I try to keep a good distance behind the car in front in normal traffic. And as I was taught, when I stop in a queue (eg, at a roundabout) I try to leave enough gap that I can see the tyres on the vehicle in front, so that we can all move off promptly when the traffic on the roundabout clears…
So on this occasion, the traffic clears and we all move off; 2 car lengths in, the guy in front stops dead, halfway across the give way line. Slow speed impact, minor damage, legally my fault. We swap details, he’s [excessively] friendly, he and his passengers say they’re fine. Various other details don’t seem quite right. A week later he’s claiming whiplash x 3. My insurer is suspicious and it all becomes clear to me. In hindsight, I suspect he’d taken the bulbs out of his brake lights.
So, how closely do you follow the car in front when pulling away?