Police have me on video doing 101mph
01-10-2009 | 04:03 AM
#1
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Just got a letter this morning from the German police. They say they've got video of me doing 162km/h (101mph). That's not the part they're interested in though as it was an unrestricted section of Autobahn (and if it wasn't, I wouldn't have been doing that speed).
Instead, they were measuring gaps ("Abstand") between cars. They say my gap to the car in front was only 35 metres (38.2 yards or 115 feet). That's about 7 car lengths in my reckoning, assuming 5 metres per car. Apparently it's not enough, they demand nearly double that (67.5 metres).
As of this year, it's a 2 point penalty on your license and a fine. Luckily, this was on the 15th of December, so last year's rules apply and it's only a fine (which will be under $100 so I'm not going to cry much about that).
Anyone else think 7 car lengths is a fair gap at 100mph? Sure I couldn't stop in that distance, but neither could the car in front even if his wheels fell off. You see a lot of people, at even higher speeds, who have a one-car (or less) gap to the car in front. I was of the opinion that I'm usually pretty good at leaving a safe gap.
Instead, they were measuring gaps ("Abstand") between cars. They say my gap to the car in front was only 35 metres (38.2 yards or 115 feet). That's about 7 car lengths in my reckoning, assuming 5 metres per car. Apparently it's not enough, they demand nearly double that (67.5 metres).
As of this year, it's a 2 point penalty on your license and a fine. Luckily, this was on the 15th of December, so last year's rules apply and it's only a fine (which will be under $100 so I'm not going to cry much about that).
Anyone else think 7 car lengths is a fair gap at 100mph? Sure I couldn't stop in that distance, but neither could the car in front even if his wheels fell off. You see a lot of people, at even higher speeds, who have a one-car (or less) gap to the car in front. I was of the opinion that I'm usually pretty good at leaving a safe gap.
01-10-2009 | 04:16 AM
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Hi, I'm glad they started giving tickets for this - some people like to lick bumpers (usually it's enough when you press brake pedal for half a second and they have hard labour with the steering wheel and their brakes).
I think you would be able to react in your E60 in 35m well but safety is safety .. 162Km/h is a high speed, you run at 45m/s so I guess if you were 35m behind the other car, you would need to react in under 1s and that is quick
I think you would be able to react in your E60 in 35m well but safety is safety .. 162Km/h is a high speed, you run at 45m/s so I guess if you were 35m behind the other car, you would need to react in under 1s and that is quick
01-10-2009 | 04:22 AM
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Here in Holland you would loose your license for that sort of driving offence (not the high speed but tailgating). The rule that is used here is a simple 2 second rule..you have to time yourself at more than 2 seconds apart, you can do that easily by things you both pass..
01-10-2009 | 04:25 AM
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The plain fact is, the law says 67.5 metres and I had only 35 metres. I accept that. Thought some here would like to hear about it. If I'd been asked in some kind of automotive pop quiz though, I would have guess somewhere between 25 and 50 metres would have been the legal minimum gap for that speed.
Originally Posted by hibberd' post='764294' date='Jan 10 2009, 02:22 PM
Here in Holland you would loose your license for that sort of driving offence (not the high speed but tailgating). The rule that is used here is a simple 2 second rule..you have to time yourself at more than 2 seconds apart, you can do that easily by things you both pass..
01-10-2009 | 04:30 AM
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I heard a while back they were looking to introduce these cameras in the UK, but I think it's still the case that there is no specific offence for 'tailgating'. Of course, you can always be prosecuted under the 'without due care' law.
As for safe distances, in the UK there are 2 'guidlines' that one might use. First, according to the Highway Code the stopping distance at 70mph is 315ft. Obviously at 101mph it would come out quite a bit higher. Second, there is the more vague '2-second' rule, i.e. you should be (at least) 2 seconds behind the car in front. At 101mph that's about 280ft.
So I think either way 115 ft might be considered a bit on the low side
As for safe distances, in the UK there are 2 'guidlines' that one might use. First, according to the Highway Code the stopping distance at 70mph is 315ft. Obviously at 101mph it would come out quite a bit higher. Second, there is the more vague '2-second' rule, i.e. you should be (at least) 2 seconds behind the car in front. At 101mph that's about 280ft.
So I think either way 115 ft might be considered a bit on the low side
01-10-2009 | 04:41 AM
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Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='764295' date='Jan 10 2009, 08:25 AM
I completely agree. They've been giving tickets for this in Germany for years. On the radio here, along with the local weather and traffic report, they always tell you where the mobile speed cameras are located and sometimes they tell you that there's "abstandmessung" in a particular location on the Autobahn. Pressing your brake when someone's "up your arse" as we'd say in Britain, is a bit dangerous. I think it was here a month or two back where someone said he'd done that and the car that was licking his bumper spun around a few times but luckily didn't hit anything. I prefer to put my hazard flashing lights on for a short time.
I feel confident I could react, with me being a left-foot braker. The adrenalin pumps higher at those speeds so you generally react quicker. Doesn't help me whether or not I "felt" I could stop in that time though.
The plain fact is, the law says 67.5 metres and I had only 35 metres. I accept that. Thought some here would like to hear about it. If I'd been asked in some kind of automotive pop quiz though, I would have guess somewhere between 25 and 50 metres would have been the legal minimum gap for that speed.
Was I really tailgating with a 7 car gap ? I didn't think I was. I'd like to hear what people think.
I feel confident I could react, with me being a left-foot braker. The adrenalin pumps higher at those speeds so you generally react quicker. Doesn't help me whether or not I "felt" I could stop in that time though.
The plain fact is, the law says 67.5 metres and I had only 35 metres. I accept that. Thought some here would like to hear about it. If I'd been asked in some kind of automotive pop quiz though, I would have guess somewhere between 25 and 50 metres would have been the legal minimum gap for that speed.
Was I really tailgating with a 7 car gap ? I didn't think I was. I'd like to hear what people think.
01-10-2009 | 05:24 AM
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Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='764299' date='Jan 10 2009, 08:50 AM
Maybe I'll be "chucking it up" when the fine comes 
The new guidline in NC is now a 4 second gap, which is an impossible stupid unrealistic distance while in any traffic. The AAA says "we" need to do that now because of so many cell phone, texting, distracted drivers. STUPID. Why should I have to increase my following distance to an impossible amount because other drivers are distracted. The guideline should be to stop texting and pay attention to your driving. Although I do increase my following distance when someone is tailgating me. For safety reason and to p$ss off the guy behind me and get him to move over a lane.
01-10-2009 | 05:45 AM
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Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='764295' date='Jan 10 2009, 08:25 AM
sometimes they tell you that there's "abstandmessung" in a particular location on the Autobahn.
Regarding how much Abstand one should maintain, not everyone can brake as if he were driving a BMW so, while the law specifies more Abstand than I would probably need, the law is looking at lesser cars with lesser braking capabilities.