Whatever happened to the rule for driving, that you stay back 1 car length for every 10 mph you're going ?

Question

I NEVER see anyone doing that any more...It's safer, but if you don't watch it & you're hanging back, someone will jump right in front of you.

Answer 1

Road idiots, that's why. The majority of people who are driving are stupid when it comes to safety. Forget speed limits, too, it's drive as fast as you can without skidding off the road. I've seen people driving along a 70 mph with less than one car length between them. The word "accident" is rather the wrong term for crashes that result from this type of behavior.

This is why I now like to drive just below the speed limit and watch the speeders pile up behind me. Buffalo only go so fast, no give damn for white man bad driving... I enforce proper following distance of car behind me by slowing down to proper speed for distance. So, if I am drving 40 mph and car comes up behind at only one car length away, I slow to 10 mph to have proper following distance for stupid idiot. One time I actually came to a complete stop right in road, bad woman driver behind got message.

Answer 2

One of the problems is the fact that back when they started talking the 10 mph rule, cars were pretty much big heavy masses of metal and nowhere as efficient as what we have to drive today.

And also, roads were nowhere near the quality of what we have today with the superhighways.

Where I think the problem is, (and this is just speculation) the cars of today give a false sense of security just in the way they feel as you sit behind the drivers seat. The maneuverability of cars today is far better than those of the 50's and 60's and combined with ABS, power steering, higher speeds, all just supply the ingredients for disaster.

This is a simplistic view, but one I think is part of the problem.

As for those who choose to drive like they are at the Daytona 500, and haven't had an accident, are just the lucky ones. For the most part, anyone who has an accident at those higher speeds usually doesn't survive even with ABS, seatbelts, and improved suspensions. Just because they haven't had an accident so far just reinforces the delusion they are superior drivers and can ride the bumper of the guy ahead. At the same time screwing with the radio, cellphone, or trying to find a lost cd under the seat. Those are the ones to be very afraid of.

Answer 3

I also try to follow that rule. The actual rule is one second for every ten feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 MPH and an additional second for higher speeds, PLUS at least one second for reaction time.
A passenger car doing 55mph should have three seconds following distance. A light truck pulling a trailer needs 4-6 seconds at 55. A semi should have at least 7-8.

Answer 4

On a 2007 vehicle, absolutely nothing would happen, you would hear a "ratcheting" type sound until the car coasted down to a "safe" speed, about 2-3 mph, then it would engage and lock up the drive wheel(s), on the other hand, if you tried it on a 1967 vehicle, it would engage immediately, locking the drive wheel(s), and more than likely catapult you through the windshield, hope this helps. George

Answer 5

Strangely enough I still follow that rule. And the one where you should stay 3 seconds behind the person in front of you while on the highway. Of course what you mentioned is right, for every car length you try to leave, 2 morons will try to fill that gap.

Answer 6

Watch out. Some areas are testing equipment that measures if you are tailgating the car in front of you. It takes a pic of one car....if you are in back of that car following too close it measures the distance, takes a picture of your car/license plate and they mail you a ticket. Similar to the red light cameras that are popping up everywhere.
Also equipment that measures if you are speeding. You pass a sensor at one bridge. you hit the next sensor - if you get to it too soon they know you were speeding and send you a ticket.
On one hand its a good idea, but then again Big Brother is getting too far out of hand.

Answer 7

People today have the same problem, I call it a brain fa*t, they got their license and gassed out everything they were taught about safe driving. One thing that I learned when I moved to my first big city was, don't drive normal, drive scared, you'll be safer for yourself that way. These are the days now where in the bible somewhere it speaks about "people hurrying about" for no reason other than to do so. Be careful, and be safe., always on the defensive. you have to watch out for them, because they can't, I'm sorry, WON'T, watch out for themselves.

Answer 8

I think road rage happened. Everyone is in such a hurry, and they don't like it if you are ahead of them. Tailgating seems to have become a great sport. I do like to keep a safe distance, but the gap does fill up with every car in the world it seems.

Answer 9

4 car lengths at 40 mph? That's so absurd that it's actually funny, and someone would have to be virtually blind to need that much distance in order to stop. The 1 length/10mph rule is extremely outdated, and no one ever drives that way. 1 car length per 15 mph is a lot more realistic, and even that is a bit on the conservative side.

Answer 10

I find it fascinating that absolutely every person that I've ever talked to,or heard anecdotes from, is THE safest and best driver in the world-bar none.Where are all the *** holes? I guess it must be that I am that idiot driver.THERE, I said it, now the rest of you can stay in your fantasy world.