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

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

The way I was taught (And I also would have failed my test had I not done it) was to leave a car length between you and the car in front until two or three cars pull up behind you, then you can slowly move forward.
Seems no-one is interested in it these days, its all about getting to where you want a whole 5 seconds faster and being a sanctimonious ****** if someone prevents you from doing that...
EDIT
But if you're the first car then I see no reason as to why it should occur...

Hmmm, sanctimonious ****** huh? Been called worse. Though for me it's not the waiting the few extra seconds that I have a problem with, it's that shuffle forward that irks me. 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.

It sounds like one of those stupid driving rules that have to be taught in order to satisfy some chief examiner somewhere that this will somehow improve safety on the roads. Just like the rule my daughter has been taught on exactly how to grip the gear stick.

I've been driving for close on a quarter of a century and not once have I failed to grip the gear stick.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

...It sounds like one of those stupid driving rules that have to be taught in order to satisfy some chief examiner somewhere that this will somehow improve safety on the roads. ...

Probably a chief examiner who doesn't hold a driving licence because the RMS doesn't want people who know how to drive testing people!

Just like they don't want mechanics to be trained as mermaids because they want to teach them the RTA way of examining.

I did my licence test in 2011, the way I was taught (mum forced me to have a lesson, biggest waste of money ever).

Was:
- Must be over 1m, but less than 3 from the intersection line
- When stopped behind a car you should be able to see where their tyres touch the ground
- When stopping behind a car at an intersection, leave a two car gap until someone comes up behind you, when someone stops behind you, move up. This is supposed to stop a multi car pileup in the event you are rear ended.

In my test I did none of them, but was talking to the guy about the road rules, and Jeeps vs. LR's the whole time.

Apparently I should have failed, but he said he could tell I can handle a car... Goes to show even the RTA know their rules are DUMB.

Cheers
Will

Edit: Passed first go btw

quite often when i come to a stop behind X amount of cars.....the cars in front start to bunch up/creep forward, probably because they are driving autos.....which than leaves a large space infront of me.

i dont bother pushing the clutch in/selecting frst just to move four meters than do it all over again just to put more wear and tare on the clutch, i just hang out until thelights change and make my way

the funny thing is other cars change lanes to fill the space.....i guess i have helped somebody else out

Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

I did my licence test in 2011, the way I was taught (mum forced me to have a lesson, biggest waste of money ever).

Was:
- Must be over 1m, but less than 3 from the intersection line
- When stopped behind a car you should be able to see where their wheels touch the ground <can you imagine if Ford F250 or Dodge Ram did this?>
- When stopping behind a car at an intersection, leave a two car gap until someone comes up behind you, when someone stops behind you, move up. <next wel'll have semi trailers having to do it> This is supposed to stop a multi car pileup in the event you are rear ended.
...
Cheers
Will

This is the same mentality that:

• says drive 20 to 30 km below the speed limit in case you have to stop suddenly.
• Speedos that mandatorily read 3 KPH lower than the the real world.
• Traffic lights that are sequenced so that you don't get more than 2 green lights in a row.

The nanny state has gone mad!

You've got a Bullbar Diana, what's the problem?

Sheerluck, I hear what you're saying but license tests are expensive.
I had to do mine twice because apparently not doing an Emily Rose 360 head spin means you're not checking blind spots.
Lots of driving instructors these days aren't teaching people how to drive, they're teaching people how to pass the test.
And I don't want to hear about your Gearstick thank you very much

I'll sometimes stop a bit back if its a hot day and there's a shaddy patch, I'd much rather have that bit of cool shade while waiting for the lights to change

Well don't try the one vehicle length here in S.E.Queensland or you will have a semi pushing you,it isn't a nice feeling in a sedan to look in the mirror and only see the lower section of the grille,and know that once you hit the highway it/they will be only a car length behind,yes, I know,there are regulations about distance,and the laws of physics,but after they haul you out of the wreck tell that to the constable(he has probably spoken to the truckie who said you crash stopped)

Been there copped that, another lifetime ago.