Changing lanes last second is not any better than slamming on the brakes, and IMO is actually worse. At least with brakes, the people behind will see the brake lights, with a last second lane change, nobody gets any warning.
slamming on your brakes to avoid wrecks. Really?
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Blame the boulevard law, at least in most states.
Get rear ended? Other guy's fault.
Change lanes into somebody? Your fault.
Me, I keep a map in my mind of all the vehicles around me, 360 degrees, and keep all my options open.
Get rear ended? Other guy's fault.
Change lanes into somebody? Your fault.
Me, I keep a map in my mind of all the vehicles around me, 360 degrees, and keep all my options open.
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Originally Posted By: ArcticDriver
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Just witnessed a nasty wreck the other day in my rear view mirror, I was on road going up a fairly steep hill with two lanes of traffic on each side and I was in the right lane and noticed a vehicle ahead with flashers on assisting another vehicle stopped and I moved to the left lane and just watched as the car behind me plowed into the stopped vehicle and at least two more cars caught in the wreckage because they turned sideways into both lanes. Speed limits are only 35 but pretty sure we were all going at least 40 that's just the flow of traffic on that hill.
The lesson here is when a good samaritan is stopping to assist a diabled vehcile, it is important to always leave a large space between the two vehicles to serve as a "cushion" for when some distracted driver smashes into the good samaritans vehicle.
I always cringe when I see a guy on the pavement working on a disabled vehicle with or without a second vehicle parked behind with flashers on. In this day & age, I would call roadside assistance even though I am capable of making many repairs. I instill this in all of our kids and grandkids as well. Roadside Assistance.
The numerous videos of police cruisers with full emergency lights flashing getting rear ended by distracted or drunk drivers is beyond belief.
I wish someone would tell that to the cops here. They always pull up like 12" behind the person then back onto the road slightly in an effort to get people to go around, but that's not always possible. Then they go and stand in front of the two vehicles. Just so they can write a ticket. Really both people need to be standing in the grass 15ft off to the side.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Just witnessed a nasty wreck the other day in my rear view mirror, I was on road going up a fairly steep hill with two lanes of traffic on each side and I was in the right lane and noticed a vehicle ahead with flashers on assisting another vehicle stopped and I moved to the left lane and just watched as the car behind me plowed into the stopped vehicle and at least two more cars caught in the wreckage because they turned sideways into both lanes. Speed limits are only 35 but pretty sure we were all going at least 40 that's just the flow of traffic on that hill.
The lesson here is when a good samaritan is stopping to assist a diabled vehcile, it is important to always leave a large space between the two vehicles to serve as a "cushion" for when some distracted driver smashes into the good samaritans vehicle.
I always cringe when I see a guy on the pavement working on a disabled vehicle with or without a second vehicle parked behind with flashers on. In this day & age, I would call roadside assistance even though I am capable of making many repairs. I instill this in all of our kids and grandkids as well. Roadside Assistance.
The numerous videos of police cruisers with full emergency lights flashing getting rear ended by distracted or drunk drivers is beyond belief.
I wish someone would tell that to the cops here. They always pull up like 12" behind the person then back onto the road slightly in an effort to get people to go around, but that's not always possible. Then they go and stand in front of the two vehicles. Just so they can write a ticket. Really both people need to be standing in the grass 15ft off to the side.
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Originally Posted By: PimTac
"Don't school Driver Ed programs still teach this?"
The school district I live in stopped drivers ed years ago. Students have to go to private driving schools.
Nope
"Don't school Driver Ed programs still teach this?"
The school district I live in stopped drivers ed years ago. Students have to go to private driving schools.
Nope
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
+1
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
+1
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I get the impression that most people think of using the brakes as a first resort in any unexpected situation. Steering only comes into play if brakes don't work AND they still have presence of mind at that point. Acceleration comes into play almost never -- people are terrified of the gas pedal unless they're angry or reckless. You rarely see people showing situational awareness and making proactive moves to maintain safety for everyone.
It'd be great if we had real driver training in this country, including accident avoidance and car control. Proactive rather than reactive driving.
If you aren't sure what's going on in front of you, you should be on the brakes a bit, or atleast covering them... There's no prize for keeping your speed up to swerve around something, as more speed only makes your situation worse if you miscalculate. Losing some speed gives you time and space to react and avoid an accident, as even my CRV will go through an "accident avoidance maneuver" just as well as a sports car if its done only 5-10 mph slower.
Only one time have I had to hit the gas to avoid being hit, as I was on the outside of a tight corner and someone on poor tires on the inside was sliding wide in the snow. At freeway speeds any car can pull around 1g of deceleration, but only a fraction of that in acceleration, and even at 50mph a car is much easier/safer to toss around than at 65-70.
I get the impression that most people think of using the brakes as a first resort in any unexpected situation. Steering only comes into play if brakes don't work AND they still have presence of mind at that point. Acceleration comes into play almost never -- people are terrified of the gas pedal unless they're angry or reckless. You rarely see people showing situational awareness and making proactive moves to maintain safety for everyone.
It'd be great if we had real driver training in this country, including accident avoidance and car control. Proactive rather than reactive driving.
If you aren't sure what's going on in front of you, you should be on the brakes a bit, or atleast covering them... There's no prize for keeping your speed up to swerve around something, as more speed only makes your situation worse if you miscalculate. Losing some speed gives you time and space to react and avoid an accident, as even my CRV will go through an "accident avoidance maneuver" just as well as a sports car if its done only 5-10 mph slower.
Only one time have I had to hit the gas to avoid being hit, as I was on the outside of a tight corner and someone on poor tires on the inside was sliding wide in the snow. At freeway speeds any car can pull around 1g of deceleration, but only a fraction of that in acceleration, and even at 50mph a car is much easier/safer to toss around than at 65-70.
Too many people think they're drafting on NASCAR. Rubbin' is Racing.
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That one gets me - folks likely can't save 5 minutes going over 75 mph - but they ride your bumper for miles - it's not safe to tap your brakes - but I tend to need to wash my windshield a couple times
- about half of them take the hint ...
Fear not. By 2022, most new cars will have AEB (automatic emergency braking). Should make texting while driving safer.
Quote:
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept. 1, 2022.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnew...on-new-vehicles
Quote:
The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA's 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept. 1, 2022.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnew...on-new-vehicles
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
So it's ALWAYS a "sports car"?
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
So it's ALWAYS a "sports car"?
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In my part of Texas it's most often a diesel 250/2500 ...
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Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
So it's ALWAYS a "sports car"?
Yeah I don't see that behavior as limited to the sports car set. Quite the contrary. Road ragers come in all stripes.
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
So it's ALWAYS a "sports car"?
Yeah I don't see that behavior as limited to the sports car set. Quite the contrary. Road ragers come in all stripes.
People are self-entitled idiots. I have avoided so many accidents just by assuming people will do stupid things. That way, when they do something stupid, I am fully prepared.
I used to commute every day into the city. I saw: texting, phone calls, facetime, snapchat/selfies, internet browsing, people watching movies on laptops, reading books, reading the newspaper, fornicating, eating entire meals, drinking (sometimes even alcoholic), putting on makeup, and DRIVING with both feet on the dash/out the window (must've been using cruise control).
This is why I think everyone should be required to drive a manual transmission car unless a handicap prevents it.
I used to commute every day into the city. I saw: texting, phone calls, facetime, snapchat/selfies, internet browsing, people watching movies on laptops, reading books, reading the newspaper, fornicating, eating entire meals, drinking (sometimes even alcoholic), putting on makeup, and DRIVING with both feet on the dash/out the window (must've been using cruise control).
This is why I think everyone should be required to drive a manual transmission car unless a handicap prevents it.
Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad
It's how we were trained in Driver Ed in school; always have an "out", such as an open space in adjacent lanes.
If not available, maneuver to a location in your lane that offers the out, or increase your following distance, or take some other appropriate step to increase your accident avoidance margin.
Don't school Driver Ed programs still teach this?
Note: I didn't take Drivers' Ed in school, my Dad taught me to drive, but the above concept was taught to me by my father and when talking to friends who were in the program, they indicated they were taught the same thing. I did, however, take the Motorcycle Safety Course, which expands on the concept.
One of the moments I remember with my Dad while I was driving was his insistance that I drive closer to the centre line, and to this day I drive closer to the yellow than most drivers, although I always stay completely in my lane. I can still hear him "those guys [meaning oncoming traffic] can get out of the way" [versus parked vehicles and people opening doors, etc].
You absolutely nailed it with keeping a 360 degree space around your vehicle. It's one of my biggest bugaboos, along with tailgating, with today's drivers. I was taught this with various driver courses I had taken in my youth. Back in my day with the Newport customs (my first beater) ford LTD's et al boats on the road you learned pretty quickly how to control your vehicle and its limits. If you didn't you'd be in a ditch pretty quickly - especially in a Canadian winter. Hence, drivers then by necessity were more cautious and courteous and drove to the conditions.
It's how we were trained in Driver Ed in school; always have an "out", such as an open space in adjacent lanes.
If not available, maneuver to a location in your lane that offers the out, or increase your following distance, or take some other appropriate step to increase your accident avoidance margin.
Don't school Driver Ed programs still teach this?
Note: I didn't take Drivers' Ed in school, my Dad taught me to drive, but the above concept was taught to me by my father and when talking to friends who were in the program, they indicated they were taught the same thing. I did, however, take the Motorcycle Safety Course, which expands on the concept.
One of the moments I remember with my Dad while I was driving was his insistance that I drive closer to the centre line, and to this day I drive closer to the yellow than most drivers, although I always stay completely in my lane. I can still hear him "those guys [meaning oncoming traffic] can get out of the way" [versus parked vehicles and people opening doors, etc].
You absolutely nailed it with keeping a 360 degree space around your vehicle. It's one of my biggest bugaboos, along with tailgating, with today's drivers. I was taught this with various driver courses I had taken in my youth. Back in my day with the Newport customs (my first beater) ford LTD's et al boats on the road you learned pretty quickly how to control your vehicle and its limits. If you didn't you'd be in a ditch pretty quickly - especially in a Canadian winter. Hence, drivers then by necessity were more cautious and courteous and drove to the conditions.
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Some years ago on a California freeaway with frequent sharp slowdowns, i fell in behind a middle aged woman in a Camry once. (First mistake). When traffic got heavier in front of her, she would full on panic stop her car repeatedly even though the slowdown was still a ways away from her. The rear end of that car jumped up about a foot every time she did it.
She had both hands on the wheel, staring straight ahead. She was really out of her element. To this day I'm convinced she was horked up on drugs and driving impaired.
Ps, it wasn't brake checking to deter tailgating. I stayed 5 car lengths and then 10 car lengths behind her.
I live in a town with a very high level of elderly people. Some of the circumstances that one happens to find oneself in are somewhat unique to that element. Ergo, driving defensively is not just about being aware of everyone around you, it is in this case, being aware of the potentially limited cognitive and physical functions of these people and planning accordingly.
Today's example:
I was headed home and turned off a main 4-lane onto a relatively busy 2-lane that is skirted by a very generous bike lane on the eastern side. Two blocks up a light goes red and I'm the second car at it. Watching my rearview, there's a Cadillac driving in the bike lane, then back into the main lane, then back into the bike line. This immediately causes concern and I cut my wheels to the left to potentially go around the car in front of me (light is red, there's no oncoming) as he hastily approaches with no sign of slowdown. As he sails up my rear side I stab the gas and maneuver out of the way, however my abrupt movement must have jarred some fizzled out brain cells back to life as he slams on the brakes, stopping about two feet into the space my vehicle had occupied only a moment earlier. Watching in the rearview, the look on his face is one of astonishment, confusion and indignation. He obviously shouldn't be driving, and he probably knows that deep down in there somewhere.
And this would be far from the first episode where I've had a senior sailing up behind me. Sometimes tapping your brakes to flash the lights gets them to clue in, other times evasive action is necessary and sometimes they hit you. Shortly after we got the Expedition we were rear-ended by an elderly couple while we were stopped behind a city bus. They came sailing through the lights into a line of stopped traffic that you'd have to be entirely blind not to see. He hit the brakes half-way through the intersection, probably 20ft from my bumper. That was the saving grace. It caused the front of his van to dive and he buried his hood into my hitch receiver assembly, rather than the bumper. He wasn't so lucky, as the guy that was following him ended up in the back of the van.
Good story and thumbs up to your situational awareness.
Where I used to work in Markham our parking lot had a fore and aft entrance/exit on the same stretch of road. Without fail a couple of times a month I would abandon entering the nearest entrance to avoid being rear-ended. There was a railway crossing just before the first entrance where many an impatient driver would attempt to pass more cautious drivers on the right blindly into my path. With them not anticipating my turn and me checking my rear-view mirror I saved many a driver a lot of grief, if not my own.
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Some years ago on a California freeaway with frequent sharp slowdowns, i fell in behind a middle aged woman in a Camry once. (First mistake). When traffic got heavier in front of her, she would full on panic stop her car repeatedly even though the slowdown was still a ways away from her. The rear end of that car jumped up about a foot every time she did it.
She had both hands on the wheel, staring straight ahead. She was really out of her element. To this day I'm convinced she was horked up on drugs and driving impaired.
Ps, it wasn't brake checking to deter tailgating. I stayed 5 car lengths and then 10 car lengths behind her.
I live in a town with a very high level of elderly people. Some of the circumstances that one happens to find oneself in are somewhat unique to that element. Ergo, driving defensively is not just about being aware of everyone around you, it is in this case, being aware of the potentially limited cognitive and physical functions of these people and planning accordingly.
Today's example:
I was headed home and turned off a main 4-lane onto a relatively busy 2-lane that is skirted by a very generous bike lane on the eastern side. Two blocks up a light goes red and I'm the second car at it. Watching my rearview, there's a Cadillac driving in the bike lane, then back into the main lane, then back into the bike line. This immediately causes concern and I cut my wheels to the left to potentially go around the car in front of me (light is red, there's no oncoming) as he hastily approaches with no sign of slowdown. As he sails up my rear side I stab the gas and maneuver out of the way, however my abrupt movement must have jarred some fizzled out brain cells back to life as he slams on the brakes, stopping about two feet into the space my vehicle had occupied only a moment earlier. Watching in the rearview, the look on his face is one of astonishment, confusion and indignation. He obviously shouldn't be driving, and he probably knows that deep down in there somewhere.
And this would be far from the first episode where I've had a senior sailing up behind me. Sometimes tapping your brakes to flash the lights gets them to clue in, other times evasive action is necessary and sometimes they hit you. Shortly after we got the Expedition we were rear-ended by an elderly couple while we were stopped behind a city bus. They came sailing through the lights into a line of stopped traffic that you'd have to be entirely blind not to see. He hit the brakes half-way through the intersection, probably 20ft from my bumper. That was the saving grace. It caused the front of his van to dive and he buried his hood into my hitch receiver assembly, rather than the bumper. He wasn't so lucky, as the guy that was following him ended up in the back of the van.
Good story and thumbs up to your situational awareness.
Where I used to work in Markham our parking lot had a fore and aft entrance/exit on the same stretch of road. Without fail a couple of times a month I would abandon entering the nearest entrance to avoid being rear-ended. There was a railway crossing just before the first entrance where many an impatient driver would attempt to pass more cautious drivers on the right blindly into my path. With them not anticipating my turn and me checking my rear-view mirror I saved many a driver a lot of grief, if not my own.
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
I drive a truck and I could care a less if someone cuts in front of me because I leave ample distance. Heck, I let people cut in all the time. Guy entering roadway from gas station? Come on in. Girl merging into my lane? I slow down and say Come on in. Semi wants to switch lanes? Flash the lights to say, "All Clear...Come on Over".
It means I might get home 2 minutes later than if I drive like a jerk. No big deal.
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Paying attention to surroundings is obviously the best. I try to keep a proper spacing to the car behind me and try to not drive so there is a car even with me. Some vehicles it is best to stop fast since they could be unstable in a sudden maneuver. I have to be careful to not drop anchor too hard especially if there is someone too close behind me, the stopping distance on a car like mine is a lot shorter than a lot of cars on the road.
That's why I've learned to switch lanes because some guy in a sports car will nail the brakes at the last second to make it into the gas station and my truck can't stop, then of course you leave ample distance in between you and the vehicle in front of you, then all that does is invite people to cut in front.
I drive a truck and I could care a less if someone cuts in front of me because I leave ample distance. Heck, I let people cut in all the time. Guy entering roadway from gas station? Come on in. Girl merging into my lane? I slow down and say Come on in. Semi wants to switch lanes? Flash the lights to say, "All Clear...Come on Over".
It means I might get home 2 minutes later than if I drive like a jerk. No big deal.
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