>Anyway, back to the the Defensive Driving Class....I learned about the 3
>second rule....and I have driven by it ever since. 1)Pick a mark along
>the road, 2)Start counting as the car in front of you passes the mark,
>3) Count to three.. if you are at the mark on the count of three or
>shortly there after, you will have safe stopping distance from the car
>in front if you are on dry pavement.

That's what they taught us in High School back in california many years ago.  The problem is that If you try that around here (NC), two people pull in front of you and one comes up 6 inches off your back bumper and flashes his lights!

Bill