How much distance do you give on the expressway when it's bumper to bumper traffic? on my way home from work it was bad, really bad traffic and then i was in the way left lane and traffic is bumper to bumper, but slowly moving, all of a sudden i think 5 cars up the person suddenly stops triggering a lot of other brake lights in the cars behind him. whew, i was kind of prepared to brake, but luckily there is a shoulder to the left lane and i didn't want to rear end anyone so i moved the car to brake there. The car in front of me was a 96 Blue Corvette. I wasn't tailgating, it's just I am really annoyed at traffic jams, but what are you going to do, you know?

 

I follow the car in front so that the bottom of their rear bumper lines up at my cowl line from my natural seating position. In my experience that has given me ample distance to stop in time during rush hour. It's different here in Columbus though, people are pretty laid back and there aren't very many aggressive drivers (though there are many oh-not-so-bright ones). I figure in most stop-and-go situations, it doesn't really get you any benefit to be saloming through traffic. It wastes gas and increases your frustration when you can't get ahead.

 

In bumper-to-bumper traffic I leave a lot of space. I try to stay in 2nd gear so I don't have to shift much. More space = less shifting / braking.

$.02

 

I just see the follow of traffic and be prepared to slow or press the brakes. I try not to follow too closely and try to keep a distance from the person in front.

 

For traffic jams...I usually keep about half, maybe a bit more, a car length away from the car ahead of me... Plus you have to watch out for those who want to jam into your lane.. Most of the time, I keep an eye on the second car ahead of me (brake lights) to see when they are using their brakes so I know I need to start slowing down.

 

I always keep at least a car length too. I don't like to stay bumper to bumper, making driving in traffic less stressing and also as a courtesy to the car in front of me. I never get horned cuz the car behind me probably gets the idea. And also I keep my acceleration and braking in PREDICTABLE fashion.

 

I also keep at least a car-length distance. Also, I take time with moving when traffic starts to move because I figure, we'll be stopping shortly anyhow.

 

i kept a safe distance and try not to brake and make dead stop/go. i will also tune classical music because i hate spending time and gas on the traffic jam, or giant parking lot on hiway..

 

Its a fine balance of having a cushion so you dont end up tapping somebodies ass (not in the good way) and not letting that jackoff who thinks switching lanes constantly in bumper to bumper traffic cut in front of you..

But on the good side a 6mt doesnt complain about starting in 2nd which means in most bumper to bumper you can get away without shifting a lot.. However if I end up at a complete stop I try to pull it out of gear and let the clutch out so i dont kill the throttle bearings.