Really Really Ignorant Driving Advice

An article in the Feb 16 G&M had the title ‘What distance should a vehicle stop behind another one at a red light?’

Here’s a quote from the article,

“It makes sense to leave a car length or more,” said Sean Shapiro, a traffic safety consultant and former Toronto police traffic officer. “You need to leave yourself enough room to provide an escape route.”

Escape route? Escape from what?

Another expert, Angelo DiCicco, general manager of the Ontario Safety League provided some more great advice –

“If you’re the first car to stop in your lane, stop at least a car length or two before the painted stop line, DiCicco said. That gives you room to creep up if you need to.”

Ok, now kids, let’s all think about the last time you were stopped by a red light at a major intersection in your town. I’m betting pretty much no one who was stopped there in front of, behind, or next to you followed this advice, nor did you. But let’s imagine they did, so there were 1-2 car lengths between each stopped vehicle. That’s somewhere between 14 and 30 feet of empty space between each car in each lane. This is the equivalent of doubling or tripling the number of cars waiting at that red light.

What you would have is a line of traffic that, during any moderately busy period, would stretch back to the previous stop light, in many cases. Plus, if there are dedicated turn lanes to either side of the through lanes at the light, virtually no car would be able to enter them during any red light phase, because the line of cars in the through lanes would stretch back past where cars are able to enter said turn lanes.

I have read fewer recommendations more likely to gum up traffic at traffic lights than this one. And what is it’s purpose? To give you an ‘escape route’ in case you see a car coming up on your rear that is unable to stop. That happens all the time. Making outrageous adjustments to avoid situations that rarely happen, that’s what ‘safety advisors’ are all about, I guess.

God save us from experts. I curse quietly any driver who does in fact leave that kind of space between their own car and the one in front of them at a light. Some folks do, but in most cases it is not because of any bonehead advice like this, but because they wanted to quickly stop at the red so as to get back to the urgent business on their phone. Please never follow this advice.

I do endeavour to be a force for good in the universe, however, so I here offer a driving suggestion of my own, free of charge, which, if followed, will make driving safer and help traffic move more quickly through intersections controlled by traffic lights.

If you are going to get into the left turn lane at such an intersection, then there is very likely a similar left turn lane in the opposite direction. You will be looking straight at the cars in that opposing left turn lane before you make your turn.

In most cases, there will be a ‘green turn arrow’ phase during which you, and perhaps the opposing traffic can make your left turns safely, as the through traffic has a red. However, it is also almost always true that at some point the through traffic will have their own green, and at that point both you and the cars opposite you can make your left turn only if you are sure there are no through cars coming through the intersection. They have the right of way.

You need to be able to see clearly around any cars opposite you that are also waiting to turn left to know if it is safe for you to turn. So, anticipating this possibility, you should drive into your left turn lane and position your vehicle as far on the left of the turn lane as you can. Cozy your driver side door right up to the left boundary of the turn lane. This makes it easier for you to see around those cars waiting to turn left across from you, plus making it easier for those drivers to see around you. Bonus. (Yes, I do this all the time, it makes a real difference.)

If drivers trying to turn left from both directions do this, there is less likelihood of either set of left-turners getting t-boned by an oncoming car, and less chance of a wannabe left-turner sitting there, afraid to complete their turn because they can’t see whether any cars are oncoming.

In fact, most people who pull into a left turn lane cheat to the right of the lane, as it puts them a bit further away from oncoming through traffic, and oncoming traffic is scary.

Well, just be brave, and cheat to the left. You will be improving safety for you and your fellow drivers – and be more likely to get through the green light.

You’re welcome.

A (crude, admittedly) illustration of my suggested strategy is below. No extra charge.

I do accept tips, you can e-transfer same to TipsforAl@smartass.ca. Direct deposit, no secret question needed.