> Yes, 7 ft is fine, stopped at a stop light. More might
 > be slightly better if on an upsloped hill because the
 > one in front *might* have a clutch transmission and
 > need a little room for 'slippage'.
 > MR> there, i was taught that as long as you could see the tires of the car
 > MR> infront of you touch the ground you were ok at a stop light. I've got
 > Sortof.  I used to have a clutch type car, so I know
 > on a *slope* to give more room than that. More than
 > once, I had to put on the brake, get out of the car,
 > and go back to ask a person to back up a bit.  I admit
 > though, most of the time when that happened, they were
 > closer than 7ft _or_ it was a serious 'slope'
 > involved.
Slightly off topic also, but since standard transmissions have enjoyed a 
comeback, it's worth telling:  When I took driver's education in high school 
way back when, we were explicitly and carefully taught to how start on a 
hill.  We were taken to a steep hill for practise.  Put on your handbrake, 
put the car in first, let the clutch out and step on the gas gradually, as 
usual.  When the car pulls forward on the brake, then let the brake off.  No 
slippage.  A similar tactic will work for backing out of a parallel parking 
spot at the side of a downslope.  I always put on my handbrake when I have to 
stop on a steep upslope.  Of course, there are a lot of people who don't know 
to do this, so it is prudent not to get too close to the person in front of 
you when you have to stop on an upslope.  At least, though, using the 
handbrake to your advantage makes it unnecessary to deal with belligerent 
tailgaters when you're stopped on a hill.
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