Ask questions here without starting a new thread 2022 part 218057

Originally Posted by Byrdibyrd
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Originally Posted by WMorse
Godzilla swimming in Kowloon Bay?

Oh please, oh please. The Godzilla fan in me would be so over the moon.

Originally Posted by Bronte
I might be off in terms of recollection of how many seconds but there is some sort of count they make you do in school on the driving test. I took mine in 1992 so I don't recall entirely.

Originally Posted by EbayMafia
I always thought it is odd how long it takes a line of cars to move when a light turns green. Seems to me that everybody should start slowly moving forward at the same time. But we don't do that, we go one car at a time.

Originally Posted by Davethebrave
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Originally Posted by poka
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Originally Posted by Bronte
@poka

I understand if the traffic flows and it doesn't call for you to brake especially if you are merging from a lane that is ending. but if someone jerks into your lane and slams the brakes causing you to brake hard that is not what I consider normal.


Put in another context. In America driving school suggests a 3-5 second following rule. Essentially you count 3 to 5 long seconds between a solid construct like a sign or marker. If you cover that distance faster then you are tailgating and deserve to be in an accident. When someone cuts in front of you. The time is generally less than 2 seconds with imminent impact if you don't hit the brakes as soon as he tries to scoot over. That to me is not normal. But that's how Florida folks drive

I was referring the merging lanes when a lane closes. In that case if someone has a need to break - that means the person is riding too fast taking the traffic conditions into account.

If we are talking - non-closing lane situations - then yes agreed - although think 3-5 seconds rule will rarely be applied. Just too big a gap. At 60 MpH that would translate to a gap of 300 feet (if I got my math right)

If someone needs to break based on their driving, they should pull over in a rest stop and take a nap.

The reality of -inappropriate- zipper merging is the intentional avoidance of earlier efficient merging. For example, there is a clear and safe opportunity to merge at traffic flow and you choose not to in order to get an advantageous position.

Of course the expert opinions on zipper merge benefits analyze as though US traffic behavior is otherwise similar to Germany (it isn’t). In Germany, strict adherence to road rules is common. In the US… not so much. When merging (and the logical basis for zipper move advocates) the through lane has right of way. The merging lane should technically wait for the opportunity to enter, including during a zipper merge. This is why advocates cite “less lane speed differential” as a key benefit.

Reality in most jurisdictions is that the merging lane will tend to cut in aggressively at the merge point. This results in a BIGGER speed differential as evidenced by cars zooming past to aggressively assert the lane change at the merge point.

You can’t pick and choose attributes when assessing the right option.

As for following distance/time, Bronte is correct. Btw, most car/driver combos have -braking- distances plus reaction times that will be around 300ft. It means if the car ahead makes a swerve maneuver to avoid an object OR hits a fixed object, someone under the 3 second following rule will not be able to safely respond.

Originally Posted by Davethebrave
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Originally Posted by EbayMafia
I always thought it is odd how long it takes a line of cars to move when a light turns green. Seems to me that everybody should start slowly moving forward at the same time. But we don't do that, we go one car at a time.

If everyone looked at the same reference point (the light) you’d get something closer to this, though a delay is expected (compounded by reaction time).

First, many drivers pay attention solely to the bumper / car ahead as a cue, if paying attention at all. This jacks everything up of course.

Second, each driver has a reaction delay. The first in line to the signal change. All other drivers (ideally seeing the signal cue to verify) have to react both to the signal change but also the response of the vehicle in front. So even in a near ideal state, there is a compounding reaction time issue as drivers look to verify they can move forward.

The ideal state (but not practical due to uneven skill / reality) is what you see (more/less) in racing where everyone mostly responds to the same cue. They have the benefit of virtually identical skill and reaction times (and 100% attention). They pretty much will zoom ahead in tandem, depending on how tight the grouping is. So it is possible… maybe it happens more frequently in Monaco?