Learning from mistakes
Discussion
I've just started reading roadcraft before joining an IAM group over the summer sometime.
I've got to page 3, and I have a question already!
In the last 2 1/2 years 2 people have driven into the back of my car; which makes me think I'm doing something wrong, something that I havent appreciated yet.
To help with this I'll explain the circumstances.
1st time: I'm stopped waiting to turn right towards the right hand side of the lane (plenty of room to pass to the left of me), indicator and brake lights on, helm straight ahead. I've been stopped 2 or 3 seconds, there isnt a gap in the traffic so I continue to wait. I hear tyres skid behind me, then a thud as a green Pug 106 (which about 1/4 mile before pulled out of a junction behind me) hits me. I check its safe to pull over to the left and do so.
2nd time: I'm gingerly making my way down a slight hill, the surface is compacted snow/slush and there are school children on the footpath to my left. The next car is 25m odd infront, I'm doing no more than 2 or 3mph doing my best not to lock the wheel (no ABS). There is a steeper bit 30m ahead, and a narrow bit 100m or so ahead where there is a queue of traffic; I decide to stop before it gets steep, check the mirrors first and there is now a mondeo behind me (but not doing anything unreasonable). The car stops, I wait with the handbrake on and foot on the brakes. A few seconds later I get hit by the mondeo, which pushes the car towards the kerb, coming to rest with the n/s wheels against the kerb. That scared me because there were kids on the pavement right next to the car.
The only fault I can find is not checking my rear view mirror after stopping to make sure I wasnt about to be rear ended (in both cases); is this something that I should be doing? Sure in the first case I might have been able to drive straight on then turn round, but in the second I would have ended up going faster than I wanted on a very slippery surface.
In both cases there was no damage to my car, I had towbars on both cars which I fitted so checked all the important bits and they were fine. But that isnt the issue.
Any advices appreciated,
Hugh
I've got to page 3, and I have a question already!
In the last 2 1/2 years 2 people have driven into the back of my car; which makes me think I'm doing something wrong, something that I havent appreciated yet.
To help with this I'll explain the circumstances.
1st time: I'm stopped waiting to turn right towards the right hand side of the lane (plenty of room to pass to the left of me), indicator and brake lights on, helm straight ahead. I've been stopped 2 or 3 seconds, there isnt a gap in the traffic so I continue to wait. I hear tyres skid behind me, then a thud as a green Pug 106 (which about 1/4 mile before pulled out of a junction behind me) hits me. I check its safe to pull over to the left and do so.
2nd time: I'm gingerly making my way down a slight hill, the surface is compacted snow/slush and there are school children on the footpath to my left. The next car is 25m odd infront, I'm doing no more than 2 or 3mph doing my best not to lock the wheel (no ABS). There is a steeper bit 30m ahead, and a narrow bit 100m or so ahead where there is a queue of traffic; I decide to stop before it gets steep, check the mirrors first and there is now a mondeo behind me (but not doing anything unreasonable). The car stops, I wait with the handbrake on and foot on the brakes. A few seconds later I get hit by the mondeo, which pushes the car towards the kerb, coming to rest with the n/s wheels against the kerb. That scared me because there were kids on the pavement right next to the car.
The only fault I can find is not checking my rear view mirror after stopping to make sure I wasnt about to be rear ended (in both cases); is this something that I should be doing? Sure in the first case I might have been able to drive straight on then turn round, but in the second I would have ended up going faster than I wanted on a very slippery surface.
In both cases there was no damage to my car, I had towbars on both cars which I fitted so checked all the important bits and they were fine. But that isnt the issue.
Any advices appreciated,
Hugh
whatever said:
As above - sometimes it's just bad luck. You can't force people to see you and slow down. I've experienced this and also seen it happen to others. In fact, seeing it from behind makes it seem even more inexplicable.
bor said:
In addition to the above advice, I flash my brake lights on and off until the following car starts to slow down.
I do this too, working on the principle that "change" is more noticable. After all, I've had some post-its on my monitor bezel for so long that I no longer notice them; they used to stand out like a sore thumb (which was the point).
Thanks for all the advice and experiences people have given.
Regarding flashing brake lights, I dont that as such, but when using the brakes to maintain speed down a hill if I want/need to stop I release the brakes, then apply them again so the car doesnt slow down faster without some change of lighting at the back.
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