Posted by Matt Wilson [108.162.221.125] on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 17:59:01 :
In Reply to: Verification helpful ot posted by Bob in N.GA [172.68.65.9] on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at 09:09:32 :
I can't answer the question about big rig braking distances, but I can say that I make every effort to stay pretty far behind any vehicle. Having been in one or two wrecks, years ago, which were at least partly due to my following somewhat closely, I learned my lesson. I try to give plenty of clearance in case the unexpected happens. What is plenty of clearance? Well, I try to give around three car lengths at slower speeds and 5 or 6 car lengths (or more) at higher speeds. If I'm at highway speeds, it may be more than that. You never know when the guy in front of you may slam on his brakes and if it happens when your mind is wandering, or when you are looking away, you will likely end up rear-ending him. There's no good reason to follow anyone too closely. You gain basically nothing from it. Once in a while, you might be able to squeeze through a traffic light before it turns red, but that's not often, and it's not worth it. Some people do it to keep others from slipping in between them and the car ahead of them, but that's not a very good excuse either.
Follow Ups: