Keep a safe following distance - SERIOUSLY

Fuma

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2007
Messages
5,397
Reaction score
397
Location
Pretoria
So yesterday I was driving from Limpopo on narrow road and this old man driving a bakkie with a trailer overtook me. So I decided to keep distance from him because he was a little careless. So few seconds later, a couch just flew out of his trailer and landed few metres in front of me. It could have hit my windscreen had I kept up with him - and you never know what could have happened after that.

I tried to flash to indicate something to him and the bastard didn't realize it. May 2 kilometres or so he realized he lost his couch.
 
I try to, and ppl think its a gap for them to take and they pull in front of me.
 
I try to, and ppl think its a gap for them to take and they pull in front of me.

That particular excuse is used by EVERYBODY who likes to tailgate!

I travel from Umkomaas to Durban and back every day and I maintainat least a 3 second gap, and guess what...NOBODY forces their way in. If someone does slip in, I simply drop back slightly...still get to work at the same time, and my temper is just fine and my brakes aren't hot as hell from frantically braking all the time.
 
What an idiot.... people like that should lose their licences.

Its illegal to :

A: Not tie things down properly
B: Not travel 10% under the speed limit when towing something.
 
That particular excuse is used by EVERYBODY who likes to tailgate!

I travel from Umkomaas to Durban and back every day and I maintainat least a 3 second gap, and guess what...NOBODY forces their way in. If someone does slip in, I simply drop back slightly...still get to work at the same time, and my temper is just fine and my brakes aren't hot as hell from frantically braking all the time.

I dont tailgate, i still keep the distance. But I can assure you, that in joburg, if you leave a gap it will be taken.
All that happens is I slow down a bit, leave another safe distance, which inevitably gets filled with another chop who thinks that extra car ahead is going to make all the difference.
 
That particular excuse is used by EVERYBODY who likes to tailgate!

I travel from Umkomaas to Durban and back every day and I maintainat least a 3 second gap, and guess what...NOBODY forces their way in. If someone does slip in, I simply drop back slightly...still get to work at the same time, and my temper is just fine and my brakes aren't hot as hell from frantically braking all the time.

Man you obviously have never been driving in Jo'Burg :p happens every day to me I kid you not. And most of the time it's ok I don't mind letting people in because I would want the same for me if I needed to change lanes especially in busy traffic. But you can watch these idiots in your rear view approaching at speed in the lane on your left and even if you are the LAST car in the row on the right lane the f**ker will insist on driving right up the @rse of the next car on the left lane and then pushing in front of you.

It is just the arrogance that gets to me. Like I wish it could be someone I know personally so I can set them straight. Where do they come from??? Sometimes it can seem so daft I feel like I am on the Truman show :D
 
Yeah. N1 jhb/pta...leave correct following distance and 2 taxis and a citigolf will jam in there in <5 sec. :/
 
Yeah. N1 jhb/pta...leave correct following distance and 2 taxis and a citigolf will jam in there in <5 sec. :/

That's their stupidity. Have had enough close shaves in Midrand to lower my lifespan by 5 years. Now I try as far as possible to keep a good following distance, which also reduces the number of flying stones that hit my bonnet and windscreen. Occasionally some twit will come flying up to try and squeeze in and a bit of the old ego or arrogance makes me narrow the gap, but it's not nearly worth the risk. I'd rather cruise comfortably, not have to make sudden evasive moves and save fuel as well. Let the impatient idiots pass and allow natural selection to take care of the rest. If you rear-end someone because you didn't have enough room to avoid them when they braked, it's generally your fault.
 
yeah, there's definitely added risk tailgating someone transporting stuff that can fall off the back!! The other situation you should try to avoid is being in front of a very large truck. Is it worth overtaking them and landing up in front of them only to be squished by them if there's a pile up?
 
Man you obviously have never been driving in Jo'Burg :p happens every day to me I kid you not. And most of the time it's ok I don't mind letting people in because I would want the same for me if I needed to change lanes especially in busy traffic. But you can watch these idiots in your rear view approaching at speed in the lane on your left and even if you are the LAST car in the row on the right lane the f**ker will insist on driving right up the @rse of the next car on the left lane and then pushing in front of you.

It is just the arrogance that gets to me. Like I wish it could be someone I know personally so I can set them straight. Where do they come from??? Sometimes it can seem so daft I feel like I am on the Truman show :D

LOL, I thank god every day that I no longer live in Joburg!! :D :p

Imagine...driving to work...no tailgating, the Indian Ocean to my right listening to Michael Bolton, and just enjoying the fresh air.............working in Durbsnall definitely has its pro's!! ;)
 
I hope you didn't pay for that Michael Bolton cd.
 
That's their stupidity. Have had enough close shaves in Midrand to lower my lifespan by 5 years. Now I try as far as possible to keep a good following distance, which also reduces the number of flying stones that hit my bonnet and windscreen. Occasionally some twit will come flying up to try and squeeze in and a bit of the old ego or arrogance makes me narrow the gap, but it's not nearly worth the risk. I'd rather cruise comfortably, not have to make sudden evasive moves and save fuel as well. Let the impatient idiots pass and allow natural selection to take care of the rest. If you rear-end someone because you didn't have enough room to avoid them when they braked, it's generally your fault.

I'm with you on that. The extra space also makes it easier to compensate for fluctuations in speeds of cars ahead, which makes it easier for the people behind you.
 
I would of not let him pass in the first place as i wouldn't want to follow that
 
I would of not let him pass in the first place as i wouldn't want to follow that

I hope you never have to suddenly react to someone coming to a dead stop in front of you.
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X