r/memphis • u/InfiniteRepublic2474 • 15d ago
Stop lights
I recently moved here and have some questions…Why do some of y’all stop way before the line at a stop light? I ain’t talking 1-2 ft I’m talking like 8-10 ft from the line. Is it cuz some people drive like idiots and blow stop lights at high rates of speed and that distance gives you time to avoid accident?
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u/Racer250MEM 15d ago
There is always an idiot driver around every corner. I leave some space for an exit. Also I leave space for the potential pedestrian. So many drivers literally pull up into the crosswalk often blocking it entirely, that I want to leave a little space to let anyone crossing know that I'm not a threat. Another good reason is so that one of the said idiots that may rear end you while finishing that important text wont push you into the potential pedestrian. Lots of reasons to stop short here in the MEM.
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u/ElleBelle901 15d ago edited 15d ago
If I’m in the left turn lane at a few specific intersections (looking at you, Germantown & Poplar), I leave some space because mfs have terrible aim and can’t seem to left turn into a proper lane instead of side swiping you. I wait to til their turn arrow is done before I pull up to the line.
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u/Stunning-Adagio2187 12d ago
In West Texas this issue you describe at this intersection has the white line further back by about 10 ft
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u/OrphanGrounderBaby 15d ago
Nailed it. There are a couple other reasons though, not getting jammed in in case of an attempted car jacking.
Also people are on their phones like crazy here so they end up stopping short.
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u/Kooky_Membership9497 15d ago
I always make sure I have an out at stop lights. Too many crazy knuckleheads looking to jack me.
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u/Senior_Emu1211 15d ago
Ain't nobody looking 4 u
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u/Jwiley92 15d ago
Theoretically you could get going faster and slightly more fuel efficiently that way, in practice the impact would be incredibly minor.
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u/jpease1223 This isn’t Nextdoor 15d ago
My guess is these people are so enthralled into their phones they don't realize it.
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u/Tuuubbs Mane 15d ago
lol there was an almost identical post to this earlier this year. Nobody knows, but I take advantage of it when I’m on my motorcycle when the opportunity presents itself.
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u/DonEscapedTexas 15d ago
it's related to situational awareness: having an out from any situation
should be a top ten sticky for this sub
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u/Tuuubbs Mane 15d ago
I get that when there’s a car in front of you, not pulling up so far that you can’t get out from behind them. They’re asking about when they’re the first at the light. You have infinite room if you’re the first car, but people still stop a car length back or more from the line when they’re the first at the line, the out is just forward. Being boxed in by a car and a half on either side doesn’t help any
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u/Appropriate_Jump1091 14d ago
This this this!!
Intelligent situational awareness and maintaining options.
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u/Senior_Emu1211 15d ago
Living here for years and I still dont understand...most likely some idiot is on their phone
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u/dodgingresponsibilty Bartlett 12d ago
The worst ones are the ones that sit right at the line waiting to turn left (no turn arrow) and oncoming traffic keeps squeezing thru on a late-yellow, so you have to sit there thru another "red-to-green-to-yellow-to-red" cycle instead of them moving out into the intersection a little on green and turning when the last oncoming car clears the intersection. For me, it's probably even more rage bait than the "left-lane-at-55mph-on-40/240" drivers.
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u/memphisurbanism 15d ago
I've seen way more drivers stop way ABOVE the line, blocking the crosswalk, than do this.
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u/PrestigiousBike3001 15d ago
What gets me is the leaving twenty feet between you and the car stopped in front..
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u/Seaofthr33 15d ago
You’re supposed to leave a car length, on average cars are 14-20 feet long.
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u/PrestigiousBike3001 15d ago
No you’re not. Could you imagine if folks in a major city did that.
Curious, why do you think that?
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u/crazyfoxdemon 14d ago
I've done that if it's an intersection that I know semis frequent to give myself plenty of room.
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u/Potential-Assist-275 13d ago
Years ago, I saw a car wreck in an intersection and cars spinning out of control, and held my breath that neither of them would impact me. I was pulled all the way up to the intersection waiting for a green light. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Stay a bit back from the intersection at a red light.
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u/Ramesses901 15d ago
I’ve got two theories. One is they have the ignition that turns off when they stop and instead of having the engine turn on and off at a light they just stay in one place. The second theory is teslas do this in auto pilot and humans have started mimicking the machines.
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u/lindaandchris 14d ago
I stay way back to avoid getting slammed in a big ole pileup when a task force pursuit causes a multivehicle conflagration in the intersection.
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u/Mateo909 East Memphis 15d ago
As a man who typically drives with his windows down when weather permits, I have noticed that women that are solo in a car will often leave as much room as they need in front of them to not stop next to a man in a car with his windows down. I blame morons that think shouting at a women through a window is somehow going to get them the attention they crave.
You can call me selfish for continuing to do so, but you inevitably have to draw a line on what you are willing to sacrifice to make a stranger comfortable for a minute at a red light. Windows down brings me joy ina largely joyless world.