Following too close

A car-length-and-a-half is 40-50 feet??
Is that anything like this:
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is 8 inches?

Sheesh! No wonder us women have such a hard time learning to back a 53' trailer!

 

Why come on here and ask an opinion if you're going to get sarcastic when you notice that the majority of drivers don't agree with your stance? I agree with the others in that you were following too close. It's easier to slow down until there comes a time when you NEED to pass. Just take the right foot off of the accelerator for just a second...and you'll see how easy it is to avoid this in the future.

 

More space is insurance - good stuff. You need more in bad weather.

 

That is pretty close. Don't know what the traffic slow or conditions were, but do the math. 80k lbs will not stop as quickly as the car you were following if something were to happen. For instance a deer runs into the roadway, another car goes out of control and makes everyone get on the binders etc. Those are judgement calls for me, if I see a guy or gal sneak up on someones back door one time then re adjust I don't stop them. If they get up on the person's butt and stay there showing them their grille, then I stop and have a chat. Following too close starts more than just accidents. It's usually the start of a road rage incident. Someone flips the other person the bird and then it's on like donkey kong.

I had a pickup Saturday afternoon fly up behind me on a rural route (2 way road) then ride my arse for over a mile trying to pass, but too much traffic the other way. Then when he gets to pass, he shoots me the bird. Unfortunately for him, he was a pizza delivery guy with the magnet mount advertising which pizza joint he worked for. I go back to work tomorrow, and they open at 11 am. So I'll be there waiting on him to show up so I can give him his coupon. Sucks when you pull up beside me and I get a good look at you as you shoot me the bird because I was driving the speed limit. I can't wait to hear his reason he tells the judge.

 

Call and get his name, at lunch time order a pizza and request that driver...You get a pizza, he gets a ticket and you can knock out 2 birds with one stone, or call in this case!

 

Nah, all I had to do was run the tag and it was his personal vehicle. His license picture popped up and that was the same guy. Not his first ticket, and I doubt will be his last.

 

You're right! But it's probably more like every other vehicle.

 

Following too closely while driving a 4-wheeler is dangerous. Following too closely while driving a big rig is STOOPID and is without question the most unprofessional thing I see drivers do!!!!!! To me it shows a complete disregard for human life and a total lack of understanding of the possible consequences,

 

Consequences, eh?

Drivers do that up in Massachussetts all the time. Get right up on the bumper of a four-wheeler, and yeah, its majorly stupid.

I saw the consequences one day - big truck ran up on top of a 4-wheeler. A Honda Element, I think. It was completely underneath the tractor, and about 3 feet high.

 

If you were following this formula which is law for a commercial vehicle, you wouldn't have gotten a ticket:

Following distance should be 1 second for every 10 feet of your vehicle length. Add 1 second if your going over 40mph.

Example: Your vehicle is 50 foot long and your traveling at 55 mph. Following distance should be 6 seconds.

No offense, but as other have stated, maybe you need a career change.