1) I doubt he was that close (it just seemed like it was close) - he was
probably more like 20 or 30 feet away - distances can be deceiving....
2) Sometimes you can't help but get caught in a situation like that.
Typical example is 2 or 3 lanes necking down into one lane - if you are in
heavy traffic, you cannot maintain a 2-3 second gap because someone WILL cut
you off. As often happens when traffic is necking down, you have people
rushing in to cut someone off, then they have to hit the brakes to keep from
hitting the car in front of them (traffic necking down is always slowing
up).
Lately, I've been in this situation a coupla times where the local freeway
is under construction - I've had a number of people cut me off then
immediately slam on the brakes. Haven't hit anyone yet, but I can tell you
that rear-wheel ABS on a '92 Dak does NOT work when the bed is empty - I
smoked my rear tires several times under max braking. Since then, I've
found an alternate route to work, takes an xtra 5 minutes, but no idiots
cutting me off......
'92 Dak CC 2wd 318 3.55
'84 GoldWing Interstate
----- Original Message -----
From: David Henry <dhenry@advdata.net>
To: 'DML' <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 10:46 PM
Subject: DML: Re: RE: Dak Damage!! Ford Expedition!
> So why were you so close?
>
> Even if you maintained the 2-3 second gap they advertise nowadays, that's
> 132 - 198 feet. When I learned to drive it was a 3-4 second gap which
> translates into 198 - 264 feet. I guess people must be better drivers
> nowadays.
>
> BTW, your 10 ft estimate translates into a .15second buffer zone. I don't
> know many people that quick.
>
> Notes: I don't follow my own advice much better than anyone else. Almost
> all drivers follow way too close. That's generally why there are so many
> accidents. If someone really does apply there brakes and stop quickly,
the
> person behind them will almost always hit them (It's just simple physics).
>
> David Henry '94 CC 4x4 318 5Spd in MI
>
> > Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 12:38:17 -0500
> > From: boydmcguire@mindspring.com
> > Subject: DML: Re: RE: Dak Damage!! Ford Expedition!
> >
> > Yeah, I cant believe I have to pay for this. The lady in the expedition
> > slammed her brakes b/c she saw a turtle in the road. We were going the
> speed
> > limit(45 mph) and I was a good 7 to 10 feet behind her..but I had a
> delayed
> > reaction..and I only hit her @ 13 or so mph. Only fender damage..but
> STILL!
> > Blake
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