Date:         Sun, 20 Jan 2002 10:39:25 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon crash tests and crumple zones
Comments: To: JKrevnov@AOL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Rich, the consequence of a traffic violation on my part once made it necessary
that I choose between court and a report on my drivers record or defensive driver
training with the professionals. The cost was the same for the traffic ticket or
the driver training . I chose the latter. It was one of the best hundred bucks I
ever spent. I came away with a whole new view of driver awareness and a greater
appreciation for the driver training professionals.

So, to your comment re: "The Gap Filler" ..... let him. Keep your 3 second
distance. He's the guy you will be stopping to call the cops and ambulance for
when the crazy  in front of him suddenly puts on the brakes to avoid the cat
crossing the road or whatever just when he swings over  in front of you.

Once while living in Alaska when driving on the Kenai Peninsula I was maintaining
my 3 second distance when this car came busting around me to fill the gap. I saw
down the road on the shoulder in the brush a Moose standing. They are very
unpredictable. The Gap Filler went tearing past and just as he swung in front of
me, the moose decided to cross the road. The Gap Filler did not see the moose and
the car he pulled in behind suddenly put on the brakes to avoid the Moose. The
Gap Filler suddenly faced a crisis of slamming into the back of the car ahead so
instead he swung to the left to avoid the rear end collision ..... only to slam
head on into the moose. Totalled the moose and his car.

So I say, if a Gap Filler just has to fill the gap.....let'um!

Play it safe. It's not worth any other wise.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Rico Sapolich wrote:

> John,
>
> I try to maintain a prudent distance behind the car I am following, but some
> damn, unpredictable fool in another car inevitably decides to overtake me and
> fill in the gap.
>
> Rich