I know this is all over the news... but wow. That had to have sucked to have been in the car between the bus and that big rig.

:( The person in the SUV died (the car that no longer looks like a vehicle..only twist metal) thats awful. I know I saw this on the news, but I was busy at the time so I wasn't paying attention (yes it made international news...)

Yep...This is what happens when people drive TOO FAST and TOO CLOSELY to each other.

I can almost guarantee that there will be HUGE lawsuits to follow...

OMG!

Where was this? What's the source?? I'm on my phone or else I'd search for it..

omg - i havent heard about this one, i better look it up online and see (i dont watch tv, havent had a chance to even be caught up on the news :-( been 2 busy)

that is just awful

Holy cow. :( That's really awful!!

The wonders of the two second rule.

two seconds? like staying 2 seconds behind? i always remember it being four..?

@transit ^

@Jodi, four in wet conditions

@transit..over here in my state we have the 4 second rule. i forgot you're from overseas!

You know, after looking it up, I found that the DMV website for my state says to give the two seconds.
"Allow no less than 2 seconds between vehicles during the daytime. Allow more leeway for different conditions: 3 seconds at night, and 4 seconds during inclement weather such as during rain, snow, or ice."

But I was never taught that in drivers ed. It was something like 'give one car length distance between you and the car in front of you for every X miles per hour.' I think it was ten. But my memory sucks.

Actually, FEDERAL law for Commercial vehicles, which the Semi and the bus BOTH fall under, requires FAR more than 2 seconds.

To begin with, the Semi was NOT in the wrong here. He was already stopped. The Pickup is the one that failed to stop in time and hit the semi.

The Busses were ALSO following FAR too closely to the Truck. According to law requirements, the Bus should have given itself time to stop according to a formula that figures in stopping distance of the vehicle and the speed.

Those busses basically should have been AT LEAST 150 yards behind that truck.

i agree with CJ.. this all could have been prevented!!

A high school girl on the first bus also died. :(

holy crap. that's horrible. i think we're told 2 seconds here, but most instructors say 3 - 4 seconds.

I've never heard of the two second rule, but surely it depends what speed you're going. Whenever I'm on the motorway I think about those markings on the M6. The space you need to allow at 70mph is much larger than most people seem to realise.

@redraggle
Two second rule in dry weather, four seconds in wet weather, they're called chevrons, they're two seconds apart at the road speed, as obviously it is different at 30 compared to 70. It is in theory tests.

@Transit. Yes, chevrons, that's what I meant! And my theory test was 11 years ago!

2-4 secs aint enough for me.. lol I'm one of those I judge on how fast we're going, road conditions, familiarity of the road, how they are driving, how I am driving, how my reflexes are that day.. yes I'm that pain in the ass driver (but atleast I still go the speed limit!)

I wouldnt even had been between the semi and buses.. yes that how anal I am about driving...I woulda pulled over and repositioned myself on the road...

needless to say... I only drive when I have to ..lol

Yeah, I wouldn't have been between them either...I hate being around semis at ALL. Freaking terrifying.

Colorado is doing a huge sting on tailgating, if you are less then a certain number of car lengths behind a car on a highway or city street, you can guarantee you will be getting pulled over. The police say 1 car length for every 10 miles per hour you are driving.

Oh my gosh, that is... just... wow. =( That's horrible.

I usually do 3 seconds, 5 in the wet. And that's when I'm familiar with where I am. And being tailgated WHEN I'M GOING THE SPEED LIMIT irritates me like nothing else.

I aim for 2 - 3 car lengths in dry conditions. 4 - 5 in wet.
That is just nuts though.That bus must have been right up that cars ass.