Gaps between Stationary Cars Stopped at Traffic Lights

Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 10:19
Last edited 22/12/2024 - 12:55 by 1 other user

What the hell is this new phenomenon? Whenever I pull up at the lights, I stop on the broad white line, which is painted on the road for just that purpose. But now I see so many people stopping a couple of metres back from that line, and then having further to go when the lights turn green, thus holding up the car behind them, (even if only slightly).

I suspect this is because there are so many INCOMPETENT and INEXPERIENCED drivers around today, who have no idea of the physics of their vehicle, and how much space it occupies. They simply can't tell where the front of their car is, so they stop metres away from stop lines and stop signs etc., "just in case". Apart from it causing excessive spreading-out of the traffic, with flow-on effects further back, it's also a dead give-away that the driver is unskilled and unfamiliar with vehicle usage on public roads, and thus a risk.

But even worse than this weirdness, there are the folks who always pull up A FULL CAR LENGTH behind the car in front, at stop lights! What?! I just do not get that. I see it every day, everywhere. Why do they do it?

Is it because they were told by the driving instructor that one must always stay at least a car's length behind the car in front, or at least 3 second's behind it? And did they take that literally, and didn't understand that it only applies WHEN TRAFFIC IS ACTUALLY MOVING, not when it's stationary… smh….

I won't even try to get my head around this trend of everybody REVERSING into car parks spots. I've had a chat about that elsewhere, and the reasons they gave were so senseless I couldn't bother.

Automotive

Comments

  • Gunnar on 22/12/2024 - 10:29
    +20

    Based on your only other post

    I’m guessing this is you

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 10:41
      +27

      Haha, yeah, that's me. "I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary. It'll happen to you!"

      • Gunnar on 22/12/2024 - 11:25
        +4

        I know, it already has happened to me 😉

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/12/2024 - 12:41
        +10

        So long as you keep wearing that onion on your belt, you'll be fine.

        • quick-dry on 23/12/2024 - 13:36
          +6

          it was the style of the time

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/12/2024 - 12:59
        +4

        No way, man. We're going to keep on rocking forever…Forever… forever…

      • whyisave on 23/12/2024 - 22:27

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DlTexEXxLQ

        I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was.
        Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary.
        It'll happen to you!

      • dbmitch on 25/12/2024 - 12:30
        +2

        I think I saw this exact question on reddit last week, and the top answer was:

        People stopping in a hurry to pull out thier phones asap.

    • HeWhoKnows on 23/12/2024 - 08:08
      +3

      Yes, professional time wastering whinger

      Let me remind OP that this is Christmas.

      Time to relax, enjoy and leave everyone alone (PLEASE)

      • Protractor on 23/12/2024 - 10:15
        +1

        Got a tooth abscess?

  • coffeeinmyveins on 22/12/2024 - 10:29
    +24

    Mate it's almost Christmas. You need to chill. And get off the road, you come across as someone that has extreme road rage lol

    • c64 on 22/12/2024 - 13:38
      +5

      OP drives a honda civic

      • DarkOz on 23/12/2024 - 07:41

        Let me guess. Honda Civic Type R? R for rude…

      • x1337 on 23/12/2024 - 14:49

        Damn he is actually the stereotypical whingepoolean

  • poboy on 22/12/2024 - 10:40
    +37

    When typing one word in capitals, do you hold shift for the whole word, or toggle capslock? My family is split. It's why I'm alone this Christmas. And now there's too much distance between us. I'm stationery. And not as sharp anymore.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/12/2024 - 12:43
      +5

      I'm stationery. And not as sharp anymore.

      I don't agree, paper cuts are pretty bad.

    • ramb9 on 23/12/2024 - 10:32

      You need a sharpener. Do they still sell those at OW

    • CascadeHush on 23/12/2024 - 11:25
      +5

      I start by holding down shift, get half way through, remember I could have used caps lock, realise every decision I’ve been ever made is wrong, despair at the pointlessness of my existence, and forget what I was going to type.

      I also tend to write run on sentences a lot but that was not a run on sentence but this one is.

      • Pidapipo on 23/12/2024 - 22:53
        +1

        It’s scary how much I relate to this.

    • affable on 23/12/2024 - 16:33

      No matter how far you push the envelope, it's still stationary.

  • elgrande on 22/12/2024 - 10:43
    +4

    Reversing into car parks - you can thank reverse cameras for that.

    Keeping a distance from the car in front of you - only takes going up the back of somone once to learn that one.

    As for the white line, they just don't like you.

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 12:12
      -4

      Yes, keeping a safe distance from the car in front of you - WHEN YOU"RE MOVING. Not when you're stationary. Then, it's laughable.

      • CurlCurl on 22/12/2024 - 13:44
        -4

        WHEN YOU"RE MOVING.

        Giving out grammar lessons hey.

        • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 18:19

          Damn! Typo, obviously, as you know perfectly well.

          I give out grammar lessons, not manual dexterity lessons.

      • IpGem on 23/12/2024 - 08:48
        +4

        I think I learned from a few lessons to keep a safe distance at all times, no matter if moving or stationary.

        • Moi Too on 23/12/2024 - 09:01

          Yes, that's a good policy, of course.

          But a safe distance doesn't necessarily mean an excessive distance, like some people seem to think.

          The way people are today, the only safe distance is that between the road and your own garage at home. Too many cars on the road, and too many unskilled drivers and fools..

          • IpGem on 23/12/2024 - 09:50
            +1

            @Moi Too: Agreed, a general rule of thumb for keeping a safe distance is, you should be able to see the rear tyres of the vehical next to you. If you’re keeping more distance than this, then you’re being over cautious.

            • SanguinarySeraph on 23/12/2024 - 13:49
              +1

              @IpGem: That's the same as I was taught, however I'm not sure it's still relevant. The actual distance will vary wildly based on the height (and seating position) of your car. In todays crowd of dual cab utes and SUVs, you'd be an entire car length difference to my old Mini I learned in, or anything low to the ground.

      • Nucleus Acumbens on 26/12/2024 - 20:09

        Car behind me has turbothrusters like batmanp

    • tight-ass on 22/12/2024 - 18:07
      +7

      If everybody left a car length or more between them at traffic lights only a handful of cars will get through on the green light and the queue back of traffic would be terrible.

      When I see a ton of space left between cars at traffic lights I'll move into if I have the opportunity just to make a point.

      • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 18:22
        +5

        "If everybody left a car length or more between them at traffic lights only a handful of cars will get through on the green light and the queue back of traffic would be terrible."

        Exactly!

        I don't move into those huge spaces, though. Some wan*er is likely to go mental about it. Happens a lot these days.

        • Sammy2000 on 22/12/2024 - 23:06
          +8

          I always miss my turning light because I can't get to the turning lane due these these fools leaving a car length Infront :(

      • 2esc on 23/12/2024 - 10:53
        +1

        Whats the hurry exactly? Poor time managent or gotta find a toilet in a hurry?

  • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 10:44
    +15

    Your views are hilarious on these bad driving habits haha.

    But now I see so many people stopping a couple of metres back from that line,

    Ok, yes thats frustrating.

    But because of this? …

    then having further to go when the lights turn green,

    You are literally talking a couple of meters 😂
    The bigger issue with people that do this, is not triggering the lights.

    thus holding up the car behind them, (even if only slightly).

    In what world is every car at an intersection not getting held up slightly?
    People playing on their phones, changing music, staring out into space… even if the gaps are perfect, you will always get held up by at least one person😂

    Its not the distance between cars holding up traffic, it’s peoples alertness and reaction time to the lights changing which then has a domino effect.

    i won't even try to get my head around this trend of everybody REVERSING into car parks spots

    Funny way to announce to everyone that you don’t know how to reverse park.

      • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 13:22
        +2

        I love this.

        I think it's the people who are desperate to prove to the world….

        .

        I could park upside down if I had to

        Lol…

        Oh the irony

        queue “old man yells at cloud” simpsons meme.

      • c64 on 22/12/2024 - 13:34
        +15

        reversing in makes sense. you have full visibility of all other traffic. you do not when reversing out

          • Tatts on 22/12/2024 - 19:08
            +5

            @Moi Too: If you're looking over your shoulder, you're doing it wrong.

              • Tatts on 23/12/2024 - 07:13
                +5

                @Moi Too: Never heard of mirrors?

              • doncarajo on 24/12/2024 - 10:10
                +1

                @Moi Too: Looking over your shoulder is beginner driver stuff. The pros rely on their mirrors.

          • Never Pay RRP on 24/12/2024 - 10:32
            +1

            @Moi Too: When you are reversing in, the space is (presumably) empty, and hence your risk of hitting anything or being hit by something should be near zero. Reversing out you would have to deal with other moving cars

          • greatlamp on 24/12/2024 - 15:28

            @Moi Too: In which scenario are you likely to be hit by traffic, reversing in or reversing out?

            You probably drive an SUV and it doesn't matter, but since they are now so common those that drive sedans and hatchbacks need to reverse park

        • gimme on 23/12/2024 - 07:35
          -6

          Actually not true. I've been in many situations where I get a much better view pulling out in reverse due to the camera. Sometimes you won't see because of larger cars parked next to you and have to very slowly edge forward and hope some idiot doesn't hit you until you gain visibility of oncoming traffic. Reversing out is always the safer and easier option for me

      • TightAl on 23/12/2024 - 00:09
        +1

        Wow that extra second to cover 2.53 meters off the line is enougH to set you off.

        WE as a collective already know your type. Bet you jump out of the car pointy your finger if you cop a honk in a carpark.

      • SlickMick on 23/12/2024 - 09:36

        Some businesses require employees to reverse park. Those employees are used to it, or agree that it's safer, so do it in own time also.

        It's a strange thing to get upset about… but it sounds a little like you're envious.

      • SanguinarySeraph on 23/12/2024 - 14:04
        +4

        Reverse parking gives you greater turning angle, with today's compulsion to all drive 5m+ dual cabs and SUVs, many of those vehicles will struggle to make it into a car park without a 3 point turn so not surprising you're seeing more of it.

        Bonus: 3 point turn is 1 more than 2 point turn :)

  • Hardlyworkin on 22/12/2024 - 10:45
    +2

    Time for a tree change.

  • sumyungguy on 22/12/2024 - 10:56
    +10

    Are you in Brisbane? It's customary to queue with half a suburb gap to the next car so when the light turns green only three cars make it through. Owners of vehicles with 12m+ tuning circles can't swing wide enough to drive forwards into a bay park but are able to position accurately by reversing.

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 12:20
      -1

      Yep, half a suburb at least. I was just out, and sure enough there was a driver, stopped at the lights, at least a car-and-a-half length behind the car in front..Unbelievable.

      • 1989jdm on 22/12/2024 - 12:28
        +8

        There’s actual problems going on in the world, our country, even your city. Hang up the keys for a bit fella and have a look at the big picture around you

      • CurlCurl on 22/12/2024 - 13:28
        -3

        Yep, half a suburb at least. I was just out, and sure enough there was a driver, stopped at the lights, at least a car-and-a-half length behind the car in front..Unbelievable.

        You poor old man losing 1.2 seconds when the lights change.

        I stop around 4 to 5 meters from the car in front for 1: In case the car in front breaks down. 2: If some clown runs into the rear of the car behind because the idiots behind be stopped right up my bumper There is less of a chance of the front of my car hitting the vehicle in front.

        • racer1234 on 22/12/2024 - 17:31
          +1

          I watched a car in traffic the other day leave the huge gap while stopped waiting for lights. They wouldn't even move forward when the ambulance came up behind them with lights and sirens going trying to get into the vacant turn right lane beside them. The ambulance ended up sitting there behind this car that refused to close the gap until the lights changed.

          • roguescholar on 22/12/2024 - 18:33
            +4

            @racer1234: I would've got on the horn for this person.

            The amount of people who seem oblivious to emergency services and the outside world seem to instantly sit up to attention when a horn is pressed.

          • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 18:59
            -1

            @racer1234: Yep, as I said, incompetent and inexperienced drivers are everywhere now. That driver simply had no clue what to do when the ambulance came up. A large part of driving is just plain common sense. But common sense, like many other things today, seems to be a matter of "personal choice"…

  • kyle on 22/12/2024 - 11:01
    +3

    I do that if there's a sensor on the ground a few car spaces back in order to trigger the right turn arrow.

    • Sammy2000 on 22/12/2024 - 23:08

      So many people sit behind or infront the sensor so it doesn't go off.

  • skid on 22/12/2024 - 11:22
    +5

    Seen this happening much more in the last couple years. I also think it's because drivers do not know the length of their car. Happens in shopping centre car parks too where they're parked with their butt out. Another reason might be that they fear getting pushed into the intersection if they get rear ended.

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 12:24
      -1

      Yes, I've heard that one, about the fear of being pushed into the car in front, if somebody rear-ends them. But I have to wonder, how often does that kind of multi-vehicle collision happen? Sometimes, but surely not often enough to force a change in driving habits for so many people.

      And if they're always expecting to be rear-ended, surely they should stop at least three car lengths back. But nobody would do that, because it's ludicrous.

      • CurlCurl on 22/12/2024 - 13:32
        +6

        Yes, I've heard that one, about the fear of being pushed into the car in front, if somebody rear-ends them. But I have to wonder, how often does that kind of multi-vehicle collision happen? Sometimes, but surely not often enough to force a change in driving habits for so many people.

        Once is one to many,

      • 2esc on 23/12/2024 - 10:43
        +2

        10 years ago i saw a car that was right on the line rear ended by another car that was actually stationary behind him about 1 meter gap that had been hit by another car that pushed him into a lady with a pram knocking the lady and pram to the ground luckily only a few scratches for the lady baby was fine but screaming but could it have been much worse.

        If a family member of yours was the pedestrian how would you actually feel?

        I have my front wheels about 1 meter back from the line and if im behind someone i am far enough back i can actually see the rear wheels of the car in front. Thats how a instructor taught me 35 years ago.

    • moph on 23/12/2024 - 13:46
      -1

      It isn't just fear - this is actively taught as a defensive driving method in some driving schools. The thing is, it's meant to be paired with a second technique - once a car or two behind you have come to a safe stop, you creep forward to a more reasonable distance from the line/car in front of you. That compresses the traffic behind the lights and allows other cars to get into the left/right turning slip lanes, etc. A lot of people seem to practice the first part, but not the second.

  • DingoBilly on 22/12/2024 - 11:39
    +4

    Yes some drivers are bad. Nothing particularly new here.

    • CurlCurl on 22/12/2024 - 13:35
      +2

      Never mind that they make it less likely that those other drivers will get through the lights when they change…

      1.2 seconds max. Please.

    • photonbuddy on 22/12/2024 - 21:52

      Is it:

      d) Been done in a 'weird' way for running a red light, so stop well short just to be sure.

      e) Been hit up the rear, and pushed into the car in front, so now leaves plenty of room.

      Also … the whole thing about reversing into a car park is annoying, but it's recommended so you can drive out easily. It's one of the biggest recommendation for women, especially when parking at night.

      Also … stop shouting!!

      • Sammy2000 on 22/12/2024 - 23:11

        I have been rear ended twice while stationary. Both drivers were not paying attention but I didn't get pushed forward. Maybe if I was moving without my foot on the break I may have?

        • photonbuddy on 22/12/2024 - 23:23
          +2

          Maybe because you left a proper gap between you and the car in front.

          I'm sure OP is the type that stops mere inches from the car in front!

        • 2esc on 23/12/2024 - 10:49
          +1

          Obviosly you didnt get it hard.

          • Sammy2000 on 23/12/2024 - 11:49

            @2esc: Hard enough to crumple the rear, poor cars :(

  • JIMB0 on 22/12/2024 - 12:38
    +10

    I always leave a decent gap to the car in front just case you need to go around it. I also like reversing into parking spots. While we're at it is there anything else that grinds your gears?

    • Lastchancetosee on 23/12/2024 - 08:56
      +4

      When we were learning to drive, they said that you should be able to see the types of the car in front when pulling up behind someone. That way you knew there was enough space to go around the car if needed.

      The only reason reverse parking is a problem is if the parker is incompetent and takes five goes to get in, or if the person behind the parker (OP?) is driving so close, they don't leave enough room.

  • foxmulder on 22/12/2024 - 12:47
    +3

    Its not bad, compare to those who didn't stop at all on stop sign, or didn't indicate when they change line.

    You know you can't change how people drive, but you can change yourself. if it bothers you much, please talk to someone for help.

      • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 13:53
        +7

        if you'll get help for your bad grammar.

        But then you went on to say:

        who didn't stop at all on (the) stop sign

        Big Ooof

        It should be; “At the stop sign”.
        Please use the correct prepositions when correcting others grammar 😂

        Man, you love irony…

        • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 14:05
          -6

          Nope, sorry, try again…

          I quoted Foxmulder's post exactly. Read his post again if you missed it.

          In any case, the use of "on the stop sign" is as valid as "at the stop sign". We commonly say "Stop on the white line", and "Stop on the mark".

          • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 15:32
            +6

            @Moi Too: Don’t embarrass yourself by trying to deny you missed a basic preposition.

            In any case, the use of "on the stop sign" is as valid as "at the stop sign". We commonly say "Stop on the white line", and "Stop on the mark".

            The phrases “on the white line” or “on the mark” are correct in their contexts because “on” is used when something is physically placed on top of a surface or mark, which isn’t the case with a stop sign. The stop sign is a specific point where action is taken, so “at the stop sign” is the standard and correct usage.

            You tried to be a smarty pants and failed.

            Move on.

            This message is brought to you by your friendly neighbourhood reverse parker that didn’t even finish school 😂

            • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 15:59
              -2

              @El cheepo: Maybe if I say it twice, you'll see it. "I quoted Foxmulder's post exactly".

              His post wasn't just an example of incorrect usage, it was straight-out ungrammatical English. Past tenses of verbs are written, in most cases, with the suffix "ed".

              As for your comment that "at the stop sign is standard English", I'll concede. But then, I wasn't talking about correct or standard English, merely common usage.

              As I assume you know, common usage of the English language today is just plain farcical.

              • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 16:40
                +1

                @Moi Too:

                "I quoted Foxmulder's post exactly".

                Foxmulder:

                Its not bad, compare to those who didn't stop at all on stop sign, or didn't indicate when they change line.

                Your attempt to correct him while quoting him:

                It's not bad, comparED to those who didn't stop at all on (the) stop sign, or didn't indicate when they changED lAnes."

                You can’t just say you were trying to quote him directly after making such a clear effort to correct him.

                Maybe if I say it twice, you'll see it.

                Say it ten times, won’t change a thing.

                • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 17:21
                  -2

                  @El cheepo: Oh dear.. Are you doing this deliberately, or are you just having a slow day today?

                  It's tricky, I know, but not that hard, really.

                  I quoted him directly, while inserting my corrections in the quote.

                  • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 17:58
                    +2

                    @Moi Too: And you got one incorrect.

                    If you’re going to try and be clever and correct other’s grammar, at least do it correctly.

                    FWIW no one actually cares about grammar on an online forum.

                    In fact it is usually a last ditch effort to try and save face from people losing an argument.

                    I quoted him directly, while inserting my corrections in the quote.

                    and you missed one correction son.

                    But it is pretty fun watching you try to cover over your own mistake while correcting others.

                    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 18:05
                      -1

                      @El cheepo: What, the apostrophe in his "its"?

                      No one cares about grammar on an inline forum, eh?

                      Well, the grapsnig forbulant twelto ig smim trid spolcranth. Don't you agreeming?

                      • El cheepo on 22/12/2024 - 18:44
                        +1

                        @Moi Too: As i mentioned, i didn’t finish school.
                        Also as mentioned, nobody cares about grammar nazis.

                        Its one of the most embarrassing things a person losing an argument online can do.

                        So please, carry on 😂

                        • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 18:49

                          @El cheepo: Of course people care about Grammar Nazis! That's why they call them Nazis. When people are humiliated by writing rubbish, they use every slur they can think of, to relieve their embarrassment.

                          In any case, smeklob ismt posmakineeb. Cu ort two no thap.

                          • El cheepo on 23/12/2024 - 00:04
                            +1

                            @Moi Too: There is only one person embarrassing themselves here, and it ain’t me 😂

                            Enjoy your mental breakdown at the world around you son.

  • c64 on 22/12/2024 - 12:54
    +2

    I stop on the broad white line, which is painted on the road for just that purpose. But now I see so many people stopping a couple of metres back from that line

    that's fine. what peeves me is lazy people stopping half way over the line

  • John Kimble on 22/12/2024 - 13:08
    +3

    +1

  • Ocker on 22/12/2024 - 13:13

    And how many times have people stopped at lights have a car run into the back of them and push them into the intersection, and likely hit by a car with the green light.
    I can think of a couple of times in fact where a driver/passenger in the car was killed in such circumstances.
    Stopping a little before the white gives one that bit more leeway.
    If OP is indeed a "retired gent" then I would have expected a bit more common sense on his part.

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 16:00
      -2

      **"And how many times have people stopped at lights have a car run into the back of them and push them into the intersection, and likely hit by a car with the green light.

      I can think of a couple of times i"**

      I don't know. Twice?

  • Dollar General on 22/12/2024 - 13:13

    I do it just to annoy you

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 13:30

      Well quit it! ;)

  • GordonD on 22/12/2024 - 13:15
    +1

    The problem that stopping well before the line can cause is that you don't trigger the lights. If its an intersection of a minor and major road, to keep the traffic flowing on the major road, the minor road may only get a green if a vehicle is waiting. Was in a major traffic jam years ago because of that. Had to get out of my car and walk down to the head of the queue to tell the driver to move forward onto the sensor, then run back as fast I could to my car before it was holding everyone up.

    But as to the OP's point, it is not as clear cut as he puts it. If cars are close together the trailing car can only move after the car in front moves away and opens a gap. If they are separated, the car behind can move immediately the one in front does.

    • Moi Too on 22/12/2024 - 13:33

      " If cars are close together the trailing car can only move after the car in front moves away and opens a gap. If they are separated, the car behind can move immediately the one in front does."

      Well yes, but you don't need an entire car length gap behind the car in front. A metre of so is plenty.

      • TEER3X on 22/12/2024 - 23:29
        +1

        Pretty sure a metre is the minimum required by law.

        It's definitely not enough for anyone with a sliver of commonsense though.

      • jackary on 23/12/2024 - 17:48

        A metre or so*

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