It's a fair point, and at least I think of myself as a fairly conservative driver.
I think it is the only time though that I've been faced with a stationary car suddenly appearing where I wouldn't expect one, and that's very different to the car in front needing to slam on the brakes with whom you can share some stopping distance.
fwiw 6 seconds at 45mph is 120 meters. That we can comfortably go that far in 6 seconds is a modern marvel, but it's also 20 car lengths.
I understand 6 seconds is a lot of space. My cruise control has a delay before reacting so 6 seconds allows for the car to react and if it’s not to my liking then leaves me with the necessary space to stop. On the highway I usually control my distance by switching between 4 and 6 seconds.
What car is that? Of all the cars I've driven I've never encountered one that allows for more than ~2 seconds on the maximum setting. Thus leaving me a bit nervous.
I'm almost hesitant to believe that any car on the market has good enough sensors to do 6 seconds. That is a very long distance at highway speeds.
Quote: "For example, if you drive at 56 mph (90 km/h), the distance is maintained as follows: Distance 4 - approximately 172 feet"
172 feet at 56 mph is 2.1 seconds.
Not saying that you are wrong (maybe a recent model has better cruise control), but I think most people vastly overestimate the adaptive cruise controls in their cars and ~4 seconds would, for reference, vastly outperform 2023 Tesla Y in that aspect.
Huh, yeah I have a 2021 and your math seems correct.
I always drive setting four and it keeps a very comfortable amount of distance. I think something is incorrect here because I definitely get at _least_ three seconds, or maybe I'm counting too fast.
I think it is the only time though that I've been faced with a stationary car suddenly appearing where I wouldn't expect one, and that's very different to the car in front needing to slam on the brakes with whom you can share some stopping distance.
fwiw 6 seconds at 45mph is 120 meters. That we can comfortably go that far in 6 seconds is a modern marvel, but it's also 20 car lengths.