4 ms·

For braking; as a following car, you're technically following too close if you can't come to a complete stop if the car in front of you does. Every car is capa

For braking; as a following car, you're technically following too close if you can't come to a complete stop if the car in front of you does. Every car is capable of doing this; every car is one transmission / differential / electric motor lockup away from stopping its drive wheels immediately. In an internal combustion engine there are a few other possibilities including a thrown piston or rod, a significant lack of oil

dataflow 5y ago
> For braking; as a following car, you're technically following too close if you can't come to a complete stop if the car in front of you does. Sure, and have you heard of brake checks? They're (very) illegal despite what you said for a reason. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_check Brake testing and tailgating are examples of aggressive driving, and both may be punishable as vehicular assault, careless or reckless driving, or vehicular homicide if death occurs.
- frumper 5y ago
  You have to be able to stop because they may stop for reasons other than illegal brake checking.
  - dataflow 5y ago
    Sure, I agree. Nobody said you don't need to be able to stop.
    - aembleton 5y ago
      Ideally though you should be able to stop before hitting the car in front.
      - dataflow 5y ago
        Yeah, ideally you would.
serf 5y ago
>Every car is capable of doing this; every car is one transmission / differential / electric motor lockup away from stopping its drive wheels immediately. yeah, but these risks of mechanical lockup are usually better mitigated against because they're an understood risk. Driveshaft lockups can occur, generally because an appliance on either side of them failed -- certain manufacturers mitigate this by very simply using mechanisms that are unlikely to ever break, and some manufacturers go an extra step and use BreakBolt style fasteners that will destroy themselves in the event of a lockup that torques them harshly. An engine seize event doesn't stall or stop a vehicle that uses a CVT (most low-end 'automatic' cars on the market), it just creates additional engine braking pressure -- and before CVTs were in common use we used traditional torque converter automatics that failed similarly.. this is one of the major features of a hydro-mechanical linkage element like a torque converter. Many CV axle designs now incorporate straps to limit movement during a failure, to prevent wheel lock or steering lock. New style manuals can automatically engage the clutch during an engine seize event, limiting the physical reaction from the car during the event. Shit still happens, wheel locks are uncommon but they still exist; but I think it's safe to say that people are waiting to hear what Tesla's engineering answer will be to the whole 'suddenly-stopped-car' problem.

dataflow 5y ago

> For braking; as a following car, you're technically following too close if you can't come to a complete stop if the car in front of you does. Sure, and have you heard of brake checks? They're (very) illegal despite what you said for a reason. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_check Brake testing and tailgating are examples of aggressive driving, and both may be punishable as vehicular assault, careless or reckless driving, or vehicular homicide if death occurs.

frumper 5y ago
You have to be able to stop because they may stop for reasons other than illegal brake checking.
- dataflow 5y ago
  Sure, I agree. Nobody said you don't need to be able to stop.
  - aembleton 5y ago
    Ideally though you should be able to stop before hitting the car in front.
    - dataflow 5y ago
      Yeah, ideally you would.

serf 5y ago

>Every car is capable of doing this; every car is one transmission / differential / electric motor lockup away from stopping its drive wheels immediately. yeah, but these risks of mechanical lockup are usually better mitigated against because they're an understood risk. Driveshaft lockups can occur, generally because an appliance on either side of them failed -- certain manufacturers mitigate this by very simply using mechanisms that are unlikely to ever break, and some manufacturers go an extra step and use BreakBolt style fasteners that will destroy themselves in the event of a lockup that torques them harshly. An engine seize event doesn't stall or stop a vehicle that uses a CVT (most low-end 'automatic' cars on the market), it just creates additional engine braking pressure -- and before CVTs were in common use we used traditional torque converter automatics that failed similarly.. this is one of the major features of a hydro-mechanical linkage element like a torque converter. Many CV axle designs now incorporate straps to limit movement during a failure, to prevent wheel lock or steering lock. New style manuals can automatically engage the clutch during an engine seize event, limiting the physical reaction from the car during the event. Shit still happens, wheel locks are uncommon but they still exist; but I think it's safe to say that people are waiting to hear what Tesla's engineering answer will be to the whole 'suddenly-stopped-car' problem.