# Why do some people stop so far back from red lights? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280 "2013-06-18T15:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![uultramann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/57b2e6/32.png) [@uultramann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uultramann)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/61 "2014-06-14T23:51:32Z")
It’s a depth perception issue. People are taught to stop at the white line, so they stupidly believe that when they stop and can see the line just at the front of their car, that it means they are all the way up to the line. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/62 "2014-06-15T00:00:34Z")
Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this light to change for, like, a\* year\* now! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/63 "2014-06-15T00:01:30Z")
_BEEP!_ ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/64 "2014-06-15T15:06:56Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > I wasn’t sure which board this should go in as I’m not sure there is a “factual” reason for this occurence. > > I’m not a native New Yorker. I moved here a handful of years ago. So there’s a thing motorists do around here that confuses me. I’ve never seen it in my home state or in other states so far. New York is a big state and I don’t spend a lot of time in other counties, so this may be even more isolated than I know. Maybe none of you have seen this happen. > > At a stop light, I expect the place to stop at is with your nose on the white line, or where the sign says “Stop here on red”. However, I notice every day at least one person who does not stop here. They stop anywhere from one to two and a half car lengths back from the white line. They don’t seem to occupy a certain demographic of people other than being from the state of New York. Sometimes people do this behind other cars, so we have a person at the stoplight with their nose on the white line as normal, and the person behind them is stopped two car lengths back. Sometimes I’m sitting on the line and the cars on either side of me stop way back, so I’m the only one up there! It’s really weird. > > Now, there’s no bicyclists on these roads, and it happens on large avenues and small intersections alike. The lights are all clearly visible from the line without craning the neck. The people doing this aren’t universally slow or fast starters, drive over or under the speed limit, or on their cell phones. They’re not trying to switch lanes, either. > > So, why are these motorists doing it? I can’t figure it out. Do any of you have a guess? I am not in New York but I do this to be safe and avoid accidents. Though 2 car lengths is extreme. I stop short by 1/2 a car length. The problem is people turning left on to the street I am on. They tend to drive through the opposing lane where I am sitting. Yes they would be at fault but that doesn’t reduce the aggravation of an accident. Almost all people will see you at the end of your lane and avoid hitting you. But then you are counting on the quality of their driving. Experience has shown me that isn’t a good bet. So I hang back, admittedly usually on narrower roads. It is safer. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/65 "2014-06-16T03:35:44Z")
People in Charlotte like to leave huge gaps between cars at red lights. More than once, I’ve been tempted to parallel park in the space they leave. They either seem to be inattentive dolts playing around with their phone, or psychopaths who want to make the sensor time out, trapping everyone behind them at another red light as they go through on the stale yellow. ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/66 "2014-06-16T15:54:36Z")
I see this quite a bit in WI. All lanes, often the first car at the light but definitely not always. I think it’s people who’s eye-sight, or line of sight due to their height, makes it hard for them to determine where to stop so they err on the side of caution. I’ve taken to pulling in the ‘spot’ they leave open when I’m on my motorcycle. I had one old lady pull up to RIGHT behind me - I looked back and shrugged. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/67 "2014-06-18T22:54:07Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > They’re from a northern state (where snow and ice lasts for 6 to 7 months solid) and that’s the way they were taught. If someone rear ends you and you get pushed into the intersection, the fault then becomes yours if you hit someone else. I don’t know anyone who was taught that, and there’s only one more state north of here that you can go. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/68 "2014-06-19T02:19:58Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > They’re from a northern state (where snow and ice lasts for 6 to 7 months solid) and that’s the way they were taught. If someone rear ends you and you get pushed into the intersection, the fault then becomes yours if you hit someone else. I was stopped at a light behind three other cars. I was last in line before a drunk crashed into me at more than 40 mph. My car was pushed into the car in front, that car was pushed into the car in front, and that car was pushed into the intersection. The drunk created a five-car pile-up. My car and the drunk’s were totalled. Had the leading car hit another travelling through the intersection on a green light, I can assure you the driver who was pushed into the intersection would not have been held responsible. **Ediited** to add it was summer. ---
**Author:** ![fstbk1968](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@fstbk1968](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fstbk1968)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/69 "2014-06-19T14:33:19Z")
That white line is called a “stop bar”. It is 24 inches wide and there are very specific guidelines as to where we place it, i.e., distance from the crosswalk, traffic signals geometry, etc. You are supposed stop at the line, not past it and not behind it. If the traffic signals use detection (embedded loops or cameras), their placement is based upon vehicles stopping at the stop bar. If you stop too short of the bar, chances are you won’t be detected and you won’t get a signal. You shouldn’t have to stop short to avoid being clipped by turning traffic; the location of the stop bar also takes that condition into account (there are always exceptions, however). I believe the reason why people stop too short, as previously stated, is poor spacial awareness and/or poor depth perception. Understandable but annoying when they prevent signal activation & you are stuck behind them. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/70 "2014-06-19T15:58:38Z")
Are these people who stop too far back driving long nosed vehicles? They can’t see the white “stop” line anymore (due to the length of their front hood). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/71 "2014-06-19T16:03:48Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > They either seem to be inattentive dolts playing around with their phone, or psychopaths who want to make the sensor time out, trapping everyone behind them at another red light as they go through on the stale yellow. The role of non-specific brain death should not be underestimated. ---
**Author:** ![drfncl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@drfncl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drfncl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/72 "2014-11-18T10:32:26Z")
Things like this reach a critical mass, and that’s when more and more idiots think it’s acceptable. Cell phones helped it reach that critical mass, but mostly I think it’s people whose delusions have caused them to think that the people in the cars on their left and their right might shoot them or something. No kidding. Cracking up at the parallel parking dude upthread. I’ve done that too. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/73 "2014-11-18T11:02:11Z")
Is it possible these people have received an automated red light ticket, or know someone who has? That can turn people into absolute nuts about staying as far away as posible from red lights. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/74 "2014-11-18T11:08:50Z")
If you’ve ever seen an 18-wheeler try and make a tight turn and seen that sucker go way over the white line you may understand why some folks prefer a little wiggle room rather than put themselves in potential danger. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/75 "2014-11-18T12:32:07Z")
I think it is a psychological phenomenon that some drivers refuse to pull up because the car in front of them is visually “touching” their hood, from their POV. In other words, no 3-D thinking, they “see” that they are close enough. Also, see “idiots”. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/76 "2014-11-18T12:35:58Z")
I posit that as a nation, we could save a\* lot\* of gasoline by simply pulling ALL THE WAY up to the stopped car in front of you (couple feet of space). Then, when the light goes green, we don’t all have a lot of ground to cover that _could have been_ covered by simply coasting a few more feet seconds earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280/77 "2014-11-18T12:43:48Z")
If the lights are strung too high, which is common around here, then I have to stop well back from the stop line or else I can’t see the traffic lights because they’re then above my windshield. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-stop-so-far-back-from-red-lights/661280.md?page=3)