Mind The Gap!

Image via Wikipedia

I always teach my students to leave a safe distance between them and the vehicle in front when stopping at lights, junctions etc.The easy way to judge it is that it should be possible to completely see the rear tyres of the car infront.There are two reasons for that advice.Firstly, you don`t want the examiner getting twitchy feet and going for his brake if you are getting too close for comfort!
Secondly, you should allow some room for the stopped vehicle ahead to roll back before it begins to move forward again.This is especially important on hills, and when there is a larger vehicle such as a truck or bus in front of you.
It`s just good common sense, right? So here is where the rant comes in!Which kinds of vehicles apart from big trucks and buses would you say are most likely to roll back when stopped on a hill? Obvious isn`t it? Yes, those
cars with L plates plastered all over them which are visible from a long way off; LEARNER CARS!
So why is it that so-called experienced drivers,who should know better,are always stopping about 2 centimetres behind us on an incline? They then very often loose their tempers and start honking and shouting when either of two things happen:
1. The learner stalls the car because he or she is so nervous about rolling back!
2. The learner does start rolling back and the driver behind gets nervous that we are going to hit the front of their car!

So please do remember to leave a little more space when you pull up behind another vehicle in traffic !