Leaving a long gap at traffic lights

[Anonymous]

I'll qualify this by saying I'm in the suburbs. I've noticed that many people here tend to leave a long gap between them and the car ahead of them at a traffic light. Like, two car lengths. What gives?

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

People checking phone/text. Not paying attention.

[Anonymous]

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!!”?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I've wondered this too. I don't see it in DC much, but definitely see it in MoCo--always drivers w/MD plates.

[Anonymous]

I don't do this but unless the person is keeping you from moving up to a space you need to be in who cares?

Most drivers in this area do the opposite and it is worse - they pull into a space where they don't belong and can't get out - just because there is space in front of your car doesn't mean it needs to be occupied.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure OP, seems to be a "thing" here and I don't know why.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Not paying attention. I don't fully trust my brakes even after multiple repairs.

[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!

Didn't read the entire article, but from what I did read, this doesn't decrease chances of making it through the light and may even be safer: https://phys.org/news/2017-11-buffer-bumper-contradicts-traffic-tailgating.html

[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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Also in countries where there are a lot of older vehicles, it makes sense to leave enough space in front of you so you can get out from behind a broken down vehicle. But I don't see how that applies in the NOVA suburbs when most of the cars are under 10 years old.