Drivers - what’s with the gap?

[tanstaafl]

For the first time in months, I’ve been out this morning at rush hour ( or what constitutes rush hour in this ruralish place I live ).

There it was , ‘the gap’.

Car in front waiting at lights. There’s a gap between the front of their car and the white line you could get an old mini into.

I was taught you pull up to the line imagining the bumper ( remember them!) just about above the white line.

Are drivers taught differently now?

I see it between cars queuing at lights too.
Is everyone being taught VIP protection techniques these days?

Yabu - times have moved on , keep up grandma
Yanbu - I too want to tap on their window and ‘offer suggestions’

[cologne4711]

(though to be fair I will leave a bit of space if it "smooths" out the queue and stops lots of stopping and starting - I'd rather crawl along at walking pace than do 20 for a bit then stop completely for a bit)

[cologne4711]

I hate a gap too, especially when you are stuck in traffic for ages. Pull up to the next fucking car, then there wouldnt be a gap

There are gaps and gaps. I agree in relation to small gaps, you don't need to leave a lot of space, pull up (obviously leaving enough to turn around or in case the car in front rolls back if it's hilly!)

But why oh why do people leave about 5 car lengths in a queue?

[CorianderLord]

Probably so they can see the light without craning their neck. Was always too high for my car

[Wotsitsarecheesy]

"That is the fault of those blocking the road. They shouldn’t pull forward until they can see they won’t block the roundabout."

But those that know the roundabout know there is space for 2 cars. And strangers wouldn't expect to only let 1 car through a roundabout when the lights have only just changed to green. Locals also know that if they wait till the other car has pulled up to the lights, their own lights will have changed back to red and only 1 car will have got through before another 2 minute wait. Traffic can build up very quickly if only 1 car at a time gets through the lights, but if the first car would pull up to the line, like most cars do, it is less of a problem. Maybe this is just a particularly badly designed roundabout!

[tanstaafl]

I was about to disagree then I thought ‘well you were thinking of going out tomorrow just to try and get a picture’!

You’re right, back to the garden with the Pimms.

[Booksandwine80]

Sorry but you’ve got too much time on your hands

[tanstaafl]

Thanks for the replies.

The anti-shunt advice of ‘tyres and tarmac’ makes sense for stationary traffic but I’m not buying the ‘space to manoeuvre for emergency vehicles’ entirely. There’s space in front and behind you to utilise plus you never move individually, the whole line moves.

I realise that ‘gap’ is entirely subjective but if you’ve seen drivers leave a big space at lights you’ll know what I’m talking about.

[MintyMabel]

I've seen cars stuck blocking the roundabout exit because the car in front has left a big gap before the lights that are on the roundabout

That is the fault of those blocking the road. They shouldn’t pull forward until they can see they won’t block the roundabout.

[MintyMabel]

Yes, there should be a gap between cars to allow braking time but the OP is about leaving a gap at the front of a queue at a red light. That's just ridiculous.

It isn’t. If an emergency vehicle needs to get through, leaving yourself some space to pull forward without having to go into moving traffic is actually a sensible thing to do.

[buckeejit]

Yabu. A gap is necessary. Same as gap is necessary when driving to keep safe

[Wotsitsarecheesy]

The only issue with 'tyres and tarmac' is when the traffic lights are on a roundabout (not just at the roundabout entrance, actually on the roundabout itself). I've seen cars stuck blocking the roundabout exit because the car in front has left a big gap before the lights that are on the roundabout. If they pulled up to the line, there would be plenty of room for both cars. Also can be very dangerous when cars on a NLS road travel around the roundabout at speed, because they had a green light, to suddenly find someone sticking out into their lane because they have stopped at the lights on the roundabout, left a massive gap to the car in front, and are blocking the lane.

[TimeWastingButFun]

Did you not learn about this in your driving lessons?

[Infullbloom]

Hopefully by now you've realised you're supposed to leave and gap and the reasons for that OP. If I'm stationary behind another car I leave a bigger gap than I need to so I can move forward a bit when arseholes pull up to my bumper.

[ultrablue]

Just to add some junctions are tight at the top of my Mom's road if you stop right up at the white line, buses turning into the road are likely to actually hit you. Every junction is different.

[RHOBHfan]

@0blio

So many people misunderstanding the OP!

Yes, there should be a gap between cars to allow braking time but the OP is about leaving a gap at the front of a queue at a red light. That's just ridiculous.

She’s on about both in her OP

Answers are addressing both

[MotherPiglet]

I was taught you should always be able to see tyres and tarmac. Bumper to bumper sounds dangerous to me.

[BackInTime]

Tyres and tarmac

[HopeClearwater]

@Mascaramademehappy thanks, I’ll take that on board. Would you recommend the advanced drivers course then?

[safariboot]

In at least some cases, I leave a bigger gap in case I want to inch forward to deter the window washing scammers or persistent beggars.

[HellsAngel81]

I learnt to drive 6 years ago and don't remember being taught tyres and tarmac . I honestly don't know what I do at traffic lights, but I'm going to remember this next time I'm out in the car and check that I actually do it!

When I learnt to ride my motorbike, defensive driving was drummed into you, so I will be ashamed of myself if this is an area I'm crap in

[TopBitchoftheWitches]

Just leave a sensible distance. Stop being a dick.

[maddiemookins16mum]

I leave the space of half a car in front of me in any queue.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Funnily enough I have noticed this recently

Usually at traffic lights.
I will be in one lane right up to the line and the car at the side of me or if a single carriage way the car at the junction will be hanging several feet back.

This isn’t about queuing with cars in front but the lead car at the lights or where they are about to make a turn.

If you are several feet back how are you supposed to see what is coming and you will probably need to leave enough time for you to drive up to the line then make your turn

[Bargebill19]

Witnesses today - standing traffic which then started to move. One car (1) either stalled or wasn’t quick enough for the car (2) behind them who promptly drove into the back of the first car (1).
Within ten minutes there was a mile long queue of traffic trying to get around the two car smash. If car (2) and left a gap, then he would have had time to stop and not cause a crash and extra congestion.

[ShowOfHands]

FIL was saved by leaving a gap. He was at the end of a queue of traffic and the driver of the lorry behind him hadn't noticed the stationary queue (admitted he'd zoned out). FIL had cottoned on to this in his rear view mirror and had enough time to turn his wheels and start evasive action so that he was shunted into a field with a reduced blow and not full impact into the car in front. The rear of his car was crushed and he had to be cut out. The emergency services said his swift actions undoubtedly prevented serious injury at the very least. Fortunately, the lorry ended up on the other side of the road with no oncoming traffic.