Leaving a long gap at traffic lights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed this too, and I always look at the driver to see if I can detect a pattern.

It is almost always a person who by appearances seems to be either an immigrant from another continent (or perhaps, the child of said immigrants). I have to conclude that this is a common cultural behavior among the countries on this continent.

Wow... generalize much? Do you scream “go back to where you came from!!”?

Wow, no i don't. Put down your red herring.

Also, I’m not wrong. Sometimes cliches have kernels of truth at tbeir core. For example, drivers from Philadelphia are more aggressive than drivers from South Dakota, when considering the entire population of licensed drivers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed this too, and I always look at the driver to see if I can detect a pattern.

It is almost always a person who by appearances seems to be either an immigrant from another continent (or perhaps, the child of said immigrants). I have to conclude that this is a common cultural behavior among the countries on this continent.

In countries with high risks of carjacking, you leave at least a car length so you can easily drive off if someone comes up and tries to rob you. You're not boxed in.

Actually in some places, at night red lights are optional for safety reasons. You have to come to a full stop, then if no cars are around, you can drive through it. Otherwise you're a sitting duck to be robbed.

Thank you. I’m the PP you’re responding to, and I learned that independently by talking to friends of mine who both live on said continent right now or moved to the US as adults after learning to drive in their countries of origin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This bugs me too - especially when turning. Often someone won't enter the intersection until the car in front of them has crossed the line on the other side - STOP DOING THIS.

This is how traffic is created, people! Keep it moving!

Stopped at a traffic light people shouldn't have two car lengths, I agree. As far as entering the intersection, only one left turn car is allowed to enter at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I leave about a car length. I was once rear ended by a person not paying attention and my car was completely pushed into the car in front of me. I suffered some pretty major injuries and my passenger was unconscious and covered in blood. I realize leaving space isn't exactly rational, but it doesn't really impact anyone, so I do it. But, I'm always ready to go when the light turns green amd make up for the distance.

It impacts the people behind you who are trying to get into a left or right turn lane, though. If there are five cars who each leave a car length or two between them, there are cars behind them who could otherwise move but are stuck.

[Anonymous]

They train this in the CIA so you are not boxed in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They train this in the CIA so you are not boxed in.

OP here. Right, I understand the above and do so myself. I'm talking about a much much bigger gap than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don’t want to get stuck in the intersection, blocking the box.

THIS! DON'T BLOCK THE BOX, people! I grew up in Philadelphia and there are "box" lines painted on every intersection and don't block the box signs.

Blocking the box is how traffic gets created - not by a person staying clear of an intersection until there's room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don’t want to get stuck in the intersection, blocking the box.

THIS! DON'T BLOCK THE BOX, people! I grew up in Philadelphia and there are "box" lines painted on every intersection and don't block the box signs.

Blocking the box is how traffic gets created - not by a person staying clear of an intersection until there's room.

Some cities have city ordinance that bans being in the intersection when it turns red (Baltimore) and there was talk of MoCo doing it last year but I never heard it was passed.

One car is allowed in the intersection to wait and they have right of way before all other traffic when their light turns red.
https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2010/transportation/title-21/subtitle-4/21-402/