Why do some people leave so much space between them and the car in front when stopped at a red light? (calculation, live)

[Fortaz]

I have noticed since I moved to the LA area that drivers around here sometimes leave 1-3 car lengths worth of space in front of them when they stop at a light. Why?? This only makes congestion worse since it backs up more intersections behind the light. I always pull up to the car ahead of me.

[calipoppy]

Because if someone slams into the back of you...you won't be pushed into the car in front of you.

I can't stand tailgaters...so annoying!!

[Steve Bagu]

Exhaust fumes coming in the window. Then again in Calif. if you are too close to their rear, they might think your gay. Steve

[dingo050]

Because they can't drive.

Kidding, I don't really know why people do that. Of course it's not good to be in the crosswalk, but pulling up to the line doesn't seem that "crazy" to me.

I think a better question is, why do some people like to stop in the crosswalk/intersection?

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

Because if someone slams into the back of you...you won't be pushed into the car in front of you.

I can't stand tailgaters...so annoying!!

I hate it when people copy my posts before I can post them!

[laysayfair]

I remember being told that leaving a car length in front of you at night would help you to be able to manuver and get away if you were ever carjacked? Something like that.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Fortaz

I have noticed since I moved to the LA area that drivers around here sometimes leave 1-3 car lengths worth of space in front of them when they stop at a light.

I've been driving in LA since 1977 and I have never noticed this; It seems the same everywhere in the US I have driven, unless the roads are icy in which case people deliberately slow down so as not to slam into the car ahead of them.

However if some dude (it's always a dude, never a chick) is blasting a song at 10000 watts (always with the windows open whether its 35F or 95F) and its not my favorite song, then I would not pull up next to him. Heck I did the same thing; some Frank Sinatra daddy-o (with his Barry Goldwater glasses) probably didn't like when I blasted Zeppelin (probably with the windows open too) when I was a teenager.

[streetscenes]

I've netter noticed this as widespread issue. Sometimes you see it, likely because of bad drivers, bad eyesight or paranoia. I learned when stopped at a red light you should be able to see the rear tires of the car in front of you. If you are in a really tall SUV with huge hood that would mean you would have to be pretty far back to see the car in front.

[Fortaz]

Well the reason I posed this question is because I frequent an intersection with a left turn lane than has cars backed up into the thru traffic lane, and I look around and see people leaving tons of space, which if they pulled up farther would keep the cars out of the thru traffic lane.

I've lived in different places around the US and have noticed people leave a lot more room in CA for some reason. Seems like a defensive driving maneuver to me, so they can dart into the next lane if their lane doesn't move fast enough for them.

[motoman]

I'm not sure why people do it. People also do it while driving, which is a big reason traffic is so bad in LA.

My guess is that people, in general, have just gotten desensitized to the fact that it's going to take you a long time to get anywhere in LA, so why rush? What's another 2 minutes sitting at this light or in this traffic jam. If there are enough people that think that way, and there are, you get LA's current traffic situation.

Along a similar line, why is it that while driving 10 mph down the freeway, so many people leave 4, 5, 6+ car lengths between them and the car in front? I can only assume ignorance or inconsideration. Ignorance to the fact that the larger the distance they leave, the longer the line of traffic and the longer it's going to take to get anywhere at a given speed, or inconsideration if they just don't care that they are impeding the flow of traffic. I would imagine it's a little of both.

People talk about leaving a 3 second following distance and such, but I've run the calculations and, given the volume of traffic in LA, abiding by traditional ideas such as the 3 second rule just isn't possible. A single day's worth of traffic on the 405 alone would take more than 40 hours to pass through if everyone followed the 3 second rule, for example. So "tailgating" is actually a requirement in LA.