When you're sitting at a stop light, why do you...?

Question

When you're sitting at a stop light, why do you inch up 2 or 3 inches every time the person in front of you does? What is that really doing for you? It isn't gonna get you where you need to go any faster... We are crazy people....

Answer 1

Because we are all stupid butt flying monkeys...:)

Answer 2

Hey, better to be 2 to 3 inches ahead rather than 2 to 3 inches behind! I mean, 1/2 an inch is the difference between a race won or lost. I suppose in the races of sitting at stop lights, I want to be ahead.

Answer 3

If nobody inches up, it can cause traffic to back up into the intersection behind you. Also, if there is a lot of space between cars, less cars will get through the light when it finally does turn green. In addition, if you leave enough space in front of you, someone turning in from a side road can cut you off.

Inching up is more efficient.

Answer 4

I don't usually inch up until the gap has increased a few feet. Sometimes inching up a bit is a nice thing to do if the person behind you needs to make a turn and you can let them do that by getting your car a few inches out of their way. I try to remember not to be nice to people anymore when I am driving, though.

Answer 5

Where I live, the lights at certain major intersections only last a few moments. During rush hour, you have to take advantage of every single inch. I blame the city---they are crazy. A study shows that the length of the green light directly affects the amount of red lights run. Apparently, they didn't read that study.....

Answer 6

I don't know why? But I wish I could, due to my Toyota's ability to suck!! Every time i come to a stop light I have to cut off the engine and get weird looks from other drivers. If my Stupid car idles for to long It will over heat, spit out all my coolant and start smoking. I hate it so! Oh and don't even get me started about traffic! It's a nightmare!

Gettin' a new car in a month, can't wait! Then I can torture my old beater - want to help??

Answer 7

I don't inch up. I usually just wait until the light turns green before moving again. Sometimes, the car in front of me has inched nearly another car space!

Answer 8

I hate it when people, in a traffic queue leading up to a light that has just turned green, wait until the person in front of them has moved a metre or so before thinking about driving, releasing the hand-brake, shifting into gear, checking the mirror, then goin.... aw **** the light just turned red! and I was only third in the queue! One of the main arguments for the legalisation of murder.

Answer 9

To let the people in back coming from side streets and parking lots get in, too so they're not hanging over in incoming traffic! Maybe someone needs to turn into a lot or sidestreet and if you'd just move up 2 more inches, I could turn. ALSO, why do you pull up or stay back so your window is not even with mine? Do you really need that much privacy, neighbor? I wanna spy on you out of the corner of my peripheral vision! ... ... ... not.

Answer 10

I live in the Washington D.C. area and yes....I've noticed this while I was in my car as well. People are in such a hurry it's like there is a fire. And as soon as the light truns green it's like....HONK ! HONK ! You really need to totally ignore those people and you know this would really drive then crazy when the person aheah of you inches up you stay put.....I really love to see the D.C. area drivers squirm.....I live in D.C. the land of the aggressive driver and it's so funy to see them get mad. In a nut shell ignore them and mabye they will find another route to take tommrow !

Answer 11

It sometimes is necessary to activate the sensor that engages the mechanism that turns the light green. Thus, you may have to inch up. This is probably the root of the problem. And yes, I am guilty of doing this ritual.