View Full Version
:
2 Second Rule
Berzerker
01-28-2009, 09:08 AM
No, I don't mean the amount of time you have after dropping your favorite slice of Pizza on the ground. I mean the amount of time and distance between you and the car in front of you. The proverbial rule of thumb is 2 seconds. Now in today's hustle and bustle society I've notice a very prominent decrease in the amount of time you actually see the rule in use. Not only that but if you try to use the rule yourself you get a very annoying side effect.
As I was driving home from my shop yesterday the conditions were shitty to say the least. It was foggy and rain was coming down in places and just generally a shitty Vancouver day on the roads. Traffic, however, was flowing at a very good pace of 115-120km/hr in the "fast lane". I was giving myself between 1 and 2 seconds distance from the car in front of me. What did I notice? People take that as an invitation to squeeze their car in that safe spot you have created for yourself. When I say squeeze its not really squeeze because at those speeds 2 seconds leaves alot of distance from the car in front of you.
However, every :)time someone "invades" that space you have created for yourself your space shrinks, forcing you to ease off and once again create the distance from the car that just came into your lane. This happened again and again. I went into the slow lane to test this and again every time I created a 2 second safety zone someone would change lanes in front me and shrink my space.
I began to take note of the average time and distance between cars on the highway and it was shocking. Take a look next time your driving along Hwy1. There were cars sometimes 5 in a row with less than a car length distance between them. Are they going to get were they are going any faster by tailgating in shitty weather on the highway? Leaving 2 seconds or even 1 full second for that matter between cars on the highway allows for much safer driving practices. From leaving enough space for that poor merger to join the flow of traffic to having enough time to react to a situation on the road. So for everyone on the highway please allow yourself, and the others on the road a safe driving distance on the highway.
Sorry for the long post I just want everyone to be careful out there for yours, and my sake.
Berz out.
Mugen EvOlutioN
01-28-2009, 09:30 AM
welcome to vancouver where ppl have no road sense thinking they got 6 pot brembos with racing compounds that can stop in a blink of an eye
InvisibleSoul
01-28-2009, 10:33 AM
About people always cutting into your 2 second gap... that's completely standard, and it would not be logical to think that it shouldn't happen.
If you have a 2 second gap going at 120km/h, that means you have 67m of space between you and the car in front. That's like 2/3 of a city block... which is HUGE.
I mean... obviously if someone wants to change lanes, they'll take that. What do you expect them to do, wait for a gap that's at least 100m wide before they change lanes?
kc1337
01-28-2009, 11:02 AM
Touch their rear bumper, secure you spot! Speed up and slow down accordingly to the driver beside you.
!Yaminashi
01-28-2009, 11:02 AM
Are they going to get were they are going any faster by tailgating in shitty weather on the highway?
Speaking of this, I find it funny when some asshole tailgates me, then decides to go around me only to get slowed down even more by someone else ahead of me or in another lane
I totally see where you're coming from, and people wonder why they get into accidents
Raid3n
01-28-2009, 11:06 AM
About people always cutting into your 2 second gap... that's completely standard, and it would not be logical to think that it shouldn't happen.
If you have a 2 second gap going at 120km/h, that means you have 67m of space between you and the car in front. That's like 2/3 of a city block... which is HUGE.
I mean... obviously if someone wants to change lanes, they'll take that. What do you expect them to do, wait for a gap that's at least 100m wide before they change lanes?
you do realize the faster you are going, the more space you need to stop right? would you rather be following on someones ass at 120kph and have to stop without hitting them if they did an emergency stop?
marc0lishuz
01-28-2009, 11:43 AM
Isn't it supposed to be a 5-second gap?
danny_d19
01-28-2009, 11:45 AM
No
woozzle
01-28-2009, 11:46 AM
It's supposed to be whatever gap you think is safe...holy unless you're an N driver, 2 seconds, 3 seconds...drive with your instincts
Nightwalker
01-28-2009, 12:49 PM
It's supposed to be whatever gap you think is safe...holy unless you're an N driver, 2 seconds, 3 seconds...drive with your instincts
*KAPLOWWWW, CRASSHHH*
InvisibleSoul
01-28-2009, 12:52 PM
you do realize the faster you are going, the more space you need to stop right? would you rather be following on someones ass at 120kph and have to stop without hitting them if they did an emergency stop?
Really? Damn... man, I guess all that university physics I took went to waste. :rolleyes:
You're not understanding my point. My point is if you are leaving a 2 second gap, it should be fully understandable that people will change lanes into that gap - AT WHICH POINT, yes, you would then need to slow down to increase the gap again.
Its naive to think that it's abnormal for people to change lanes into your 2 second gap.
tool001
01-28-2009, 01:06 PM
yeh, people run red, dont stop when they are suppose to,, whats new,
i like to follow the 'common sense' rule, rather than the 2 second rule.
unfortunately some people have none.
Alphamale
01-28-2009, 01:36 PM
I seriously have no idea wtf a 2 second rule is. Other than the principle, of course. How the fuck are you supposed to do rocket science calculations when you're supposed to be concentrating on driving?
woozzle
01-28-2009, 01:41 PM
BTW going at 120km/h in shit conditions is not the best idea either...that along with following someone with only 1-2 seconds gap
Raid3n
01-28-2009, 01:51 PM
Really? Damn... man, I guess all that university physics I took went to waste. :rolleyes:
You're not understanding my point. My point is if you are leaving a 2 second gap, it should be fully understandable that people will change lanes into that gap - AT WHICH POINT, yes, you would then need to slow down to increase the gap again.
Its naive to think that it's abnormal for people to change lanes into your 2 second gap.
so you're condoning someone moving into my braking zone because it's convenient for them? i'm not saying its abnormal, it happens all the time, i just think its an asshole move.
Konvict
01-28-2009, 01:52 PM
take the skytrain...that wont get cut off :)
91civicZC
01-28-2009, 01:59 PM
Um....If you cant count to "2" while driving, you really shouldn’t be behind the wheel.:haha:
If you are serious and dont know what it is, here you go: You pick an object (a telephone pole for eg.) and once the car in front of you passes it, you should be able to count out 2 seconds before you pass the same object.
Alphamale
01-28-2009, 02:23 PM
^Sorry, I failed physics. I still don't get it.
driver in front passes a street sign -> 1..................2...............> you pass the street sign
asian_speedster
01-28-2009, 03:19 PM
Speaking of this, I find it funny when some asshole tailgates me, then decides to go around me only to get slowed down even more by someone else ahead of me or in another lane
I love it when this happends
Chopstick
01-28-2009, 03:40 PM
dude, 604 soccer mom style man! q (-__-) p
show Chopstick 1 bitch in a suv that can keep more than .5m distance to the car in front of her, and also able to not give the driver behind her a seizure with her brake lights, and i will walk naked in public
and like Draft said, Chopstick loses many brain cells everytime some1 next to Chopstick decides to cut him off hoping they can go faster in the other lane
WHY CANT THE FUCK PPL THINK AHEAD A LIL BIT AND SEE WHICH LANE IS ACTUALLY MOVING FASTER BEFORE ACTUALLY PULLING SOME SHIT OUTTA THEIR ASSES
90% of fucking idiots out there that pull that stunt ends up slower than the lane they were in, and 98% of them have no fucking guts - if u gonna cut off 2 ppl in 3 seconds, why slow down and ignore ppl giving you the finger? might as well finish what u start, and keep cutting off ppl so u can actually be somewhere, and leave the people u cut off behind, SO THEY DON'T PUNCH THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF YOU when u are at a stoplight next to them
freaking goofs that cant make up their minds when driving PLAY SOME FUCKING GTA4 FOR DRIVING PRACTICE PLZ
sigh~ (>__<)
Chopstick
01-28-2009, 03:51 PM
I still don't get it
Alphamale --> (o__x )Q=(o__o )o *smak*
Alphamale --> (x__o) Q(-__- )o
Alphamale --> (x__x )Q=(>__< )o *pewpewpow*
InvisibleSoul
01-28-2009, 04:14 PM
so you're condoning someone moving into my braking zone because it's convenient for them? i'm not saying its abnormal, it happens all the time, i just think its an asshole move.
I'm not really saying I condone it, but I'm saying this is just totally standard and I don't think it's something to be upset over. As long as the person gives ample warning of his lane change and doesn't cut over right in front of your bumper, that's all you can ask for.
By your logic, there needs to be at least a 4 second gap (or 133 meters) between your car and a car in front to be adequate for someone to change into your lane, so that you wouldn't need to brake.
First of all, would you be leaving a 4 second gap? If no, then how is that person supposed to change into your lane? What if there is no 4 second gap between any cars in your lane for miles? How is that person supposed to change lanes?
Eclypz
01-28-2009, 05:34 PM
lol...you guys make it sound like you're all perfect drivers :p
At any point during my "driving career", I'm sure I've done all of the mentioned in this thread :D
If it weren't for all the bad drivers out there, there wouldn't be good drivers ;)
death_blossom
01-28-2009, 05:53 PM
this is a great thread/discussion and kudos to Berzerker for always maintaining the rule. I also try to follow it myself, allow 1-2sec of buffer.
Raid3n
01-28-2009, 05:58 PM
IS: i have no problem when they signal, i let off the gas to let them in. and by signal, i mean like at least 2-3 blinks before moving.
what happens though, is you get some smartass that thinks hes going to move on up if hes in your lane, and twitches his blinker on for a a split second or not at all, and darts into your lane... thats what i have a problem with.
maybe i dont drive that often on highways, but even with sick brakes and new tires i still keep a 5 second distance in the rain and fog for obvious reasons, which is what icbc recommends. (big run on sentence)
i guess the only solution to the problem of fitting into your space is either ignore it and relax or speed up a touch when someone's looking like they want to merge in.
fyi
2 secs is on a dry sunny road in the city
3 secs is on a wet road in city or dry highway
4 secs is on a wet highway
5 secs when visibility is piss poor on hwy
InvisibleSoul
01-28-2009, 10:03 PM
IS: i have no problem when they signal, i let off the gas to let them in. and by signal, i mean like at least 2-3 blinks before moving.
what happens though, is you get some smartass that thinks hes going to move on up if hes in your lane, and twitches his blinker on for a a split second or not at all, and darts into your lane... thats what i have a problem with.
Well, then that's a completely different argument...
77civic1200
01-28-2009, 11:18 PM
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7545/img2741hv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/)
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/780/img2742xz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/w480.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/)
Thats you right? and you're going to come on here and preach the rules of the road?
impactX
01-29-2009, 12:19 AM
Looks like a nice neighborhood... where is this?
greendb7
01-29-2009, 12:26 AM
^^^
There IS a difference in safety regarding going 100+ while on somebody's ass and parking on somebody's ass, and I'm sure they know each other so it wouldn't be a problem anyway since that is a one way road (if I assume correctly)
Leung_Dog
01-29-2009, 02:47 AM
that pic is harrison hot springs i think
LowTEC
01-29-2009, 04:21 AM
[/URL]http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7545/img2741hv8.jpg (http://%5BURL=http://imageshack.us%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7545/img2741hv8.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D%20%5BURL=http://g.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img140.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/w640.png%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D) http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/w640.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img140/img2741hv8.jpg/1/)
[URL="http://imageshack.us"]http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/780/img2742xz1.jpg (http://%5BURL=http://imageshack.us%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img141.imageshack.us/img141/780/img2742xz1.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D%20%5BURL=http://g.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img141.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/w480.png%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D) http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/w480.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img141/img2742xz1.jpg/1/)
Thats you right? and you're going to come on here and preach the rules of the road?
:IDL
77civic1200
01-29-2009, 05:48 AM
^^^
There IS a difference in safety regarding going 100+ while on somebody's ass and parking on somebody's ass, and I'm sure they know each other so it wouldn't be a problem anyway since that is a one way road (if I assume correctly)
Ah, sorry my mistake, I didn't know we could pick and choose what rules we wanted to follow :rolleyes:
Berzerker
01-29-2009, 07:10 AM
That pic was at Harrison and I had to wait 2 hours for that sonofabitch to leave. I called the tow truck but the driver said the car was to low to tow. Who the fuck puts green rimz on the their car anyways.
Oh and way to come into a thread with completely useless bullshit that has absolutely no relevance to the topic at hand. MY CAR WAS PARKED LEGALLY!!! Perhaps you should have directed that picture to the "you park like an asshole" thread where it would have been much more appreciated.
Back on topic. I too hate the idiot that is driving behind you, as you have your safe buffer zone, decided to mash that automatic. gear down, speed past, then infect your safe zone only to be stuck behind the same car you were Except now with no time to stop in event of an emergency and now making it more difficult for YOU to stop!
Thanks for keeping this discussion mostly clean folks!
Berz out.
^worst reply in this thread.
http://images.yuku.com/image/gif/2183644136ae7bff73de556cbfe7689ffd5845f3.gif
Chuck Norris
01-29-2009, 09:24 AM
For the most part, if people kept in the right lane this would be less of an issue because cars in the right lane are going slower and at a more constant speed.
jimzilla
01-29-2009, 11:52 AM
when you see a line of cars tailgating eachother bumper to bumper on the #1, it shows that drafting really works!
lol
racerman88
01-29-2009, 05:41 PM
happens all the time
77civic1200
01-29-2009, 06:03 PM
That pic was at Harrison and I had to wait 2 hours for that sonofabitch to leave. I called the tow truck but the driver said the car was to low to tow. Who the fuck puts green rimz on the their car anyways.
Berz out.
Don't feed me that bullshit, you and your buddy there showed up together and parked together. I watched you do it. I have even posted that pic on here before and you laughed about it.
http://www.revscene.net/forums/pics-frome-meet-t381193p3.html
"LAWL There were no spots so we improvised"
alex.w *//
01-30-2009, 08:27 AM
Don't feed me that bullshit, you and your buddy there showed up together and parked together. I watched you do it. I have even posted that pic on here before and you laughed about it.
http://www.revscene.net/forums/pics-frome-meet-t381193p3.html
"LAWL There were no spots so we improvised"
owned! :bowrofl:
Berzerker
01-30-2009, 08:34 AM
Don't feed me that bullshit, you and your buddy there showed up together and parked together. I watched you do it. I have even posted that pic on here before and you laughed about it.
http://www.revscene.net/forums/pics-frome-meet-t381193p3.html
"LAWL There were no spots so we improvised"
Apparently you don't understand the concept of sarcasm or of staying on topic. You think I don't remember what I posted? Like I said post it up in the You Park Like An Asshole thread and laugh about it there. What do you think of people driving 5 deep with less than a car length between them on the highway? See that's the topic!!!
Oh and you must REALLY have small testicles to be rehashing a pic from 4 years ago did it bother you THAT much? Do you lose sleep thinking about that damn ricer and the poor parking job? I bet you have nightmares and the monster is painted candy green don't you? THEY ARE GIVING THE IMPORT COMMUNITY A BAD IMAGE WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! I guess you didn't quite get the reaction you wanted the first time you posted it up so why not try again right!!! Thanks for the pic though I added it to my library.
Berz out.
trduhs
02-01-2009, 12:14 AM
just admit it berz you got OWNED
kyoshi
02-01-2009, 12:27 PM
totally agree with the op.
that's what i was taught when i was first learning how to drive.
City limits was 2 seconds, and highway limits was 3 seconds.
Just pick out an object, say lamp post and count to see how long it would take to get to your bumper.
It does pretty much leave a narrow space for someone to creep in, but its the guys that rush in, no shoulder check, no blinkers, and almost sideswipes you that pisses me off
ws6ta
02-02-2009, 11:07 AM
shit I thought it was .2 seconds no wonder everyone always fingers me on the road :(
ws6ta
02-02-2009, 11:09 AM
That pic was at Harrison and I had to wait 2 hours for that sonofabitch to leave. I called the tow truck but the driver said the car was to low to tow. Who the fuck puts green rimz on the their car anyways.
Oh and way to come into a thread with completely useless bullshit that has absolutely no relevance to the topic at hand. MY CAR WAS PARKED LEGALLY!!! Perhaps you should have directed that picture to the "you park like an asshole" thread where it would have been much more appreciated.
Back on topic. I too hate the idiot that is driving behind you, as you have your safe buffer zone, decided to mash that automatic. gear down, speed past, then infect your safe zone only to be stuck behind the same car you were Except now with no time to stop in event of an emergency and now making it more difficult for YOU to stop!
Thanks for keeping this discussion mostly clean folks!
Berz out.
I would have smashed his window, put his car in neutral rolled it to the middle of the road and taken my car out. i can't believe you waited 2 hours!
hotjoint
02-02-2009, 11:13 AM
huh..
:lol
freakshow
02-02-2009, 12:03 PM
I would have smashed his window, put his car in neutral rolled it to the middle of the road and taken my car out. i can't believe you waited 2 hours!
That's cause he didn't, and he's making up stories to save face.
Berz Owned.
edit: better stay on topic, or berzy is gonna go crazy again.. The only rule I use is common sense.
hal0g0dv2
02-02-2009, 07:32 PM
Ah, sorry my mistake, I didn't know we could pick and choose what rules we wanted to follow :rolleyes:
not his car man, gtfo. he is talking about 2 second rule, not how to park a car
slammer111
02-03-2009, 01:47 AM
What's so hard about applying the 2sec rule?
And for those who don't know what it is, did you not take driving lessons or read the book?
Also, who cares if someone decides to cut into the 2s gap you made with the car in front of you? Are you racing or something?
Has nobody heard of "defensive driving"? Someone cuts into your gap? You slow down and increase your distance again. Someone tries to force a merge into you, perhaps out of sequence? You let the guy in. Does the world explode if you don't?
Some the replies in this thread seriously scare me. Just think. Some of you may inadvertantly be part of the problem on our roads today.
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.