Thread: Wot is it with leaving whole car spaces at traffic lights?

Originally Posted by sheerluck

Once you're stopped, stay stopped. Otherwise the 20 cars behind then have to dribble forward one by one. Each wasting fuel, strain on the driveline. And if you have several cars in the group of 20 that do the dribble forward, then the whole queue ends up shuffling constantly, increasing the chance of a rear end shunt.

That's actually quite funny... because you just might see me with a car length, or two, or three, in front of me... when I'm on the bike, the Daewoo, or the Defender. That's because people do exact what you've just said, but I refuse to do the same and creep forward with them, so will have a large gap in front of me.

Sounds like you'd be annoyed with me for either:
a) creeping forward with the rest, or
b) not creeping forward, and leaving the big gap.

Hmmm....

But what irks me off is when you see the car at the front of the queue decide to put the car into gear, AFTER the light has gone green...

Originally Posted by TeamFA

That's actually quite funny... because you just might see me with a car length, or two, or three, in front of me... when I'm on the bike, the Daewoo, or the Defender. That's because people do exact what you've just said, but I refuse to do the same and creep forward with them, so will have a large gap in front of me.

Sounds like you'd be annoyed with me for either:
a) creeping forward with the rest, or
b) not creeping forward, and leaving the big gap......

Exactly the opposite. That's why I put in my post "once you're stopped, stay stopped".

I do what you do fairly often. But then you often get the fool behind you who beeps at you to close up.

Yes, I have actually driven a truck got my truck license in 1961 a year after my car and motorcycle license, in a Studibaker US-6,in the days of Vacc over hydraulic and crash gearboxes,my bus license in 1982 all clean since 81,but while riding in Sydney in the 60's and 70's if they could catch me then they could book me

Oops! forgot,done for 10 over on the Brisbane Gateway Bridge approaches 2 1/2 years ago, now since Cando Newmann has lowered the speed tolerance to 1Kph over I drive by the GPS

Originally Posted by TeamFA

Being as my Defender is usually the slowest vehicle in the lineup, if I'm not at the front, I'll leave a car space between me and the car in front. As I'm always watching the lights, I'll wait until the car in front of me is just about to move, then start moving off in first. I'll have a small amount of speed up, and usually am able to change into second as the car in front takes off (faster than I can do in first).

I find that your technique works particularly well. It seems to suit the Defender's capabilities and my preferred gear change approach.

I find it works better to be able to start off a split second before the car in front or at least at the same time rather than a split second later.

It's not always possible but I try not to stop at traffic lights.

If I see a red light ahead I try to judge my arrival in the queue to coincide with when the vehicle in front is just taking off. It doesn't always work and sometimes an impatient driver will cut in front of me but that doesn't worry me and the result is a much smoother ride with a lot less strain on the brakes and drivetrain.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

The flip side of that is that the car behind you is looking past you to the car in front of you to attempt to anticipate what you will be doing and when. Stopping short of where someone expects you to, may lead to some heavy braking and a rear end shunt somewhere further back in the queue.

Yes, I've seen that happen.

Why do you think I don't do it either?

Stupid rule IMO, haven't done it once.

The head checks are somewhat ridiculous aswell, they are important if you can't see enough from mirrors, but even a slight glance is enough. And turning your head can result in a rear ended anyway...

Stupid rules...

I was taught back in the UK in the late 60s that leaving a gap allows you to start to accelerate when the lights change, before the car in front starts to move. It actually speeds up traffic flow as everyone can start at the same time rather than waiting for the car in front to move.

Jules

Originally Posted by TeamFA

But what irks me off is when you see the car at the front of the queue decide to put the car into gear, AFTER the light has gone green...

Why is everyone in such a hurry now a days. Give me the bush over the city anytime. Bob