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

Originally Posted by Treads

Yep, stop so as you can see where the rear tyres of the vehicle in front touch the road. It's just good practice and is taught by any decent driving instructor.

It's not only about safety in case of a rear-ender; but also so that if the car in front fails to move off for some reason, you have room to get around them without having to reverse first.

It's called common sense mostly

This is what is being taught at the moment, however I'm pretty sure that during your test you have to be within 600mm of the line if you are stopped at lights, other wise you are deducted points.

Stopping for a red traffic light or arrow
(1) A driver approaching or at traffic lights showing a red traffic light must stop:
(a) if there is a stop line at or near the traffic lights — as near as practicable to, but before reaching, the stop line; or
(b) if there is a stop here on red signal sign at or near the traffic lights, but no stop line — as near as practicable to, but before reaching, the sign

Martyn

Need to change the law so that when the light changes everyone pops the clutch and anyone that gets hit up the arse should be booked. instead of having morons reading the paper or putting on makeup and holding back traffic so as only a few get through the lights, it would at least keep drivers in front on their toes, regards Frank.

Originally Posted by davidsonsm

I did a defensive driving course a couple of years ago. They recommended leaving a gap whereby you can see the rear tyres of the car on front. It allows you to take evasive action if needed. Reckon on average that's half a car length.

But really, are we realy that impatient these days that something like this causes stress. No need to reply. I know the answer.

Well yes it does cause stress, esp. if you are a hundred metres back and because of dead**** drivers reading the paper or donning their makeup causing just 2 or 3 cars to get through the lights. It can take 3 or 4 goes to get through the lights when at most it should have only taken one or two light changes, they should make carrying hand grenades legal, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by nesjules

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

Yeah but people in the UK can drive...

can I just add fuel to this fire a bit...

What about the people you spot up ahead waiting to move out from a servo or a side street that have been sat there a while, your in heavy traffic, you slow down (as I do all the time) to let them out

you flash your lights to get there attention and wave frantically with your arms for them to move out and join

and they crawl out like a ****ing SNAIL!!! making you wish you never bothered to let them out in the first place because rather than them joining and keeping the road flowing you then find you have to stop because they are so god damn useless and slow!!...which means the rest of the traffic behind you also has to stop also

grrrrrrrrrrrrr

I dont give a fetid rabid rabits infested testicle about the gaps.

Why in the name of all things holey can you idiots out there not realise that you dont have to wait at the lights for the correct following distance to develop before moving off...

Its also not against the law to realise that if the traffic thats turning across has stopped and is beginning to fill the oncoming turning lane or is no longer running across the road (depending on the intersection setup) to preselect the gear you need to move off put your hand on the hand brake and get ready to go just the nanosecond that the green light comes on.


And you extra special self absorbed facebooktards...

DO NOT take the opportunity of stopping at a red light to pick up your phone and check your updatestatus... I might be behind you and after sitting through 3 light cycles behind one of your dipswich iphone obsessed friends with the "music" in her car turned up so loud she couldnt hear the cacophony of horns behind her I no longer feel any kind of requirement to refrain from demonstrating that no car with a design mass of under 1.6T has sufficient brake torque or traction to hold back a bull barred worked up turbo diesel 4x4 with a low range option and a me with a right boot full of anger in the right front seat.

As for how long it takes to get anywhere, Sydney yesterday, Waterloo to Seven Hills, 34km. 2hrs 6min.

Ohhhh, my pet topic!!

Yup, cannot stand cretins who creep - either at lights or in heavy traffic. Decide where you're going to stop and wait there until your way ahead is clear!
Conversely I hate idiots who wait until the car in front is half a K away before moving off. It's only courteous to be ready to move on time. When I make this mistake, personally I wave a sorry. Doesn't hurt.
Pillocks who can't merge. Worst being the ones who use you as a shield when merging onto motorways, usually doing significantly less speed that the traffic you're joining.
Dipsticks who haven't read the basic road rules & therefore think that when merging into the main traffic stream they have right of way - so no need to: look; Match speed with main flow; Wave or otherwise indicate 'thanks' for letting them out.
Incompetents who sit in overtaking lanes, not overtaking, often well under the speed limit, or just self appointed speed police.
People who slow down in tunnels, and those who overtake larger vehicles by doing about 0.0002kph more than the larger vehicle.
Which brings me to Timid Drivers. If you're scared of your car or other vehicles, you probably shouldn't be driving.
Brake happy clowns.
Capable vehicles driven like 90 year olds in Model T fords.
Basically, almost all other drivers! :rofl:

Look, I have driven a lot for work. It was nothing unusual to drive up to 200k's to site in the UK. Sometimes quite a lot more. My average annual milage would be between 59-65000 MILES per year. When I moved here I was astonished how small the work regions were, to be honest. I'd been expecting to do some real milage!
So, when I heard some muppet stating that there's no need to do the speed limit, it'll only take a few minutes longer doing 40 or 50 instead of 60, my response was: yes, for the little, local journeys you're doing. But I'm often doing 100Miles each way. 100/50mph=2hrs. 100/60=1hr 40mins. So by doing 60mph, I get 40 extra minutes to do a better job, or to spend with my family. I lived about 60k's from the centre of London. That journey normally takes 2-3hours. Each way. Unless it's school holidays & during the late night/early morning when it could be done somewhat faster.
Just getting between sites 4 miles apart could take an hour or 2, any time of the day. I used to actually enjoy one aspect of callout: you can actually drive around London at the speed limit between about 1 & 5am!
I suffered (yes, suffered) MASSIVE road rage / stress diving in the UK, something I relatively seldom have living on the GC.
Basically by the time we moved here, I almost hated driving.
Not very long after moving here, my work had a driver awareness training day. Pretty useless, there was no practical at all! However, I did enjoy the look on the instructor's face when he asked me why I though I was safe to drive over the speed limit. I couldn't resist the obvious reply 'Because I'm English, not Australian!'
I have long since lost track of the number of different vehicles I've driven. the number of times I've catnapped on site or in the vehicle so I can drive a bit further without crashing, the number of micro sleeps where I could have crashed. (One employer lost an average of 4 vehicles written off per year to technicians falling asleep at the wheel. How none of us ever got killed, I really, really don't know).

So, can you see why I detest anyone getting 'under my feet'?

Ok, that's really wordy. Please excuse me.
In conclusion: I'm nothing special. There's plent of other people who have a similar story to me. All I ask is that other drivers have the courtesy that I try to extend to them - be aware of what's going on around you. Rember that few other drivers are on the road with the same intent as you. Just becasue you're not in a hurry, doesn't mean the faster vehicle doesn't have a legitimate reason for that speed. Don't be a sanctimonious, self appointed speed block. Get out of tthe way or speed up. If the other bloke is a hoon, better they **** up & crash well away from you! And give way & say thank you when others do, it won't kill you!

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

I dont give a fetid rabid rabits infested testicle about the gaps.

Why in the name of all things holey can you idiots out there not realise that you dont have to wait at the lights for the correct following distance to develop before moving off...

Its also not against the law to realise that if the traffic thats turning across has stopped and is beginning to fill the oncoming turning lane or is no longer running across the road (depending on the intersection setup) to preselect the gear you need to move off put your hand on the hand brake and get ready to go just the nanosecond that the green light comes on.


And you extra special self absorbed facebooktards...

DO NOT take the opportunity of stopping at a red light to pick up your phone and check your updatestatus... I might be behind you and after sitting through 3 light cycles behind one of your dipswich iphone obsessed friends with the "music" in her car turned up so loud she couldnt hear the cacophony of horns behind her I no longer feel any kind of requirement to refrain from demonstrating that no car with a design mass of under 1.6T has sufficient brake torque or traction to hold back a bull barred worked up turbo diesel 4x4 with a low range option and a me with a right boot full of anger in the right front seat.

Don't worry Dave I'll come and visit you in jail, either that or I'll be in the next cell, regards Frank.