Tailgating in New Jersey.

I drive Route 3 from Clifton NJ to Secaucus NJ every day, to and from work. It is about 10 miles, three to five lanes wide each direction. (Route 3 is the main route that feeds the Lincoln Tunnel, one of three or four ways for people to get into New York City from the West.) On a good day, the traffic is two to three carlengths apart, side by side, 60 to 80 MPH. Daily rush hours last from 6 AM to 10 AM and from 3 PM to 7 PM. To cross Route 3 on foot at any time of the day or night would range from extremely dangerous to absolutely gauranteed death.

If you are more than two carlengths back from the car in front of you, the person behind you will assume that you are dogging it and will pull out and pass you immediately -- either on the right or on the left, whichever seems more convenient.

People of all ages drive like maniacs here. In the first two weeks I was here, I saw more people run red lights than I had in my entire life before New Jersey, some 50 years.
When I say "run red lights," I do not mean the lights were maybe a little "pink"; I mean the lights were red for a count of two or three AND THEN the cars blew through at 40 to 50 MPH.
My 2002 Mustang's 232 Cu. In. V6 with Automatic transmission (Premium) does have the power, handling, and brakes to get me out of trouble.
So far, I have had enough common sense, reflexes, and plain ol' luck to keep me out of trouble my Mustang could not handle. 99.9% of the time, it has been the steering and brakes that have saved me.

If a 17-year-old exercizes care and good judgment, he or she may live to see his or her 18th birthday.

Carelessness and recklessness -- for example, using the streets for a test track -- will put you in an early grave... or worse... and I have seen "worse."

Thank God you did not hurt or kill an innocent bystander.

Enjoy your Mustang, and please drive safely. It would be a shame to suffer injury, death, or worse in one of the finest cars in the world: a Ford Mustang.

Use the racetracks for racetracks, use the test tracks for test tracks, use the streets as the law requires and as common sense dictates.