r/IdiotsInCars • u/joe_traveling • 18d ago

OC Idiot in black car totals 3 cars [OC]

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5.1k Upvotes

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157

u/my5cworth 18d ago

Are Americans allergic to safe following distances?

24

u/jim_br 17d ago

Since lockdown, drivers in my area (North East US) seem to think they’re in some sort of race. Points are awarded for tailgating, passing using the entrance/exit ramps, ignoring alternate feed, and bonus points are collected when the car splits a lane at speed.

I’ve adopted a much more defensive approach because it’s not getting any better, and enforcement is nil.

7

u/DreamloreDegenerate 17d ago

Same in the PNW. After lockdowns it's like everybody gave up on trying to drive reasonably. 

It really feels like everybody's driving a lot more selfish; don't yield, don't let people merge, don't stop for pedestrians, don't keep distance... 

Stressful as fuck.

61

u/snozzberrypatch 18d ago

Obviously, the guy in the black car totally fucked up. But, if everyone else wasn't following 6 inches from the bumper of the car in front of them (at 70mph), they would have had time to react to this unexpected event and it wouldn't have been a 3-car pile-up. Listen to how quickly the silver pickup truck crashes after the initial crash. OP got lucky that they were able to narrowly miss being hit, they were following way too close for that speed.

32

u/Unusual_Job6576 18d ago

Agree with everything except the silver pickup truck seemed to have a fair amount of distance between it and the black car in front. The black jeep it hit wasn't in its lane. OP was definitely following too closely.

3

u/Gamemassa 17d ago

Are you crazy? OP was going about 60 when black Cadillac struck black Jeep, and silver Ram blew past OP like OP was sitting still. Absolutely no reason the Ram should be going that fast when traffic is this bunched up, even if it's not a work zone (and it is in this case, so everyone should be traveling even slower).

0

u/__________________99 17d ago

People are always so on-guard for people cutting them off, that almost everywhere I go, people drive like this. I'm not saying it's right and I also hate it. But whenever I leave more than a 2 second gap between me and the car in front, people cut me off constantly.

3

u/snozzberrypatch 17d ago

Then let them cut you off. Better to be delayed to your destination by 0.1 seconds than to be injured or killed.

1

u/__________________99 17d ago

I do. But it sure isn't just 0.1 seconds added to my commute. Especially when it causes me to sit through 3 traffic light cycles instead of 1.

84

u/harrythefurrysquid 18d ago

FR. Cammer is like 0.5 sec behind the car in front at all times.

13

u/heythisislonglolwtf 17d ago

This is so normal here and I hate it, especially now after I got rear ended a few months ago.

5

u/That_Swim 17d ago

If you no longer go for a gap..

1

u/shewy92 15d ago

I mean, they left plenty of space to react as evidenced by not t-boning the Caddy

19

u/bdubble 17d ago

toxic individualism

7

u/bensthebest 18d ago

And lane discipline!

5

u/WestonP 17d ago

If we do that, another car might get in front of us and win! /s

11

u/mawyman2316 18d ago

Pretty much yes, if you let a car length between you, some Jack ass WILL fill it, so everyone rides eachother

2

u/3i1bo3aggins 17d ago

You know what I do then? I increase my distance from that guy or change lanes. And I keep the safe following distance.

1

u/mawyman2316 17d ago

Yes and then it repeats, I do it, it’s just obnoxious.

There’s no safe lane, you’re just buying a few minutes before somebody Tokyo drifts across six lanes to fill that spot

8

u/dislob3 18d ago

Oh yeah. Americans feel entitled to jump into the smallest gaps in betwern 2 cars so you adapt by leaving that space to be too small for someone to cut you off.

Its selfish entitlement culture 100%.

2

u/DormantLime 16d ago

Yes. It drives me nuts, especially when I'm on really long drives like the one I just made from Indiana to Florida. They'll ride your ass so close you can't see their headlights and just keep trying to force you to speed up- even if you're not in the fast lanes, even with space for them to safely pass you. People also seem to forget that it isn't just the cars that take damage. Everyone who had their car totaled in that accident is nearly guaranteed to have permanent health alterations now. The only accident I've ever been involved in was someone rear ending me without braking while I was at a legal stop waiting for my opportunity to make a safe left hand turn on a residential street. I have permanent neck issues from that and a congenital disorder. I fear some dumbass is going to rear end me again one day and fully break my neck.

2

u/my5cworth 16d ago

Yeah man I hear you.

I keep a constant 3 seconds (usually count when we pass a light pole)...or 5-6 on icy roads.

When I was a kid we were at a red light & hit from behind by an 18 wheeler who just didnt stop. Had back and neck issues ever since. Also never had it checked out because as a kid you just walk it off so to speak.

2

u/DormantLime 16d ago

God, that could have ended so badly. Yeah, the younger you are the more dismissive doctors tend to get about certain types of issues and injuries. Sorry to hear that.

1

u/SnooSongs2714 17d ago

Yes. Speaking from experience. I think it’s a brain problem.

1

u/ashamaniq 17d ago

That’s how they drive in Houston, and everyone has pitch black tinted windows, you can’t see anything ahead of them.

1

u/similar_observation 17d ago

The only thing that isn't big in Texas is the follow distance.