Do drivers in your area leave huge gaps when stopped at red lights?

[Chaotic42]

I don't know if this is yet another weird Missouri/Midwestern thing or if driving habits have changed, but I've noticed that more and more people are leaving more and more space between cars at red lights. Here's a pic I took a few minutes ago:

I'm not sure why this is, but it's really weird and often terrible for traffic. They'll sometimes inch up, moving forward a few feet, stopping for a couple of seconds, then inching forward, and so on until they're maybe a quarter car length behind the car in front of them. Do people in your area do this?

 

[highland145]

texting

 

[nakedfrog]

Yes, they do, but I'm only a couple hours away from MO.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I don't know if this is yet another weird Missouri/Midwestern thing or if driving habits have changed, but I've noticed that more and more people are leaving more and more space between cars at red lights. Here's a pic I took a few minutes ago:

I'm not sure why this is, but it's really weird and often terrible for traffic. They'll sometimes inch up, moving forward a few feet, stopping for a couple of seconds, then inching forward, and so on until they're maybe a quarter car length behind the car in front of them. Do people in your area do this?

It's actually better for traffic, if people intelligently leave gaps, then intelligently start to move forward when the light turns green. Plus I hate people tailgating me when I'm on a hill w/a stick shift.

 

[highland145]

then intelligently start to move forward when the light turns green.

But they don't do that either...see above.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

But they don't do that either...see above.

Yeah, I read that. That's just dumb then.

Go stab their tires.

 

[Chaotic42]

It's actually better for traffic, if people intelligently leave gaps, then intelligently start to move forward when the light turns green. Plus I hate people tailgating me when I'm on a hill w/a stick shift.

I used to hate it, but I've come to enjoy my WRX's clutch brake.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I used to hate it, but I've come to enjoy my WRX's clutch brake.

Camaros don't have brakes, just two go-forward pedals and a 'disengage the engine b/c it's on fire' pedal.

 

[WelshBloke]

It's actually better for traffic, if people intelligently leave gaps, then intelligently start to move forward when the light turns green. Plus I hate people tailgating me when I'm on a hill w/a stick shift.

You shouldn't drive a manual unless you can safely hill start.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

You shouldn't drive a manual unless you can safely hill start.

Oh, I can, I just don't like when expensive cars are inches from my back bumper when I'm doing it. It was a bigger concern when I just started driving a manual.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Camaros don't have brakes, just two go-forward pedals and a 'disengage the engine b/c it's on fire' pedal.

Hey! My Camaro resembles that remark.

 

[highland145]

Yeah, I read that. That's just dumb then.

Go stab their tires.

My office is 100' from a traffic light. Horns blowing all day because some idiot is on their phone.

 

[WelshBloke]

Oh, I can, I just don't like when expensive cars are inches from my back bumper when I'm doing it. It was a bigger concern when I just started driving a manual.

Dont worry then, they'll soon stop doing it if enough people roll back into them!

 

[Carson Dyle]

Is there a car behind the silver one in the near lane, outside the frame of the photo? Because I don't see any huge gaps in the far lane.

 

[bruceb]

I stay about 2 feet behind the stop lines. And if I am behind another car, I want to be able to see the rear tires of the car in front of me. This leaves me enough room to get out of the way should the need arise.

 

[William Gaatjes]

This style of driving will work great when there are magnetic loop sensors in the pavement and the driver is not above the loop. The traffic light will not respond when the magnetic loop senses there is no car.

 

[XavierMace]

Most the people I see doing that are people more focused on their cell phone than driving. So they don't move when the light is green and can't stay in their lane either.

 

[Chaotic42]

Is there a car behind the silver one in the near lane, outside the frame of the photo? Because I don't see any huge gaps in the far lane.

No, my reference was to the spacing of the SUV / White Truck / Red Car.

 

[paperfist]

Not around here, if you can't see the face of the person behind you in the rear mirror than something is wrong.

 

[mdram]

after being rear ended and almost hitting the car in front of me (would have if the car that hit me didnt go under me) i leave more space nowadays

 

[BudAshes]

People actually live in Missouri? I thought that was just a legend.

 

[Carson Dyle]

No, my reference was to the spacing of the SUV / White Truck / Red Car.

LOL. You're nuts.

 

[Thebobo]

They are in a hurry to stop to text to make a call. Meanwhile your trying to make a right but the lane is blocked but if everyone pulled up folks could get by. Its selfish driving. Same as people not pulling up at gas stations pumps where there are multiple pumps and the place is packed. I pull around head into the idiots and make sure my fill up takes longer then theirs muahahaha.

 

[highland145]

Same as people not pulling up at gas stations pumps where there are multiple pumps and the place is packed. I pull around head into the idiots and make sure my fill up takes longer then theirs muahahaha.

What if there was a car in front of them that has now left? Who's the dick now?

 

[rh71]

I don't care if they do unless we're in a turning lane that only stays green if there are cars constantly moving. You leave a huge gap and cause it to turn yellow on me after you go and we're gonna have a problem. But there's absolutely nothing I can do about it so F you.