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Distance between cars

JackeeBoy
JackeeBoy Posts: 229 Forumite
I've been Money Tipped!
in Motoring
In terms of other driver skills, probably just had the most frustrating experience on the M25: Lane hogging, people driving below the speed limit, people driving in two lanes at once and some tailgating. I had one particular incident witbthe latter.

There was moving traffic today. The far right lane was going around the speed limit but the other lanes were full for the most part. I was in the right lane and keep a distance of about 3 or so car lengths. The car behind me speeds up so close to me I could hardly see his head lights. It's also clear and obvious that there is traffic for miles ahead.

When I get a chance, instead of being stubborn about it I pull into the other lane to let him pass. Thing is, he doesn't. Clear space in front of him to tailgate the other person but he doesn't budge and I end going back in front of him.

Turns out he probably wasn't even consciously tailgating and thought being so close behind someone travelling 70pmh is acceptable. What is a reasonable distance in such a situation?
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Comments

  • martinthebandit
    martinthebandit Posts: 4,422 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    er, if he was too close behind you for safety when you initially pulled out of his way then he was too close for safety when you subsequently pulled out in front of him.
  • sheslookinhot
    sheslookinhot Posts: 2,419 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    At 70mph, 24 car lengths should be left, allowing time / distance for an emergency stop to 0mph.
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  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 9,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    JackeeBoy wrote: »
    In terms of other driver skills, probably just had the most frustrating experience on the M25: Lane hogging, people driving below the speed limit, people driving in two lanes at once and some tailgating. I had one particular incident witbthe latter.

    There was moving traffic today. The far right lane was going around the speed limit but the other lanes were full for the most part. I was in the right lane and keep a distance of about 3 or so car lengths.
    The safe gap from the vehicle in front is two seconds. At 70 mph that is about 15 car lengths, not 3!
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 9,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    sheslookinhot wrote: »
    At 70mph, 24 car lengths should be left, allowing time / distance for an emergency stop to 0mph.
    24 car lengths would only be needed if the car in front stopped dead, which is never going to happen. The recommended safe gap is two seconds, or about 15 car lengths.
  • chrisw
    chrisw Posts: 3,948 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Ah, that takes me back.

    'Only a fool breaks the two second rule.'
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 9,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    chrisw wrote: »
    Ah, that takes me back.

    'Only a fool breaks the two second rule.'
    And 'Only a **** shunts the car in front.'
  • Nick_C
    Nick_C Posts: 7,673 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Home Insurance Hacker!
    I was on the M25 a couple of times this week and it's almost impossible to leave a safe gap in the outside lanes. Lane 2 was the safest lane to drive in. People just will not follow lane discipline, and feel they are too important to move to the left hand lanes. Idiots.
  • jackieblack
    jackieblack Posts: 10,650 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    chrisw wrote: »
    Ah, that takes me back.

    'Only a fool breaks the two second rule.'

    I was taught this ‘rule of thumb‘ when I learned to drive and taught it to my daughter when she started driving too :)
    Everything will be alright in the end so, if it’s not yet alright, it means it’s not yet the end
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  • reeac
    reeac Posts: 1,430 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Whenever I've checked my distance from the car in front I find that it's equivalent to 3 seconds. That seems to be the spacing that I automatically go for.
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    And the moral of the story would seem to be:

    Avoid the M25 like the plague!
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