[dzhiurgis]

Where do you drive? I feel at least some of it depends of driving style and culture... Rental MB I had in Spain had phantom braked few times a day until I eased off. Other cars in LT and NZ - maybe once a month or less.

And by phantom braking I mean emergency braking a bit too early - i.e. I am perfectly aware I am too close to a car in front, I have foot on brakes and I see how traffic flows, yet the car brakes.

[Daneel_]

In Sydney, Australia. I’d say I’m quite a conservative, safe driver (I have kids). I don’t tailgate, and actually I’ve never had it false positive on a car driving in front of me. It’s typically on stationary objects, or small moving objects. Or on nothing at all shrug

[danuker]

How much time would you have to brake, if the car ahead came to a sudden stop (for example, due to a crash)?

If less than one second, you are almost surely tailgating.