Drivers going through the construction zone on Interstate 94 between Maple Grove and Rogers are following the vehicles in front of them too closely, and it's causing havoc.
From July 1 to Sept. 30, police responded to more than 100 crashes in the work zone stretching from the I-94/694/494 interchange to Hwy. 101. Drivers "following too closely," also called tailgating, was cited as the main factor by far in the crashes, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
That raises the question: Just how close is too close?
The Minnesota driver's manual doesn't specify a distance but says drivers must "maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you." It also says motorists must be far enough back to be able to stop or turn to avoid a collision.
Applying the so-called "3 second rule" to keep a safe distance between your car and the vehicle ahead of you isn't just sage advice trumpeted by driver's ed instructors — it's in the driver's manual.
Here's how it works. Drivers are to look ahead and choose a reference point such as a telephone pole or sign. When the vehicle ahead of you passes the reference point, count to three. If you pass the reference point before you are through counting, you are following too closely.
The scenario played out in Maple Grove on Sept. 11, when a westbound driver slowed in congestion near Maple Grove Parkway and was hit from behind. That set off a chain-reaction crash involving five motorists, according to a State Patrol report, and spawned a mileslong traffic jam.
Nearly 42% of wrecks that occurred during the three-month period involved drivers not leaving enough space between vehicles. The second leading cause was drivers who failed to stay in their lane, resulting in 20% of the crashes. Motorists who drove in a careless or negligent manner, or improperly turned or merged in traffic, were the other main causes, MnDOT data showed.
