Following Distance / Tailgating | Learn to drive: Highway Code
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- Many road traffic accidents are caused when cars are driving close together, and then one car brakes suddenly and the car behind is too close to stop in time. This type of unnecessary accident could easily be prevented if the cars kept a safe following distance between each other. This video will help you to judge how much space to leave between your car and the car in front, and what to do if the car behind you is tailgating your car.
Video chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:03 Why is a safe following distance important?
2:15 What is a safe following distance?
3:22 How quickly can a car stop?
5:02 How to judge a safe following distance
5:42 When should we extend the distance?
7:42 Tailgaters
8:55 Summary
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#AdvanceDrivingSchool #FollowingDistance #HighwayCode - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thanks for watching - if you found this video interesting then please subscribe to our channel and click the bell to be notified of our next video! This video includes;
0:05 Introduction
1:03 Why is a safe following distance important?
2:15 What is a safe following distance?
3:22 How quickly can a car stop?
5:02 How to judge a safe following distance
5:42 When should we extend the distance?
7:42 Tailgaters
8:55 Summary
do these videos apply for motorbikes and mopeds as well, because thats what im learning for?
Yes, as you should follow the same Highway Code as us drivers. 🛵🏍👍🏼
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool thank you, I was a bit confused 😁
@@Sapiention Actually these stopping distances were originally for cars and light vans and not designed for motorcycles but it appears that they have been adopted by the safety professionals as being the same for motorcycles as well. Understand that in some circumstances such as on a bend or curve that when braking hard that a car can always be safer to brake in and in a shorter distance than a bike can.
A better way to describe allowing a Tailgator to move on would be: Let Them Go And Have Their Accident Somewhere Else.
"Y'all go on ahead, and troll for police. I'll be along directly."
Only a fool breaks the two second rule helps me to remember. Great video and one I will watch again
An excellent video and very good advice but so few people seem able to follow it. I find when I am observing experienced drivers aiming to pass the an advanced test they can be distracted by 'tail gating' cars following us. The tendency then is for their forward observation to suffer and to miss any hazards ahead. The simple action of slowing to create more space in front can take a few reminders. I will recommend this video to them.
So many people are hypnotized by; "If I leave a bit of room, I will be constantly cut-off." My personal experience is counter. I typically leave at a minimum double "Typical" distance, and more. I get minmal dlays by folks merging in, and it doesn't happen as often as folks think it would, I pretty much always move at flow speed. Leaving safe room actually helps traffic flow, and it's better for everyone. Also, my mechanics are puzzled as to how my brakes and clutches last so many miles/kms.
@@inyobill So So true. I do the same thing and if i can give more than the safe stopping distances I do all the time and that enables other vehicles to enter my road spaced etc. It will and as said it actually helps keep the road safe. If you and I can do it then why do others deny it at all. It makes common sense to be as safe as possible but I can only suppose that other road users are not as concerned or otherwise ignorant of these distances. and of the law and indeed of road safety in general.
Definitely a recommended video for all who drive.
Unfortunately, a lot of folks just don't get it. No reason to not try at least. Judging by comments, it seems to reach a lot of learners, which is reason for optimism.
Smashing video! I love the line 'this lets the tailgater rush on and put someone else in danger, and we can continue our journey in safety'. Said with the most perfect confident and instructional voice.
Well done; a good presentation. Only a couple of other items. Although you described the wet weather conditions, air temperature (although you did mention grit etc) and the type of tyres in use has an effect. It doesn’t bother us much in this country, but sometimes it does, and there’s no specific requirement to change tyres for cold weather here, so there are quite a few around with potentially dodgy braking when there’s a cold snap.
Another item re those travelling too close behind is the effect of steep gradients - say 20% or more. Sometimes it’s wise to make a light brake application early, so as to encourage them to sort it out, if you can. E.g. near where I live there’s a right turn off a steep falling gradient, where a late choice as to whether to stop or turn off is needed, depending on what’s parked on the side street.
Funny how i still watch these vids even thou i passed about 5 months ago
I passed 40 years ago and still watch.
Refreshers are always good
@@JfK--OBJECTivE Got ya beat, I've been licensed for 58 years and still watch.
Such a nice easy explanation.hats off to your hard work and utmost ability to arrange these free useful road sense instuctions
Even light braking when traffic is spaced too close causes a knock-on effect that often leads to a complete flow stop. Energy increases with the >square< of the speed, three times as fast, nine times the energy, hence the much increased stopping distance. Slowing is limited by tire to rloadway grip. I don't double my distance in slippery conditions, I slow down.
I have passed my driving test last week and thank you for your informative videos.
Well done! 🚗😃👍🏼
Thanks, great video very helpful
Thank you so much for sharing this video it's really great
Thank you so much for sharing this video
Thanks much for this video
Very helpful tips.
I'm in love with this channel 😍⚘👈
Massive thanks for your useful videos.
Thank you so much. Great video
Thank you so much for all these videos, very helpful love all the videos, passed my test yesterday for the very first time with zero driving faults sooo happy👍😃
Amazing - well done! 🚙😃👍🏼
Thank you so much 😃
Very helpful great way to learn
Thank.u..very helpful!
Before I passed my full motorcycle test 2 years ago. The instructor told me that you count in car lengths up to 40mph the once you exceed 40mph you pick a point in the road where the car in front goes past.
Out loud say:
Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule.
You need to be able to say it in full at a normal speed before your vehicle gets to the marker you've picked out.
There is a simple way of determining if one is giving a safe distance at least in the UK. Around town and at road speeds up to 40 mph look at the lamp posts, they are numerous, easy to spot and and in general have to placed a repetitive distance apart in order to give a constant degree of illumination. Around town and outside on main roads etc. they are usually found to be about 40 metres apart and that is about 120/30 ft and a safe stopping distances to 40 mph. So st easy, just stay one lamp posts apart and that's safe up to as said 40 mph. Over 40 mph say 50 and 60 mph give two lamp posts and that will give quite easily a more than safe distance to stop in being some 80 metres or so that's for for 2 lamp posts and that will equal a distance of about 240 ft. plus. Just remember that sometimes the posts are placed on alternative sides of the road. but still the same distance apart.
Well done job plz many more make video thanks
Sadly if you leave a 73m gap ( 2 secs) when doing 60 mph on a motorway it is sufficient to accommodate nearly half a dozen 40 tonners. Try it and count them.
First you have you sums wrong. A 2 second gap is insufficient safe space to give at 60 mph. A gap of 2 seconds at that speed only gives some 180 ft only [ 60 mph = 90 ft per sec x 2 . H.C. ] and not the distance you refer to. One needs a safe stopping distance of at least 240 ft at 60 mph under perfect conditions. [S. 126 The Highway Code ] That 180 ft leaves enough room for only 3 HGVs each plus a few feet between. That space between being usually only 20 ft actually makes them the worst offenders for tailgating as they need far more distance to stop in than a normal car.
There are many examples of 40 tonne HGVS actually crushing other vehicles that they have collided with, [ mistakenly called a rear en d shunt ] that they have rolled over and subsequently killed the occupants. The point being is stay well away from HGV's both in front of you and behind you, Some of their drivers are potentially killers. The other day on a motorway, the M6, I overtook such a HGV and then drove into a 50 mph restriction for roadworks, The inside lane that I was on slowed to that speed but the outside lane continued at normal motorways speeds as if there were no restriction. I was about a quarter of a mile into this slower traffic and keeping safe distance behind the car ahead of me when I looked into my rear view mirror and saw that the HGV that I had overtaken earlier had caught me up and was now approaching the rear of my car. When it got to be about 15 ft. from my rear and obviously going faster than I was I feared for my safety and that of my family. I indicated left and actually felt it necessary to pull into the hard shoulder. As I was doing this the HGV overtook me without slowing down at all and then continued at his maximum speed to catch up with the car out in front of me. I resumes the inside lane and about half a mile further on the HGV overtook three more cars returning to the inside lane each time . Tailgating each and everyone as he made progress.
PS if you are doing actually 60 mph on a motorway [ not just the 60 mph as shown on your speedometer which is calibrated wrong and always [ 99% of vehicles tested ] shows a speed in excess of that which you are actually doing ] you must be in the inside lane and there you will be travelling faster then the HGV's that are limited to doing only 56 mph.actual. So you are in truth travelling faster than them and not at the same speed.
@@judgedredd4945
I am aware that my figures aren't correct, I quoted them from the clip without correction, which is incorrect. 60mph is 88ft per sec. My lorry is a mythical example as well being a 40 ton 40 ft case for illustrative pourposes only.I admire your detailed analysis and agree with the general points made.
The issue I was making, allbe it in just a few lines, is exactly the same as your are making. People, particularly lorry drivers, don't realise the need to leave adequate space between them and the vehicle they are following for safeties sake.
If I can't see tarmac through my back window between me and the vehicle behind me it is closer than 15 feet from my bumper, that's 1 second at 10mph, or 0.167 sec at 60mph. When the bumper disappears I get worried and I'm a difficult one to frighten.
Sorry for the delay in responding but I've only just seen your post, nice one though.
Good video
I am gon take pcv license bus driving practical test after Corona problems finished taking some good advice from your videos thank alot
Good luck 👍🏼
I wonder if anyone watching here has ever been tailgated by a coach (bus) in a highway, and the coach persisted to tailgate even when given the way?
In my many years of driving, I have observed all levels of "professionalism" in professional drivers.
Great upload mates. Cheers.
Its not just when the vehicle in front stops unexpectedly or even expectedly say being behind a bus. etc. its when it might break down or be involved in a collision or a dog runs out or a child does and in some instances its just a car slowing without showing brakes that can cause us to be far too close to the vehicle in front. So its not just a case if they brake and slow and we brake and slow, its far more dangerous than that. At any time on any road whilst following another vehicle you can be far too close and thus cannot stop in the distance that you have given. Many drivers have an idea that Tailgating is only when someone is right up ones backside with only a couple of metres of separation and its not that. Its a much longer distance depending on speed and some would be surprised if they were following a car at say 50 mph and yet tailgating a good 100 ft or more behind them. The safe stopping distance at that speed is 175 ft by the H.C.
Now the H.C. distance is only a recommendation and its not written in law as to what constitutes a danger other than being unable to stop in the distance seen to be clear and on ones own side of the road. However that said a failure to adopt that safe distance according to the H.C, could be used in evidence against one in a court of law. So its best if one recognises that fact and at all times give a safe stopping distance in accordance with the H.C.
At 6.27 you say that at 70 mph one should leave a gap of some 62 metres to be safe but the H.C states in their table of stopping distances that one should leave a gap of some 96 metres. which is some 34 meters longer or well over 100 ft in stopping distance to be safe. That because S 126 of the H.C. says that the 2 second gap is a minimum and follows it up with the table that basically states that a larger a gap should be made at higher speeds. If you leave only a 62 metre gap you will still be doing some 30 mph when you hit the stationary car in front as it takes 2/3rds of the distance to lose only 1/3rd of the speed. .
In or on wet or damp roads with or without rain we should increase our safe stopping distance by a factor of two. That is quite a considerable increase in distance but if we think about slowing our driving down due to those adverse weather and tarmac conditions, which perhaps we should, then that gap will be 2 times of a lesser speed and we would all be a lot safer. The situation of increasing our stopping distances must apply on icy roads. and we are recommended to increase our safe distance 10 fold. If we are on a motorway do we still need to drive at 70 mph on ice? Unfortunately some drivers will do just that but if we use our brains and drive according to a now massively increased risk of losing control of our cars may we consider maybe doing 30 mph instead of 70 mph. In that case an increased distance by ten would not about half a mile at 70 mph but of a more reasonable distance at 30 mph. some 700 ft plus. or just over 200 metres . Remembering on ice even if we have our brakes fully on we are still sliding at that initial speed until we eventually slow and stop or hit something and kill someone.
Its better being safe and slower and getting where one is going rather not getting there at all.
I am ok with this video so far but would ask why in Separation Distances do the DVSA recommend a distance of the thinking distances only in an urban traffic queue; They say its to make better use of valuable road space? that basically means a distance equal to one foot per one mph so at 5 mph its only 5ft and at 10 mph its a mere 10 ft., at 20 mph its 20 ft and at 30 mph its only 30 ft. Surely we cannot stop in these short distances should we have to in the event of an emergency and it throws out of the window completely the much safer full stopping distances recommended in the H.C. Further the H. C. recommends the 2 second rule and as a minimum but the stopping distances shown at 20 and 30 mph are far less than the 2 second rule and then the distance at 50,60 and 70 mph are far greater than the 2 second rule and that complicates things. Although the distances to brake in at higher speeds are safer ie more than the 2 second rule the lower speeds are generally used around town and in built up residential areas which have a greater danger and certainly suffer more collisions than country roads. Approximately 2/3drs or all incidents/ collisions occur in urban areas with only 1/3 occurring on rural roads.
Can You Upload Next Week How To Drive In The Roundabout At The Correct Lane
Roundabout Lane Discipline | Learn to drive: Intermediate skills th-cam.com/video/yArctgMCBks/w-d-xo.html 👍🏼
Braking distances are not hard to learn as in your diagrams you use an example on a road and it can be clearly seen just how far apart the lamp posts are., So easy to remember, at speeds around town up to 30 mph be at least one lamp standard behind, at any higher speed up to 60 mph be more than one lamp standard behind,so at 50 and 60 mph be at least two lamp standards apart. So remember the lamp standard. at least one at 30 and 40 mph and at least two at higher speeds of 50 and 60 mph. At 70 mph think about it being about 3 lamp standards apart or on a motorway be at least the distance between two marker posts which are situated next to the hard shoulder. or where there is a slip road leaving the motorway there are three distances markers, blue in colour with up to 3 stripes next to you on the hard shoulder also. They are also the correct and safe following and stopping distances at 70 mph.
So its not difficult, just adopt the Lamp post rule and you will be one of the safest drivers on the roads today, Some 75% of collisions on motorways and main arterial roads are actually rear enders caused by Tailgating. so stop Tailgating, its too bloody dangerous to all traffic. Not only to the two vehicles involved as it can involve every vehicle around you. going your way or even those heading towards you. .
Sorry I know this is gonna sound dumb but how many seconds would you count for icy/snow conditions?
(I find the counting really helps)
The Highway Code suggests 20 seconds - but that is hard to estimate, so we just leave a really big gap!
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool thank you! :)
Hardly "dumb". Don't be afraid to ask questions, dumb people never ask questions.
Have any studies been done to show how traffic flow would change if every person followed this strategy? The reason for probably half of all traffic jams would be eliminated.
As another comment said "Only a fool breaks the two second rule". It's a shame more drivers don't follow this rule. As you point out, they don't get to their destination any quicker. I've been in the situation where just the windscreen is in view. It's not always possible to stop and allow them to pass. They are bullies and hope you will stop; either that or they are so dumb they shouldn't be behind the wheel.
I,m not to bad with this but i do go close sometimes not meaning to so this helps whats plan for your next one?
We just posted on our community page with an update!
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool thanks and happy christmas ill keep watching.
People dont have time to wait in traffic and will break the speed limit. But they DO have time to brake check you. It's crazy
I have a black box and can't go over the limit as it would affect my driving score. The amount of idiots I get tailgating is frustrating. Happens on every single drive sadly. I don't mind if they overtake, but most don't do it properly, or they don't overtake at all even if it's safe to do so, they would rather continue tailgating because they are petty asswipes.
Good on you for keeping to the speed limit. Even when you get off the back box, always stay within the speed limit and reduce speed if necessary according to conditions. If the conditions are not right to you, going below the speed limit is perfectly alright.
Why do you think some people tailgate in the first place? What do you think is the main reason? Could they potentially gain a better fuel economy due to them being in another person's slipstream? (Not that I'm getting to tailgate myself, I'm just curious)
I think it might be that some drivers do it without realising, and others want to get past the car in front and just get closer and closer 😬
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool Ah, I see. Thank you very much for the quick reply and please keep up the hard work. 🙇
The "slip stream" effect only is effective at very high speeds and extremely close diistances. At highway speeds, minimal to negligible. That doesn't mean that folks don't BELIEVE that they benefit.
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool Then there are the drivers that just can't stand to let anyone get by them. I try hard not to be that driver.
I recently bought my first car but still watch your video to help me become a good driver.
I have a question... @07:52 shouldn’t the driver have stayed in the left-hand lane while going around the roundabout? Wouldn’t this be poor lane discipline?
At that roundabout we were turning right, so we were correct to use the right (or inner) lane. The left (outer) lane should only be used when turning left or going ahead 👍🏼
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool I see, thank you for clarifying!
@@kitchan4922 Ahhhh, courtesy. I like it. Well played, Kit Kat.
It's a pity a camera can't film tailgaters as they do speeding. Maybe one day it will be possible.
Can I ask a question. Where did you get the distance of one second as being safe., There is nothing and i mean no road safety authority in the UK that says its safe to just give a one seconds space or distance or time to be behind another vehicle.
If one assumes a speed of say 60 mph then the safe stopping distance at that speed, on a good dry, straight and level road in a well serviced car or light van with good brakes and tyres would be as per the H.C. That distance would be in the region of some 240 ft. If one believes what you and some other authority [?] has said that its ok to be just a one second distance behind then that would mean a full stopping distance behind of just 88 ft. as that is the distance travelled for a speed of 60 mph in one second. That is not physically possible at all.
There is a very big difference between those figures of 88 ft compared to a distance of 240ft. Please tell me which is right or rather which is safer and you and I am sure others will always say that 240 ft. being the greater distance is the safe one. So where do we get the one second distance from ?.
Is it from the USA cos they have a much bigger problem with rear end shunts or collisions than we do and its understandable if they are training drivers to give that much shorter distance.
This requires comments from you in reply as others lives may depend on it.
In the video we said “The recommended following distance on a dry road in good condition is a gap of at least two seconds, with a minimum of 2 car lengths gap at very low speeds.”
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool That two car gap at lower speeds, the speeds being what ? You say 5 to 10 mph. is that right. and from what authority did that come from ?
Audi drivers: What’s tailgating?
I never follow or get on bumper in front, drivers that do have a disregard for Law, these are road bullies trying intimidate, I stay close to speed limit using cruse control well most drivers don't like it if behind you , to much in a hurry to go nowhere mostly
I have passed my driving test this Tuesday but Iam confused my examiner told me stop after the bus stop but it is still bus top box
Sometimes on the test the examiner might choose to bend the rules occasionally. If they say it’s ok to do something, then don’t worry about it 👍🏼
I get tailgaters all the time and im not going slow im just doing the speed limit. If you have to break the speed limit to overtake someone you should not be driving.
One advantage of following too closely is that cars that are turning right won't turn in front of you
So what if they do? They turn right, and they're out of the way, or at worst, you're delayed by one car-distance. One accident will kill thousands of those trivial losses.
How you gonna let a tailgater to put someone else in danger 😂😂
Or one Mississippi two Mississippi
Why should we give so much room when the DVSA recommend in their Separation Distance that in heavy slow moving traffic [ unlike yourselves it doesn't qualify just what speed is to be determined as slow moving] that may not be realistic and that we should give no less than the thinking distances alone even though it also says that the overall stopping distance is the only really safe gap and that anything less than the full stopping distance is taking a RISK. Such a recommendation means that basically all traffic in whatever traffic conditions apply whilst in an urban situation could be [ legally tailgating ]travelling at only some 30 ft behind the vehicle in front and not the 75 ft [ H.C.] or even the 98 ft. that is recommended by the DVSA.
Why do the H.C. and the DVSA recommend two very different ways of coming to a safe stopping distance ie the H.C. at 30 mph. says that the full stopping distance is 75 ft but the DVSA say that its 30 meters which is about 98 ft. When it comes to driving at 70 mph the H.C. states a stopping distance of 315ft but the DVSA recommend 70 metres which is only about 235ft foot. I think that you would agree that these figures are not only confusing but a big difference in safe distances when it come down to every ones safety.
You mention the 2 second rule but anything over 40 mph should be considered as more than the 2 second rule [ look at the distances for speeds of 50/60 and 70 mph in the H.C. and they are plainly at a 3 second gap situation. ie at 70 mph the distance travelled in one second is 105 ft. and multiply that by 3 and you have the stopping distance of 315ft., exactly. Anything over 40 mPh should be considered to be at least the 3 second rule and better still anything over that time ie a 4 or even a 5 second rule would be beneficial. The greater the distance that you can give the safer that you will be and that includes all other road users around you.
A one second rule can lead to death and injury whilst a minimum of 2 seconds will keep you and all others alive and well. Just look up the collisions stats for Highway's England and every year some 75% of all their collisions are of the Tailgating kind. ie drivers driving far too close to the vehicle in front. So close that they cannot guarantee to stop in the event of an emergency. That in 2016 led to some 45 deaths and over 7000 injured on their roads.
I will leave you with those statements as I have more that I can mention but not at this time.
Thanks for your comment. It's amazing how few other drivers maintain a safe following distance. If only others could leave a bigger gap there would be far fewer accidents.
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool Agreed but if the DVSA and indeed some driving instructors advocate a closer position when in town driving then things are not going to change. What I mean is the saying that "one can stop in the distance seen to be clear "and by that many learner drivers are advised that if the vehicle in front stops and you can stop also then that is the safe distance and that's utter bunkum as you will be aware but many authorised instructors get it wrong. What they are teaching becomes self perpetuating so you must look towards your own profession and get them to understand its not being able to slow and stop if the vehicle in front slows but safe distance is in the event of the vehicle in front coming to an unexpected and sudden halt. That's when we need all the available space we can get.
PS. what is two car lengths? Are they perhaps 8ft in length or 10 or 15 ft? In general no one knows or remembers so its stupid telling drivers to be two car lengths behind at 10 mph. I have seen and communicated with two tyre companies that also believe that one should give 2 car lengths...... but they mean for every 10 mph of speed . even up to 70 mph. So that's another mistake proliferated by organisations that should know better and who purports to advise on road safety issues..
50mph car would stop within 20meter when you start breake, not 38m really. People are way too aggresive to make available to keep that distance long
When talking about leaving at least a two car length gap at very slow speeds I assume that that is at 5 mph and no more, even at slow speeds one needs a 2 second gap in order to be safe. At 10 mph one needs more than two seconds to stop in or one would almost certainly hit the car in front whilst in heavy slow moving traffic. So in this regards I think that the information that you are giving is wrong, dangerous and damaging to car bodywork and peoples safety.
Seconds are not and should never be a measuring tool. This is why following too close is the leading cause of accidents, no one can measure anywhere near accurate like this, the math it complex, impossible and all wrong. there is no standard or basis of comparison and everyone counts different and too fast. The proper following distance is one car length (12-15ft) per every 10mph. Easy to remember, easy to calculate, and very standard. This is what they used to teach, now with the current drivers at 65mph you should have enough space so an 18 wheeler can comfortably pull in front of you but you'll never see that because the current "seconds" method no one can remember how many seconds, they think its 2, and to most people that is 2 car lengths which is dangerously close and why so many accidents, traffic jams, brake checks....etc.....100% failure of a system.
Your method is a lot more complicated - as you have to check your speed, work out how many car lengths that should be, and then finally try to judge the actual gap. 2 seconds is always 2 seconds - just count to 2! Couldn't be any simpler....
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool current traffic throughout the entire country shows the second method is a 100% failure. No one counts 2 seconds the same, they always are way faster, thus everyone tailgates and traffic jams, wrecks are everywhere because people follow too close because they have absolutely no idea what 2 seconds is. Been with several people who think 2 seconds at 70mph is 2 car lengths... nope... 100% fail.
I have a shower thought. That thought is that when you say the 2 sec phrase and you broke that phrase, are you a fool
you counting by mississippi's
Or just count slowly!
Running Times Will Be 13 Minutes And 7 Seconds
if you live in London this never happens. 70mph distance is a fat joke for those with ceramics and are in supercars Jesus. Only reasonable one is the 20mph
Those distances at different speeds show how long it would actually take to stop the car in an emergency. We wanted to show that it was surprisingly far, to illustrate how important keeping a safe following is. In fact, the 2 second gap is actually less than the stopping distance needed.... which is a little scary when you think about it.
@@AdvanceDrivingSchool again depends who you are (whether you have a successful racing background etc). It also depends on the car you have. Newer cars in general brake better than most cars (many people get into 2018+ cars and cause the brakes to lock up whilst driving it for the first time). So imagine driving a supercar. I can drive on a racetrack my Audi RS model within an inch or two of my opponent and brake without hitting him no problem. Never had an accident never will (tbf I have in karting as a child). This is why these rules annoy me. They are made for people who shouldn't be on the road for me. I find it so frustrating and or dangerous watching people drive. The lack of ability shocks me and I wish there was a licence which allowed me to follow the rules to my cars and my capabilities.
You're only thinking about half of the problem - you not hitting the car in front of you. What about the car behind you - that might not be paying full attention, or have such a well maintained car? If you brake suddenly and surprise them, they could easily hit you from behind. Even though it might be 'their fault' it could easily be avoided if you gave yourself enough space to brake smoothly, which gives them more time to brake. Think about the bigger picture!
But what should I do when every other idiot enters into my safe distance gap forcing me to ever slow down?
Just try not to worry about it - as it won’t affect your journey time very much.