this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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Cars - For Car Enthusiasts
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I have replaced a car lengths or seconds guidance with looking as far as I can ahead to predict what the cars near me will be doing on the next 30 seconds or so. If I see brake lights half a mile ahead, that means the car inb front of me will probably be slowing down in about 30 seconds. So I take my foot off the accelerator and cover (but don't press) my brake pedal.
Traffic on the interstate it really pretty predictable IF you spend a significant amount of time looking far ahead instead of only at the far in front of you. Obviously keep watching the car on front of you, but not ONLY that.
This is a good practice in addition to not tailgating, but it falls apart in cases where you're behind an ugly SUV that blocks your view of what's ahead :(
IMO that just means you aren’t following back enough. In my daily commute, my only braking is before the highway, after the highway, or when somebody in front absolutely slams it or a wreck happens. Otherwise, I never have to brake even when someone in front of me does and I have no time to anticipate that brake. I just let off the accelerator and slowly roll up closer to them and then let them speed up ahead of me
I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about tailgating. I'm following at a reasonable distance given the traffic. I just can't see past the giant SUV because it's too tall. If I'm behind a sedan in the same areas, it's no problem at all.
If you're suggesting that I'm following too close until I can see the sedan in front of the giant SUV...I think I'd be maintaining a 1/4 mile following distance.
In general, I do agree with the principle of looking far ahead so you're ready to react.
I will say, I am speaking from experience of driving in very, very hilly, curvy hills of Tennessee. Sometimes I forget not everywhere is like that, and there will often be very little elevation changes. I guess I’m not used to that, I suppose, my bad
Fair enough! In turn, I'm speaking from experience of driving mostly in the Minneapolis area. The highways are probably a bit more constricted than what you're used to.
I have an easier time picturing what you're saying when I think about driving 50-200 miles away from the city. More hills, more curves, better visibility.
Oh yeah, Minneapolis is much more “on rails” than the roads here. Even our interstate highways sometimes are pretty old and dry on the asphalt side. I’ve had plenty of times where I’ve seen a lane closed with police around it to fill in a pothole or other road damage out in a very rural area
Yeah, they teach you this when you take CDL training since you take so long to stop in a semi. That and checking your damn mirrors all the time.
Know what lies ahead, know what's coming up behind/alongside. Great habits to keep even driving a normal car.