Camp Van with Kids in It, Tailgating - What Do I Do?

Personally, I listen to my ipod through my radio in the car. I don't know many people who don't listen to music in the car. He was 1.5 secs behind the car, do you know this? It just sounded like you were behind him. Some people have impeccable reflexes and almost everyone can not get in an accident as long as they are paying attention. Cops don't even pull people over for going 5-7 over the speed limit. I've never met anyone that didn't go a little over, from officers in the Marines to normal everyday friends. I travel beside cops going 5 over, they don't care about it. If you get in an accident only going 5-7 over it's because you (general you) aren't paying attention not because of speed. Distance does make a different, but if he is paying attention it won't be a big problem. You could talk to the driver again. It sounds like he tried to accommodate you after the first time, 1.5 seconds to 3 seconds is twice as much distance. Plus it is true as Jen C said that speedometers have a give/take on speed. Mine is quite a few off, the speed limit readers will say 30 and my speedometer will say 33. But like I said, talk to the driver again or the camp counselor that it is not deadly but you are worried about it nonetheless. But until the driver is uncooperative I wouldn't jump the management ladder yet.

So lets get this straight, the bus driver was following the lead car at a distance that you felt was too close, even though you were behind the bus and not right next to it to really see? And by going to the school you could get this person fired, or ruin future trips for everyone? I would just let it go. You all got there and back fine, and I doubt the kids where ever in any danger. Driving 5 miles over the speed limit is also the norm, and that is assuming your speedometer and the one on the bus read the same, which is unlikely since most are off by up to 5 mile per hour in either direction. Honestly, just let it go.

Wow, really?
No, really???
I drive 5 to 10 miles over the speed limit all the time (on an open road) as does 90% of the population as far as I can tell.
Please don't burn bridges and focus negative energy on this.
Trust me, as your child enters high school, no matter how small, private, exclusive, Christian it is, there are much bigger concerns ahead.
I can't imagine following a car and literally counting the seconds between??? Do you have an app for that?

You will come off as sounding like the kid on the playground who tattles on everyone else even though they did the same thing too. If you were following them close enough to count the distance between cars you would have been speeding and following too closely too. You couldn't have accurately timed the distance without being beside them. Let it go.

I would let it go. Why? Because you could be dead wrong AND it sounds like he wasn't driving recklessly, just closer than you would prefer.

2 seconds is the standard in every state I've ever been in (41) and is what is taught in driving schools/ on state websites (I always check state highway patrol before driving though), and if he was 1.5 seconds behind, he was probably double checking himself and hitting 2 seconds. Half a second without a stopwatch (which he wouldn't have been using, he would have been counting in his head) is negligible.

Ditto, speedometers vary 5 miles in either direction. The lead car could well have a 'fast' running speedometer, and it would have placed them dead on the speed limit, and your car a 'slow' running speedometer which could have them at 10mi over the speed limit according to your meter. Sounds like neither of you had an 'end of the spectrum' speedometer since it was only ever 5-7 miles over. Regardless, however, it's not the Van's fault that the lead car either had a fast meter or was intentionally speeding.

Now... COULD you two have had identical speedometers? Yup. COULD Arizona have a rule that's totally different from the rest of the country (3 seconds instead of 2)? Yup.

But since he could ALSO have been driving as conscientiously as possible, I'd let it go. If it wouln't merit a ticket, it shouldn't merit someone's job, IMHO. Drive your son to away games, and leave it at that.

I agree with Jenn C.

I agree with the other mama's.

I agree with the others. I would let it go.

Write an anonomous letter to the supervisor of the buses and call the police the next time you are out on the road with this driver (driving in a separate car) and the local police will give hime a ticket.

Something else to think about is your son. High school is all about "fitting in". High schoold kids don't want mom or dad to do anything that they remotely believe will make them "stick-out"! My children freak out if I say I am going to call the school no matter what is going on.
DO NOT start him out as being "the kid with the over-protective parents"!
Let him grow up and be a part of a team. Some of the best part of being a team is the bus ride to and from the game!!

Sounds to me that this team will now have a team mom and your son and 1 or 2 others will be riding in your car to away games. Since it was a rented van and can't hold all the team anyway the coaches/school will welcome your presence (and scorekeeping...snack collection...water bottle refiller...) and your eyes and ears. If you feel something is truely dangerous then you must bring it up. You stated you mentioned something to the driver and he complied. If he needs to be policed, so be it until. Repeating proper behavior promotes retention.

I was in a multi-car pileup when I was 19. I was out of work for a year. Tailgating scares the hell out of me. I usually use the self-depreciating humor to address this.

"I know I'm a little paranoid. But I was seriously injured in a multi-car pileup where tailgating was a big factor. Tailgating scares the hell out of me. Would you be willing to humor me and make sure you leave the full 3 seconds of space? Thank you so much!"

Hope this helps!