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Original poster

Drivers - what’s with the gap?

130 replies

tanstaafl · 10/07/2020 20:09

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’

OP posts:
Chesterfuckingdrorrs · 10/07/2020 20:25

You should be able to see tyres and tarmac when queuing up behind a car. Leaves space to manoeuvre if you have to and also minimises the chance if a pile up in someone hits the back of you.
Pulling up at a junction you should pull up close to the road markings to give yourself the best view of the road. So I agree it's annoying when people stop half a car back then dither about trying to see if it's safe to move off.

Willowkins · 10/07/2020 20:25

I thought the gaps between cars was because the proximity sensor was going off in these new-fangled modern cars Grin

What gets me though is when the car in front has left a big gap and I am having to squeeze in between them and the hashed lines.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 10/07/2020 20:25

I learnt to drive in the naughties and was taught that you should be able to see the line when you stop. Then in a queue I always leave a gap before the car in front of me, and believe me if you had ever seen what happens if a car runs into the back of a queue with no gaps, you would too.

InFiveMins · 10/07/2020 20:26

FWIW I agree with you OP, too much space being left between cars, drives me mad at traffic lights!

QueenCT · 10/07/2020 20:27

I was hit from behind by a van in a motorway queue. Didn't hit the car in front as I had left a big gap. That's why

Somanysocks · 10/07/2020 20:31

You sound like one of those annoying people who tailgate because you overestimate your driving skills and underestimate braking distances.

What the hell is wrong with leaving a gap, it could be a matter of life or death if you're shunted by a truck.

Sally872 · 10/07/2020 20:33

Tyres and tarmac is what I was taught 20 years ago.

BobbieDraper · 10/07/2020 20:33

@InFiveMins

But you're supposed to leave gap between cars. That's part of driving. If you dont do that, then you're a bad driver.

Why is it you think you shouldnt leave a gap? You've heard all the reasons for them on here. Which of those do you think are nonsense?

Ernieshere · 10/07/2020 20:33

Biscuit Have a gapibaldi biscuit.

Loveletters123 · 10/07/2020 20:35

I pulled up at a red light once and noticed the car in front was an elderly lady in a banger so decided to leave a large gap in front as we were on a slight hill and was glad I did as when the light changed she proceeded to put her car in reverse 3 times until she was inches from my bumper before she finally got it into first and moved off! I was left to sit at the red light and wait again thinking I’m glad I left that gap!

Auntydarah · 10/07/2020 20:35

I don't recognise what you are talking about. This isn't something I've seen

Realityofsen · 10/07/2020 20:38

I live in an area with lots of lights on.a hill. In 10 years I have learnt people are awful at hill starts

NotShiny · 10/07/2020 20:39

I was taught to keep the angle from my line of sight to the end of the front bonnet down to the line, so leaving a gap, yes. Supposed to also leave a good gap between you and the car in front, if one is in front

Auntydarah · 10/07/2020 20:39

Posted to soon.... I haven't seen this in particular recently. People leave a bit of room for moving if needed. Just standard. I wouldn't even notice it. I've been driving 16 plus years. What you are talking about is just normal ist it?

ChristmasFluff · 10/07/2020 20:39

As others have said, it's to allow for manoevring in an emergency, and for allowing for general stupidity of others, especially at the rather special set of traffic lights on a steep hill in Wolverhampton where at least one in ten cars will roll backwards when the lights go green because they don't know how to release the handbrake on the bite. Not to mention the ones who don't put the handbrake on in the first place, and sit there rolling back and forth on the red. These reasons still apply on a lesser gradient. On advanced driving courses, you are taught to assume that every other driver is an idiot, because you will usually be right.

What I'd love to know is what the people who are wanting us nose-to-tail think they are achieving by having people do that? When you leave a gap, you watch the lights change and can begin your gentle acceleration at the same time as the car in front. It's actually more efficient than having to wait for the car in front to move, then moving.

2andahalfpints · 10/07/2020 20:41

@lockdownsunflowers

I was taught that in a queue you should be able to see the bottom of the wheels of the car in front
This
Crimblecrumble1990 · 10/07/2020 20:41

Leaving a gap behind a car is sensible and safe. But to be honest I think in this case where there is no-one in front, I think a lot of people struggle to know where the front of their car is exactly...

Dugsbollox · 10/07/2020 20:42

As PPs have said, I was always taught to leave a gap enough to see some road. It stops you being shunted into the back of the car in front, should you ever be hit from behind.

GinDaddyRedux · 10/07/2020 20:45

OP this really isn't a thing.

It doesn't impede your progress. It isn't causing you harm.

Idontlikewednesdays · 10/07/2020 20:48

You are supposed to be able to see the rear tyres of the vehicle in front of you touching the tarmac. This is an advanced driving technique. You should always be able to manoeuvre around the vehicle in front of you if necessary.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 10/07/2020 20:49

For several reasons

The risk of a chain of being shunted
To manouvre for an ambulance
So the car in front doesnt roll back into you

Because it gives you room to get going, so you've already started moving when the lights turn green.

If cars get too bunched up in traffic you get a concertina stop start affect, which is frustrating and slows everyone down, if everyone keeps their distance you can keep the traffic moving. It really frustrates me when drivers dont understand this, if you hold back you dont end up with bottlenecking

MikeUniformMike · 10/07/2020 20:49

The gap matters. If the lights are activated by the presence of a car, they won't change if the first car is not in the right place.

Enchantmentz · 10/07/2020 20:50

Imagine being stopling at the line and being shunted forward by another driver while a pedestrian is on the road, that is why.

The gap doesn't affect anyones time.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 10/07/2020 20:51

Its not even about what youve been taught, its just pure logic

Oxyiz · 10/07/2020 20:52

It was drilled into me by my instructor. I also personally don't like breathing in exhaust fumes.