Why do people pull up really close at lights?
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 14
The guy at the light probably isn't any closer to your car, but the back of your head is closer to the back of your car because it's so much shorter.
However, other drivers will treat you according to what you drive. I live in rural Virginia with a lot of redneck 4 x 4 pick drivers. When my wife drives her pearl white Acura they can be quite aggressive. On the same road, at the same time of day, with the same drivers around - but in our big black Chevy Tahoe - nobody messes with her.
However, other drivers will treat you according to what you drive. I live in rural Virginia with a lot of redneck 4 x 4 pick drivers. When my wife drives her pearl white Acura they can be quite aggressive. On the same road, at the same time of day, with the same drivers around - but in our big black Chevy Tahoe - nobody messes with her.
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Herds the word!
4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Rear Fog Lights
I love that option! Rear Fog Lights.
Let them do whatever. I put myself in the best scenario with Dash Cams. After that I leave it up to my insurance and my attorney. And yes, if hit I normally use an attorney. Well worth it. Been there many many times before, lost wages, injuries, and I don't need another full time job dealing with someone else's problems.
Call me lame or smart, but the settlement check is nice. After all, it was not my fault and time is money.
Let them do whatever. I put myself in the best scenario with Dash Cams. After that I leave it up to my insurance and my attorney. And yes, if hit I normally use an attorney. Well worth it. Been there many many times before, lost wages, injuries, and I don't need another full time job dealing with someone else's problems.
Call me lame or smart, but the settlement check is nice. After all, it was not my fault and time is money.
I have just been assuming that they can somehow guess that I'm relatively new to driving a 6-speed, and that being right on top of me (especially on hills) still makes my pulse go up a bit... condolences may be sent to my clutch... 
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 10
From: Nr. Boston, MA
Don't forget about the two-second brake delay to help you in these situations...
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 14
From: FL
its not an illusion, people are idiots. they think if they are 2 inches from the car in front of them, they will get through the light "faster"... which is back asswards if you think about it. Race cars do not start a race bumper to bumper, they are all spaced at least a cars length from each other. why? bc then everyone can start at the same time at the same speed!
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green.
i really want to do the rear squirter thing, but i like my rear wiper too much, it gets used fairly often. ive almost gone as far as putting up some sort of LED sign that says "Back off!" or something... ive needed stuff like that when normal driving too, people riding my *** and not realizing what a "brake check" is. seems like these days, it takes almost 3 sets of "brake check" lights for some morons to realize they are way too close for comfort or safety.
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green.
i really want to do the rear squirter thing, but i like my rear wiper too much, it gets used fairly often. ive almost gone as far as putting up some sort of LED sign that says "Back off!" or something... ive needed stuff like that when normal driving too, people riding my *** and not realizing what a "brake check" is. seems like these days, it takes almost 3 sets of "brake check" lights for some morons to realize they are way too close for comfort or safety.
Had one of these for years....it seems to help!!
http://www.waymotorworks.com/3rd-bra...ulsar-kit.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/3rd-bra...ulsar-kit.html
3rd Brake Light Pulsar kit for MINI Cooper
These units will flash your third center brake light about after you apply your brakes and then brake light will remain on without flashing as long as your brake lights are on.
Using surface mount technology, this little unit was designed to be as small as we could get it for our MINI's and it fits nicely into the third brake light cavity.
The pulsar module allows you to select Long or Short pulse duration during installation by moving the jumper by the S and L. The Short setting pulses the light about 6 times while the Long pulses it about 10 times.
After getting many requests from owners who live in high stop and go traffic areas like Los Angeles, we developed the second generation PULSAR with SmartPulse technology. When in stop and go traffic, SmartPulse will stop the third brake light from pulsating. When you hold your brake pedal down for more than 12 seconds and then reapply your brake within 9 seconds, this unit will not pulse the third brake light. It will come on solid. When you reapply your brakes after 12 seconds, the unit will pulse your third brake light again.
If you do not wish to have the SmartPulse enabled, simply remove the jumper at J4 and the unit will behave like a gen1 PULSAR.
Installation is very simple. Unscrew your third light, connect to the wiring and reinstall the light.
These units will flash your third center brake light about after you apply your brakes and then brake light will remain on without flashing as long as your brake lights are on.
Using surface mount technology, this little unit was designed to be as small as we could get it for our MINI's and it fits nicely into the third brake light cavity.
The pulsar module allows you to select Long or Short pulse duration during installation by moving the jumper by the S and L. The Short setting pulses the light about 6 times while the Long pulses it about 10 times.
After getting many requests from owners who live in high stop and go traffic areas like Los Angeles, we developed the second generation PULSAR with SmartPulse technology. When in stop and go traffic, SmartPulse will stop the third brake light from pulsating. When you hold your brake pedal down for more than 12 seconds and then reapply your brake within 9 seconds, this unit will not pulse the third brake light. It will come on solid. When you reapply your brakes after 12 seconds, the unit will pulse your third brake light again.
If you do not wish to have the SmartPulse enabled, simply remove the jumper at J4 and the unit will behave like a gen1 PULSAR.
Installation is very simple. Unscrew your third light, connect to the wiring and reinstall the light.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 777
Likes: 1
From: Richardson, TX
I'm kinda guilty of pulling too close and driving too close. I think (falsely) for some reason it is going to speed up the guy in front of me. It bugs the crap out of me when people accelerate from zero to 40 in a 1/2 mile. Saves gas and all, but I want to hit the speed limit and drive there, not make it a scenic road trip on the way to the speed limit. It's not MINI and it sure ain't me.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 831
Likes: 7
From: Tucson, Arizona
its not an illusion, people are idiots. they think if they are 2 inches from the car in front of them, they will get through the light "faster"... which is back asswards if you think about it. Race cars do not start a race bumper to bumper, they are all spaced at least a cars length from each other. why? bc then everyone can start at the same time at the same speed!
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green
The only way you could have everyone starting up at the same time is if everyone stopped at the same time. Race cars can do it because they drive within inches (and sometimes less) of each other. Most normal people don't do that.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers, Fl
I can definitely tell a difference between somebody at a normal distance behind me and when I can taste the grill because they're trying to pull on top of me in ANY vehicle I'm driving. I disagree about the whole length of the car hypothesis, personally.
Especially when trucks do it. I shouldn't only see a blue oval in my rear view.
Especially when trucks do it. I shouldn't only see a blue oval in my rear view.
its not an illusion, people are idiots. they think if they are 2 inches from the car in front of them, they will get through the light "faster"... which is back asswards if you think about it. Race cars do not start a race bumper to bumper, they are all spaced at least a cars length from each other. why? bc then everyone can start at the same time at the same speed!
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green.
i really want to do the rear squirter thing, but i like my rear wiper too much, it gets used fairly often. ive almost gone as far as putting up some sort of LED sign that says "Back off!" or something... ive needed stuff like that when normal driving too, people riding my *** and not realizing what a "brake check" is. seems like these days, it takes almost 3 sets of "brake check" lights for some morons to realize they are way too close for comfort or safety.
think about it; if everyone gave a cars length btwn cars at a stop light, they could all start driving at nearly the same time, and we could all be going 10-20mph instantly, vs having to wait "your turn" in line, and start from a dead stop 30 seconds after the light has turned green.
i really want to do the rear squirter thing, but i like my rear wiper too much, it gets used fairly often. ive almost gone as far as putting up some sort of LED sign that says "Back off!" or something... ive needed stuff like that when normal driving too, people riding my *** and not realizing what a "brake check" is. seems like these days, it takes almost 3 sets of "brake check" lights for some morons to realize they are way too close for comfort or safety.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
How close is too close?
So how close is too close? Are we talking inches?
I'll have to scan my Dash Cam to see if I can post video from the rear HD camera. Then you all decide. In the meantime, I am glad to have the Super Bumper hanging back there.
I'll have to scan my Dash Cam to see if I can post video from the rear HD camera. Then you all decide. In the meantime, I am glad to have the Super Bumper hanging back there.
I've noticed this a lot in 5 years of owning a MINI. I just leave enough room in front of me incase the idiot doesn't brake in time so I maneuver around in the space I have. Be careful out there, plenty of drivers who text while driving -__-
4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Texting
These smart phones will end up killing us.
I see that more and more. someone slows down or does not go in stopped traffic because they are texting. Must be addictive? I don't text and have a cheap cell phone but could text. Old, 51 here and not my method of communication but I hear it is huge among the younger generation. At a light, oh my God I need to text or check my social media. These smart phones will end up killing us.
I'm actually 24 years old, and I HATE texting or phone calls while driving. I just love my quiet commute and my pop and burble JCW exhaust. But I keep my eyes peeled through my blind spots, my rear, and front. I just don't trust any driver on the road from 16-100 years old.
4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
True
So true. And the damage would be minimal. More of an annoyance. I tend to avoid the expressway. Too fast and crazies out there. I like my winding roads to work and can enjoy the Mini in Sport Mode
I like to feel the car and the curves. And the Turbo is a bonus!
I like to feel the car and the curves. And the Turbo is a bonus!
So you trust this woman? Video Link: http://youtu.be/hMdi8NZUscY
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 377
Likes: 15
From: Salem County, NJ, USA
So you trust this woman?
http://youtu.be/hMdi8NZUscY
http://youtu.be/hMdi8NZUscY
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