All this discussion about following distance has produced no new
information.   The same old 2 second or 1 car length issues are
aired repetitively and agonizingly.  We all agree, its a great idea
but it can't be enforced because everyone won't obey the rules.

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT:-) It seems to me that there is another answer
to this issue which everyone seems to have missed (remember your math...
there are always two solutions to a problem...the "real" one and the
"imaginary" one.)  [BTW...I though of waiting until 4/1 to post this...]

The other solution is to make your following distance zero.  That's
right!  Not 5 inches, 5 feet, or 5 car lengths...but ZERO!   If your
following distance is zero there can be no collision, your reaction
time is irrelevant, and you don't even have to have functional brakes.
In a conventional chain reaction collision everyone potentially suffers
the same damage ....well in this scenario each vehicle tailgating at
zero distance absorbs some of the shock of the collision.  As you go
back in the chain each vehicle would receive progressively less damage.
(The insurance companies should love it.)  Of course the guy in front
suffers the affects of the cumulative inertia of ALL vehicles in the
chain.  (I have always been told it was cheaper to kill someone than
put them in the hospital for an extended period.)

Of course there are a few problems.  No one will want to be in front of a
pack. [Pet peeve #395;  the guy who just has to be in front...he can't
be behind a motorcycle doing 75mph...he's just gotta pass].   [Pet peeve
#722, the slow poke in the fast lane...56mph....he won't survive the
first accident.]  It will make TV commercials more realistic [Pet peeve
#201, the Honda, M/B, et al. commercials shot with a long lens showing
race car driving under highway conditions at 12 inch following distance.]

Chris Edmonds @ AT&T Something-or-Other, Naperville, IL ...!ihnp4!ihlpl!chrise
  .....This in no way reflects the opinions of myself or my employer.....
       [Don't bother to send flames...I don't like the idea either!]