[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main General Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Re: Bullcookies! There are both collisions and accidents Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:31:07
In Reply to: Bullcookies! There are both collisions and accidents, Noel, Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:49:13 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
All the scenarios you described are collisions (car hits something = collision). Obviously they are all not-at-fault collisions. Perhaps that is what you mean by "accident"? It's partly why I put "semantics" the subject line and I really don't mean to be overbearing with this or holier than thou, but at the same time, it amazes me that many drivers (and I'm not really saying anyone here in particular, it's more just a broader rant) have an almost fatalistic view of collisions... I'll admit I've never been involved in one (and aim to keep it that way) but I don't think my views would change if I were... I was taught to assume any car at any time is going to drive into me and plan accordingly... I cycle also btw and have never had an altercation doing that either...
That said, while some of the scenarios you describe are tougher than others (higher complexity), there are defensive driving techniques that address them all...
Let's look at the last scenario first: If you are stopped 12' (<1 car length) behind a car with a SUV on 1 side and a guard rail on the other, and no stopped cars behind you, you're stuck. Especially if you only glance at the rearview once in a while... If I did that, I would feel I had already made 2 driving mistakes... gotta leave >3 car lengths in front and watch the rearview closer to 50% of the time in that scenario, and you'll see the subie with way more than 2 seconds, you'll also see if they are slowing or not and be able to judge exactly how you're going to use those 3 car lengths to stop the subie with minimal impact. Sure you might get hit still, but the severity can be greatly mitigated. Generally the other driver does break at the last second but just doesn't allow enough stopping distance, which you might be able to provide...
Before someone comments "wtf: 3 car lengths?!? that will annoy other drivers", remember, there is nobody behind you to annoy and all the other cars are parked... as a car comes up behind (slowing, leaving enough space, etc), you roll forward, as the next car comes up behind, again... once there are a couple cars behind you, they are gonna get rear ended, not you... you end up 12' behind the car in front of you, but not right away... this also helps to avoid the sudden stops in stop/go traffic - it benefits all drivers by evening out the peaks and valleys of speed...
The first scenario is also pretty easy to deal with: never spend more than 2 seconds in a blind spot. Always drive in an offset pattern (to allow an escape route). If you can't comfortably pass in <2 seconds you should not pass. It is a massive pet peeve of mine (and why I never use cruise control) to see people passing slowly on the highway! Speed up to pass, then slow back to cruising speed (it's also why I hate rigorously enforced speed limits). The corollary of that is if you are being passed too slowly, you slow down so that they pass you in <2 seconds. So I am never really in that situation... and I'm well aware of the heightened danger at night and the need to continuously scan the woods for deer/moose and not overdrive my headlights... ultimately, all this only reduces the probability of an event as you describe, but that is still valuable...
The middle scenario is trickier because you're basically saying the drunk was driving so fast I wouldn't see him before starting the turn and would hit me before I could complete it. That might be realistic depending on the details of the intersection visibility - I don't know... that's a complex situation and I've never really been in that, but you should be checking the rearview immediately after turning and in that scenario with a speeder coming up hard from behind, I would hit the gas and then it's a situational judgement call whether to manage his speed with braking, or avoidance manoeuver... I've made lefts into lots of 60mph roads no problem, but I get it that there is a surprise element in your scenario due to the low speed limit...
definitely not trying to diminish any of this - just want to point out that we shouldn't be fatalistic about collisions... fortunately we all drive Saabs here and so we are lucky to have that as a final defense should we ever need it!
, Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:02:14, Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:32:23
, Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:56:57, Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:25:34, Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:31:07 <-- Viewing This Message, Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:08:13, Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:38:25
, Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:13:30
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
