Leave a gap!

What a great story Andrew Owen had to tell about his trip North on New Year’s Day (Daily News, January 7).

But I think there is something that Andrew has not realised about his follower who was suffering from weak bladder or irritable bowel syndrome, and that is that Mr. IBS Weakbladder probably does not read the newspaper or more than likely never ever learned to read, so no matter how much some of us go on about it the message will never get through.

We travel the same route north frequently and are often exposed to similar behaviour from following traffic.

I don’t think I dawdle. In fact some would say I travel a little quickish.

We often get Mr. Weakbladder’s cousins on our tail and once they do get past and catch up to the vehicle in front we become blinded by the on-andoff flashing of brakelights as the driver’s right foot is obviously changing from hard acceleration to hard braking.

When us old people were taught to drive last century the basic following distance was set at a car length (four metres) per ten miles per hour or kilometres per hour, so at, say, 90kph leave at least 36 or 40 metres gap in front.

This gives time to react to what is happening ahead, no need to jump on the brakes. With a diesel vehicle a quick downshift will slow you down sufficiently to the point that I can drive through the Awakino Gorge without touching the brake pedal and without holding anybody up – except drivers with an urge for the toilet.

Rob Godderidge, Urenui