Another "why do Colorado drivers..." thread (Denver, Longmont: maintenance, living in)

[DrDog]

I never really heard of this behavior except to avoid carjacking, so I will have to look for it now. So if someone does this, they should be looking in their rear view mirror the whole time?

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Over-cautiousness. It shows up in other ways too.

You have to be very a cautious/defensive driver here in Denver...


I've seen way too many people run red lights and stop signs in Denver that create accidents... I've seen a Hummer run the red at Colorado BLVD and Alameda that destroyed a small hatchback.

It's scary how many cars run through, so much that I avoid driving on Colorado BLVD all together. Trucks are the worst...

[Mezter]

I honestly wonder the same thing. It’s even more awkward when I pull up to the crosswalk and the car to the side of me is a full car space back lol

[DurangoJoe]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Why do Colorado drivers leave 1 or more car lengths between them and the car in front of them at a red light? It's baffling and inconsiderate.

As a former driving teacher, I taught people to stop far enough behind the car in front of them to see the car's rear wheels touching the road. That leaves room to maneuver around them for any reason. Common sense practice taught across the country. Certainly not inconsiderate in any way. Defensive driving requires that you leave yourself a way out of any situation. You never put yourself & your car in a situation you can't get out of.

[EckyX]

Not from Colorado, but from somewhere mountainous. I recently helped my girlfriend learn to drive stick. Luckily most of the drivers around here are polite and considerate enough to leave a little space, especially on hills for when she inevitably rolled back a few feet before the clutch engaged.

[willc86]

Originally Posted by BarryK123

Why do Colorado drivers leave 1 or more car lengths between them and the car in front of them at a red light? It's baffling and inconsiderate.

why do you want to stop on a cars ass? whats the point? car in front of you breaks down then what? car is a manual on a grade and goes back a little and hits you, your fault. I personally hate it when cars stop on my ass. pisses me off. this is the first state I ever been in that does that. Guess its a california and texas driver thing. the same way they tail gate other people.

i dont leave a full car space but I do leave enough space where if I need to move out.

[Copymutt]

Related,
The one possible benefit I'm looking forward to with autonomous vehicles is the clearing of intersections.
Presently, once a light turns green each and every driver takes way too long to react. Most of our intersections being already overloaded only a fraction of the traffic volume gets processed. With automated vehicles I'd expect that we'd be able to see vehicles 🚗 progress through the intersection as if they were linked together. All begin moving at the same time like train cars. Just my fervent wish.

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Copymutt

Related,
The one possible benefit I'm looking forward to with autonomous vehicles is the clearing of intersections.
Presently, once a light turns green each and every driver takes way too long to react. Most of our intersections being already overloaded only a fraction of the traffic volume gets processed. With automated vehicles I'd expect that we'd be able to see vehicles 🚗 progress through the intersection as if they were linked together. All begin moving at the same time like train cars. Just my fervent wish.

It is frustrating when you're in a long turn-left lane and the first car sits there for awhile after the light changes and then accelerates really slowly. I know sometimes that first car does have to make sure the intersection is clear because idiots run red lights all the time here, but when they also go super slow through the intersection then I feel they're just being thoughtless.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by willc86

why do you want to stop on a cars ass? whats the point?

I never said that. Sitting 1 or more car lengths behind the car in front of you is what I said.

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE H

When I lived on the Front Range back in the dark ages that very same thing happened to me. I was involved in a 6 car chain reaction on a damn slick road at Belleview and Broadway, not the most pleasant place to be at regarding a multi vehicle dinger in mid January. Fortunately the only thing in front of me was the pedestrian crosswalk, I was pushed forward a few feet. I was lucky, was wearing my seat belt, and I was driving my '75 International 3/4 ton which was a tank. From that point forward I always give an extra few feet to the vehicle I get behind.

I have a cdl. Whether I'm driving a vehicle with a tare weight of 12 tons and a 12 ton load, or if I'm in my personal vehicle, when I pull to a stop, I do it such that I can see the bottom of your back tires.

Originally Posted by randomparent

I was taught to leave enough space between my car and the car in front of my to allow me to see the bottom of the car's rear tires. It's not fool-proof, but generally that buffer zone is enough to prevent a minor rear collision from pushing my car into the one in front of me, too.

You are correct.

Thank you for driving this way.