First, let me answer your final question. The fact that I had to look that term up, to be certain of the definition, leads us to conclude that I'm not only THAT dumb, but "
dumber THAN that".
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumb I play the hand I'm dealt, as best I can.
Having established that, I hope you'll forgive me for asking lots of questions.
Your number for reaction time seems quite high. Averages for alert drivers is closer to 3/4 second. Are you are including perception time in your number?
What speed did you use to calculate this stopping distance?
The ATA (Safety Management Council) uses
55 MPH and estimates "braking time/distance" at 4.5 seconds/363.83 feet. When adding perception, reaction, and braking,
they conclude a potential total stopping distance of 566 feet. This has long been considered the gospel.
The flaw in the above comes from the calculation of 55 mph x 1.47 x 4.5 seconds. Do you see any missing piece to the calculation? Think about it for a minute...
Ok, from the moment the brakes are activated, speed begins to drop. Agree? At no point, not even a split second, after application does vehicle speed remain constant. Agree? Is the speed actually 55 for 4.5 seconds? Is the actual distance required lower than their estimate? Please help me.
Would you also agree that an alert driver closing to within the 2 second window, might either be already covering the brake or planning a lane change? Might the covering of the brake reduce your estimate of time/space required? Does the braking ability of the lead vehicle not also factor in?
I'm not arguing FOR a 2 second (or less) following distance. In fact,
we are likely on the same page in terms of "best practices" and the benefits of 4 or more second following distances. There are many. Agree?
Also, I am quite willing and capable of following all policies and guidelines, while recognizing the flaw in the calculation.
My beef with you comes
only from your miss-characterization of a 2 second following distance as "
tailgating". Most would agree that 170 feet, more or less, is
not tailgating. To use that term provides a false narrative, plain and simple.
If you still disagree, please tell the class about your typical day. Do you look around and see EVERYONE TAILGATING? Almost everyone? By your definition, is
EVERYONE EXCEPT YOU, guilty of tailgating?