center of downtown it's close to it and has shops, stores, houses along all along it with three lanes each direction for some of it and two lanes for most of it with no parking allowed anywhere. It's meant to move traffic. The point is City Hall wasn't saying you could make all the lights at a much reduced speed, they said you could make them all while maintaining the speed limit.

 

[Deere Dude]

Ten-15 feet of pavement = 32-37 feet between me and the vehicle in front of me; if there are 10 cars at the intersection that means trafffic is backed up a long ways... probably through the next intersection. Itend to close up the space a little once there are a few cars behind me... the above mentioned rear ended argument is nil when there are 5 cars behind you....

I just pulled my dually out of the garage to get an approx. measurement. Remember, being taller I can see closer over the hood than a short person. From my bumper to the car bumper in front is about 22'. I don't yap on the phone when sitting at a light behind somebody and I am generally focused or my wife will poke me, so when they move, I move. If they stop quickly, I have a cushion. If I was on their bumper I would have to wait until they started moving consistently before I could take off.

There are times when I will crowd the car in front and that is usually in heavier traffic, but I like to give people space.

 

[/pine]

In city/urban traffic (where a lot of roads are at least 4 lanes) leaving large gaps between stopped vehicles does cause issues...
...one such problem is blocking access to additional inside or outside (turn/exit) lanes...
The above mentioned scenario also quells the theory that leaving room gives "escape" space...(no where to go if there are cars in both the lanes beside you)...

One thing I was taught to do on multiple lane roads at lighted intersections is to move and stop close to the center line...the idea presented to me was that it gives emergency vehicles just that much more room to get by when traffic is backed up...

 

[Wagtail]

I think with the number of carjackings these days it's a wise practice.

One other tip I remember is to use a stall and not a urinal in a public restroom. You are relaxed trying not to look around too much with your back to the room and your hands full. In walks the bad guy and slams your head into the cinder block wall.

I was about to exclaim, "WTH"! But you wouldn't have mentioned it if it wasn't a conscious precaution you need to take these days. Bloody h3ll!

I've never heard of this happening anywhere here in Aus and especially here in Tassie. Heck, the worst thing to happen here, at a public urinal, is 'stage fright'.

 

[MossRoad]

I was about to exclaim, "WTH"! But you wouldn't have mentioned it if it wasn't a conscious precaution you need to take these days. Bloody h3ll!

I've never heard of this happening anywhere here in Aus and especially here in Tassie. Heck, the worst thing to happen here, at a public urinal, is 'stage fright'.

Yep, you're looking down and someone slams the back of your head, your forehead goes into the block wall and you drop like a sack of potatoes, probably hitting your head on the porcelain on the way down. Then they kick the crap out of you while laying there and take your wallet and cell phone. :thumbdown:

 

[Bird]

I've never heard of such a thing happening, except in the movies. But perhaps it's happened somewhere.