[vlasev]

One problem of the "car idle" in terms of humans is that it takes almost constant attention to make sure you don't bump into the cars in front. Compare that to the speed-up/break/slow-down which allows time to relax. In my own driving I tend to have a more relaxed speed-up/slow-down cycle which is somewhere in-between the two modes you describe.

[leviathan]

Not to mention that, in the country I live in, it is guaranteed that while you're idly rolling forward, some asshole will cut you off and take your place so that he can win that precious 2 seconds.

[mikeash]

So let him. What's the harm? If he's gaining an insignificant amount of time, then you're losing an insignificant amount of time.

[Roboprog]

Now I have to slam on the breaks, instead of having a gap to avoid hard accelerate/break cycles.

I'd like to avoid the wear on my car and my nerves, but it's not possible because some (expletive) person will fill the gap.

[mixmastamyk]

To avoid breaking, allow more space in front, including space for someone to merge in.

[Roboprog]

lather, rinse, repeat.

(or was I being trolled? see "comedy in Boston" in one of the "cousin" comments nearby)

[mixmastamyk]

The linked article in this major thread explains why this doesn't make much difference:

    http://trafficwaves.org/trafexp.html

In my experience cars are just as likely to cut in as out, and that's what the extra space is for anyway.

If you arrive any later it will be minute or two per hour, so worrying about people "getting ahead" of you accomplishes nothing. If you want to win the race against the others on the freeway tomorrow, leave 5 minutes earlier!

[happyscrappy]

This happens to an almost comic degree in Boston. One car, invariably with Maine plates, insists on leaving five car lengths between them and the driver in front of them. By Boston standards this is a monster opening which is quickly filled and the Maine driver continues to back off. This happens the entire way through the city.