Apply three-second rule when following behind cars
Jul 31, 2008
It's three seconds
Your indications that tailgaters should stay back at least by remembering the two-second rule, it's been 30 years since I've been in high school, and I think it's actually closer to 40, but it seems to me that it was a three-second rule. Maybe that's the difference; they are teaching two seconds now or has it never been three seconds?
Red Phone: Red Phone stands corrected readers. Drivers should keep a three-second distance from the vehicle ahead of them when conditions are ideal. During inclement weather such as light rain, light fog, nighttime driving, and heavy traffic, drivers should double the three-second rule to six-seconds. Under poor conditions, heavy rain and heavy fog, the three-second rule should be tripled to nine seconds. Did you also know that SUV/truck and sports car drivers are more likely to tailgate than those who drive family and economy vehicles? Is there a tailgate button next to cruise control on those things? Age is also a factor, 19 percent of young drivers, about one out of every five, admit to tailgating, as opposed to 15 percent of middle aged and 6 percent of seniors.
If you find yourself frequently being tailgated, look around you, readers. Is the right lane empty? If so, you're in the wrong lane. Are you being passed by cars on the right side? If so, you're in the wrong lane. If none of those check out, and you're simply being tailgated because the person behind is not paying attention or is purposely doing it. Red Phone recommends you move over to the other lane to avoid a dangerous situation from escalating.
I love my Friday Times
I'm calling about the Red Phone request from the reader regarding not sending papers every week. The person wrote in and said they can see it online already. Well, not everybody can afford a computer and not everybody wants a computer so this is really a privilege to get the Morgan Hill Times. That's what I'm complaining about these people that are so affluent that can afford a computer; that's great, but there are senior citizens that either don't want it or can't afford it.
Red Phone: Well said reader. Although we can assume that the previous readers' intentions were to save paper and reduce waste, there's just something
about reading paper print. It's less strain on the eyes, promotes faster reading and allows more coverage for our local businesses' advertisements. Plus, there's no Sudoku or crossword puzzle to fill out online.
Gas cap on left?
I was calling about the Safeway gas station and how people line up to get gas. I think one of the people lining up had that idea and people just kind off follow what other people do so everybody lines up behind that person and everybody continues on. Personally I just pass everybody and go to the first available line that I want to go to and nobody has said anything to me although other people stay in line after that.
Red Phone: Funny thing caller, Red Phone was at the Safeway gas station the other day and the sign was nowhere to be seen. The people in line could also be doing it out of courtesy for the person in the front. Luckily it's just a gas station and not the DMV. But I digress; the lines at gas stations are pretty straightforward so no one really loses their place.
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