The general rule is that you should be able to see the rear tyres of the car in front. If you can't, you're too close.

The only reason I need to see the light change is if the light is at an intersection with a lot of traffic so I can toot my horn at inattentive drivers more quickly.

So, it's not particularly important, and often, those intersections need you to stay closer to the car in front of you, because especially in Texas, I think, probably 70-ish percent of drivers don't know how to use lanes correctly. They line up in one lane leaving a second lane almost empty. So you have to pull forward to give more people behind you the chance to change into a good lane.

TLDR I want to see the light to help traffic move, but pulling forward can also help traffic move.

Still think about some dashcam footage of an explosion on a highway. Some vehicles were able to make immediate U-turns.

I may not be prepared for but I am always ready to make an immediate U-turn if a meteor strikes traffic way down the road 🤷‍♂️ 😬

I just want a decently sized hatchback with a spacious trunk.