Lucky to be alive

Haggisman · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:28

ubersonic said:
Like I said though the vehicle in front isn't going to stop dead, when it brakes it will slow down, you have the distance in between you plus its stopping distance to stop/react in. If the vehicle in front weighs more and has inferior brakes then the 2 second rule is grossly excessive.

And if it weighs less and has great brakes and you're the one driving a heavy car with rubbish brakes, then it's grossly deficient. It's a good guideline, especially as most drivers are far too thick to have a clue what a safe stopping distance is or even consider that such a thing exists.

You also don't know that the heavy inferior braked vehicle in front isn't going to go into the back of someone and stop far quicker than you expect.

Why take the chance?

Why are so many people in such a rush to get themselves killed?

flibbage0 · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:28

This is what my driving instructor told me: "Only a fool breaks the 3 second rule"

IAmATeaf · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:31

The most important thing here is what have you learnt? and for how long?

Lustral · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:34

Brookert said:
Ive seen people pulling out of the queue for Fareham which is nearly at a standstill, into full speed traffic in the middle lane.

That happens all the time in the morning going eastbound .. Also in the evening going westbound the Hedge End junction

StonedPenguin · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:34

[TW]Fox;21468737 said:
I think lucky to not be swapping insurance details is a tad more accurate than 'lucky to be alive'.

agree.

Skillmister · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:35

Lustral said:
and then i was at least 1.5 - 2 car lengths away from the Audi.

Why were you leaving such a huge gap? There's no wonder motorways are so clogged up with people like you leaving such gaps between vehicles.

iamtheoneneo · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:36

perhaps you should take a look at the highway code again? that **** aint in their for a laugh you know.

Brookert · 14 Mar 2012 at 11:50

Lustral said:
That happens all the time in the morning going eastbound .. Also in the evening going westbound the Hedge End junction

I suppose if your in a car and you know the route well you can anticipate it, but if your in a truck and your not used to peoples stupidity, it would be lethal.

Its a miracle if I dont get to portsmouth without having a near miss or witnessing some idiotic driving.

Liampope · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:12

ubersonic said:
Doesn't that assume though that the vehicle in front is going to spontaneously stop dead? As a general rule if you can fit a bus in between you and the car in front you should be ok, a bus isn't as long as 15 cars...

No. The two second rule already allows for eating into the vehicle in front's stopping distance. No car will stop in 2 seconds from 70 including reaction time. It's not grossly excessive at all.

[TW]Fox · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:15

ubersonic said:
If the vehicle in front weighs more and has inferior brakes then the 2 second rule is grossly excessive.

I can't remember the last time you shared an opinion that didnt result in an actual facepalm. I mean.. seriously?

Haggisman · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:18

Liampope said:
No. The two second rule already allows for eating into the vehicle in front's stopping distance. No car will stop in 2 seconds from 70 including reaction time. It's not grossly excessive at all.

Also this.

Imagine the vehicle in front is a brick wall. If you were travelling at 70mph, would you really wait until you were 2 seconds from hitting it before slamming on the brakes?

DRZ · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:23

I drive on the M27 a fair bit these days and drive the M271 every single day.

Lots of maniacs around as well as people like the OP that think they are being safe but really aren't.

JackRegan · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:23

I'm amazed at some of the text book replies, even some quoted from the Highway Code. I bet you're the type of person who convinces themselves they do everything by the book?

All I can say is "Get Real", anyone who has driven on a busy motorway will soon realise there is almost no way you can maintain a two second gap between you and the car in front. If you do try you will soon find the car in the lane to your left will sneak into it the gap you've left. So do you brake/slow down to regain the two second gap? You know it will happen again if you do and I bet after a mile or so carrying out these manoeuvres the driver behind you will want a quiet word with you in an empty room, that’s if he hasn’t already passed you on the inside.

I think most of us know what the book says, but it can be completely different in the real world, a bit like communism, in that in theory it works.

To the OP, glad you're okay and not too shaken.

Jack

sigma · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:26

What time did it take place?

I was going the other way at around 9am and traffic was very heavy so I guess it was as a result of people slowing down to observe.

Yesterday was pretty bad too, lots of people driving with no lights on in the fog. It was either that or people thinking that because they had their fog lights on they had the immunity to drive at silly speeds.

I just leave early and drive slower, far more relaxing and cheaper too!

JackRegan said:
I'm amazed at some of the text book replies, even some quoted from the Highway Code. I bet you're the type of person who convinces themselves they do everything by the book?

All I can say is "Get Real", anyone who has driven on a busy motorway will soon realise there is almost no way you can maintain a two second gap between you and the car in front. If you do try you will soon find the car in the lane to your left will sneak into it the gap you've left. So do you brake/slow down to regain the two second gap? You know it will happen again if you do and I bet after a mile or so carrying out these manoeuvres the driver behind you will want a quiet word with you in an empty room, that’s if he hasn’t already passed you on the inside.

I think most of us know what the book says, but it can be completely different in the real world, a bit like communism, in that in theory it works.

To the OP, glad you're okay and not too shaken.

Jack

I agree with what you're saying but if I see a group of cars or individuals driving stupidly I either slow down or get past them, especially at times of heavy traffic. Gaps aren't always there but you can still think ahead. For instance, this morning I was going about the same speed as a lorry in the first lane but as I couldn't see ahead I decided to overtake and then go back to a slightly higher speed than the lorry just so I could be aware of what was ahead.

Not aimed at the OP but so many people don't look ahead it really destroys any confidence I have in those drivers around me. Again, today it was clear to see that there was abnormally heavy traffic for the time of day so instead of whizzing to 50+ whenever the traffic got moving and then slamming on my breaks I just chose to cruise along at 35-40 maintaining a smooth ride and sufficient space between cars.

Participant · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:27

JackRegan, I think it's more that the 2 second rule puts '1.5-2 car lengths' into context in terms of just how stupid that is.

On the other hand you're right that gap filling is annoying and unavoidable. IMO tailgating and gap filling should be subject to on the spot fines.

agnes · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:29

[TW]Fox;21468737 said:
I think lucky to not be swapping insurance details is a tad more accurate than 'lucky to be alive'.

Oh Fox, you consistently impress me with you being a sarcastic prat skills

[TW]Fox · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:29

JackRegan said:
I'm amazed at some of the text book replies, even some quoted from the Highway Code. I bet you're the type of person who convinces themselves they do everything by the book?

All I can say is "Get Real", anyone who has driven on a busy motorway will soon realise there is almost no way you can maintain a two second gap between you and the car in front. If you do try you will soon find the car in the lane to your left will sneak into it the gap you've left. So do you brake/slow down to regain the two second gap? You know it will happen again if you do and I bet after a mile or so carrying out these manoeuvres the driver behind you will want a quiet word with you in an empty room, that’s if he hasn’t already passed you on the inside.

Never mind eh, drive on the car in fronts bumper to stop people changing lanes in front of you. Don't forget to convince yourself that what you do is right by implying only saddos would do anything different.

DRZ · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:30

JackRegan said:
I'm amazed at some of the text book replies, even some quoted from the Highway Code. I bet you're the type of person who convinces themselves they do everything by the book?

All I can say is "Get Real", anyone who has driven on a busy motorway will soon realise there is almost no way you can maintain a two second gap between you and the car in front. If you do try you will soon find the car in the lane to your left will sneak into it the gap you've left. So do you brake/slow down to regain the two second gap? You know it will happen again if you do and I bet after a mile or so carrying out these manoeuvres the driver behind you will want a quiet word with you in an empty room, that’s if he hasn’t already passed you on the inside.

I think most of us know what the book says, but it can be completely different in the real world, a bit like communism, in that in theory it works.

To the OP, glad you're okay and not too shaken.

Jack

BS.

Keeping approximately a 2s gap is something I do all the time. There's also little chance of someone passing me on the inside because I tend to keep left wherever possible.

There is no need to brake to maintain a gap either, you just let it happen naturally - if someone fills the gap in front of you they are likely to be going faster than you anyway so you just have to wait a little bit and use some judgement.

Driving properly isn't anything like as difficult as people make out in threads like this!

Scania · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:30

JackRegan said:
All I can say is "Get Real", anyone who has driven on a busy motorway will soon realise there is almost no way you can maintain a two second gap between you and the car in front. If you do try you will soon find the car in the lane to your left will sneak into it the gap you've left. So do you brake/slow down to regain the two second gap? You know it will happen again if you do and I bet after a mile or so carrying out these manoeuvres the driver behind you will want a quiet word with you in an empty room, that’s if he hasn’t already passed you on the inside.

Its nigh impossible to maintain a decent gap, yes, your quite right, some moron will come along and slot into that gap. Infuriating, certainly - especially in a six axle HGV!!

It does not mean that you simply give up & go with the flow, you try to keep that gap, your life can ,in some situations, depend on it! - I'm not saying thats your view, but some could perhaps think "going with it" is the option you prefer through the "can't beat them, join them" attitude I read from your post.

Correct me if I'm mis-interpriting you by all means!

RossDagley · 14 Mar 2012 at 12:31

Liampope said:
No. The two second rule already allows for eating into the vehicle in front's stopping distance. No car will stop in 2 seconds from 70 including reaction time. It's not grossly excessive at all.

Plenty of cars can stop from 70 in 2 seconds. Granted not most office commutes, but you can't say NO car.

Totally acknowledge the "including reaction time" though, include that it's it's anyones game. Especially first thing in the morning whilst people are too busy doing their makeup or having a shave, reading a paper, or filling in paperwork @ 70mph in lane 3...