# Current recommendations re following distance **URL:** \ **Category:** Driving/Drivers\ **Created:** [May 29, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467 "2025-05-29T02:12:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/21 "2025-05-31T16:48:50Z")
Yeah, I like the far also, but these idiots.. lol I probably need to try it on medium for a while to see how that works… ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/22 "2025-05-31T17:29:51Z")
> [@glasspilot](#): > > I usually keep it in Far but just like you in heavier traffic you get people passing and filling the gap in front of you. Keeping a safe distance in the Boston area is literally IMPOSSIBLE. If you have even a 20’ gap between you and the car in front of you doing 70mph, some bozo with a car that’s only 15’ long will fill it. And I’m NOT joking. Seen it happen hundreds of times. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/23 "2025-05-31T17:40:52Z")
Well, if you are missing any drivers, they have moved down here… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/24 "2025-05-31T17:55:26Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Seen it happen hundreds of times. +1 While I’ve seen more than my share of dangerous NY, NJ, and PA drivers, I have to say that the driving behavior in MA is just incredibly bad. In addition to tailgating and cutting people off, on more than one occasion when I was stopped at a traffic light, in a lane for both right turns and straight ahead, I was loudly honked-at because I wasn’t turning right. You would think the fact that I hadn’t signaled for a turn would have been a clue that I was going straight ahead, but… nope! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/25 "2025-05-31T21:30:38Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Well, if you are missing any drivers There is a never ending supply in Boston. And in the DC/Baltimore metro too. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/26 "2025-06-01T12:16:57Z")
I’ll also add Columbia, SC. We visited our daughter there about 12 years ago. Going into town, we encountered a red light at a major intersection. When the approaching turn light went green, a big line of cars turned in front of us. When it turned red, about five cars followed through the red. I was shocked and mentioned it to our daughter. She said it was normal and even has a name: Driving Southern. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/27 "2025-06-02T00:16:31Z")
Don’t worry about the tailgaters. If you have to apply the brakes hard and they hit you, the speed difference isn’t that great so injuries are unlikely and damage minimal, and they are responsible. Also, don’t “brake check” on a tailgater. To me, this is absolute stupidity. You’re afraid of getting rear-ended so you intentionally try to get rear-ended. That does not make any sense. ---
**Author:** ![sheridanpaul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@sheridanpaul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sheridanpaul)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/28 "2025-06-02T01:09:29Z")
When they come up here to Maine for a visit driving like that, we have a cute nickname for them, that ends in “-holes” and has the old-style abbreviation for their state in front of this (not the 2-letter postal code…) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 11:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/29 "2025-06-02T11:15:39Z")
> [@sheridanpaul](#): > > we have a cute nickname for them, that ends in “-holes” We have the same nickname for them here in NH. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/30 "2025-06-02T12:30:03Z")
> [@keith](#): > > Also, don’t “brake check” on a tailgater. Maybe the worst damage occurs when the tailgater tries to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of them. The last time I did this was about 50 years ago. Someone was following me way too closely on a highway with very little traffic. I tapped the brakes and he swerved left, going onto the shoulder. Had he continued in that direction, he would have gone down a steep embankment between two bridges and onto the highway below. I might have killed him and many people on the crossing highway below. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/31 "2025-06-03T14:22:08Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > You would think the fact that I hadn’t signaled for a turn would have been a clue that I was going straight ahead No because in MA, a turn signal is considered a sign of weakness. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/32 "2025-06-03T19:18:45Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > in MA, a turn signal is considered a sign of weakness In DC it’s a challenge. If I use my turn signal, the driver one lane over is likely to speed up and cut me off. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/33 "2025-06-03T19:35:45Z")
I don’t have a clue what DC is like now, but when we went there 25 years ago, I loved driving there… Wifey told me I fit right in… lol ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/34 "2025-06-04T12:07:10Z")
I have an ACC complaint. I set my speed (let’s say, at 65). With ACC, I don’t need to watch the speedometer. I approach someone driving at 55, and my ACC transitions so very slowly to 55 that I don’t notice it. This means that on an interstate highway, I have not moved to the passing lane or even checked my mirrors in preparation. And, of course, my slowing down has affected those behind me. So the traffic jam effect caused by the slow driver has been magnified. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 12:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/35 "2025-06-04T12:08:03Z")
The passing game I mentioned was worse 25 years ago. There’s a lot more traffic on EZ Pass lanes on I-95 from Fredericksburg to the beltway, on the beltway in VA, and on I-66 inside the beltway ease traffic on roads with no toll lanes somewhat, but it’s still awful. LA and Baltimore/DC trade first place each year for longest delays. Glad I’m out of that rat race. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/36 "2025-06-05T14:38:45Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > There’s a lot more traffic on EZ Pass lanes on I-95 from Fredericksburg to the beltway, on the beltway in VA, and on I-66 inside the beltway ease traffic on roads with no toll lanes somewhat, but it’s still awfu We’re getting rid of our EZ-Pass lanes in NH (same as NY and MA). No toll lanes what-so-ever. They have detectors for the transponder and if you don’t have a transponder, it reads your license plate and then sends you a bill (which could be significantly more than the toll with a transponder). ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/37 "2025-06-05T14:50:49Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > We’re getting rid of our EZ-Pass lanes in NH (same as NY and MA). No toll lanes what-so-ever. They have detectors for the transponder and if you don’t have a transponder, it reads your license plate and then sends you a bill +1 Traffic just flows so much more smoothly without tollbooths! When I drive to upstate NY, I get a bill in the mail about 1 month later, and then I pay it online via credit card. All-in-all, much more convenient than having to stop at a toll booth. NJ is piloting this type of tolling on the Atlantic City Expressway. Once all the kinks are worked out, it will be expanded to the NJ Turnpike & Garden State Parkway. I just hope that the change takes place soon. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/38 "2025-06-05T14:54:31Z")
Oklahoma went to Plate readers and transponders . They claim there was a 1 millon dollar short fall in tolls the first year they had it . I still wonder what happened to all the Toll Gate workers that lost jobs . ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/39 "2025-06-05T15:28:34Z")
To my knowledge Florida is also eliminating toll booths and going to plate readers for those that do not have transponders. I have had the various types of transponders for around 30 years. I saw the listing for charges for license plate was significantly higher if you do not have an EZ pass account. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467/40 "2025-06-05T15:54:41Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > I still wonder what happened to all the Toll Gate workers that lost jobs . Like with parking lot attendants, elevator operators, and others that lacked technical skills, they–hopefully–got re-trained for some sort of skilled career. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/current-recommendations-re-following-distance/200467.md?page=3)