3 ms·

By definition, a safe following distance means you can brake in time if the car in front effectively turned into a giant concrete wall (e.g., if they swerved ri

By definition, a safe following distance means you can brake in time if the car in front effectively turned into a giant concrete wall (e.g., if they swerved right in front of, or crashed into, a large immobile obstruction). If the driver in front "braked too aggressively", then you are not at a safe following distance, sorry. The safe following distance is much longer than most drivers realize.

gnicholas 3y ago
In many places, it is impossible to maintain this follow distance. If you leave this distance when driving on the freeway in California, for example, cars will repeatedly cut you off, shrinking your follow distance. It is literally not possible to maintain what you describe.
- Ferret7446 3y ago
  That is not what "impossible" means. It is perfectly possible to maintain this distance, which is based on your speed. You just have to be comfortable with getting cut off or slowing down. (Note that I am not dictating what you should be doing, I am simply commenting that 1. if you maintain a safe follow distance, sudden braking isn't an issue 2. if sudden braking is an issue, it is your fault 3. it is perfectly possible to maintain safe follow distance, even if it irritates you.
  - gnicholas 3y ago
    If there is a regular amount of traffic, it is actually impossible. I've tried. You can achieve it instantaneously, but you cannot maintain it because you will keep getting cut off. It is also dangerous — especially for you — because it causes a lot of merges to happen right in front of you. Cars will end up passing you on both sides, and some fraction of them will try to then cut you off. If this happens from both sides, you're in big trouble. Also, from a legal perspective, you are incorrect that if you rear-end someone, you are at fault (IAAL).

3 ms·

By definition, a safe following distance means you can brake in time if the car in front effectively turned into a giant concrete wall (e.g., if they swerved ri

by Ferret7446 3y ago

gnicholas 3y ago
In many places, it is impossible to maintain this follow distance. If you leave this distance when driving on the freeway in California, for example, cars will repeatedly cut you off, shrinking your follow distance. It is literally not possible to maintain what you describe.
- Ferret7446 3y ago
  That is not what "impossible" means. It is perfectly possible to maintain this distance, which is based on your speed. You just have to be comfortable with getting cut off or slowing down. (Note that I am not dictating what you should be doing, I am simply commenting that 1. if you maintain a safe follow distance, sudden braking isn't an issue 2. if sudden braking is an issue, it is your fault 3. it is perfectly possible to maintain safe follow distance, even if it irritates you.
  - gnicholas 3y ago
    If there is a regular amount of traffic, it is actually impossible. I've tried. You can achieve it instantaneously, but you cannot maintain it because you will keep getting cut off. It is also dangerous — especially for you — because it causes a lot of merges to happen right in front of you. Cars will end up passing you on both sides, and some fraction of them will try to then cut you off. If this happens from both sides, you're in big trouble. Also, from a legal perspective, you are incorrect that if you rear-end someone, you are at fault (IAAL).