What to do if you're about to be rear-ended?

[M4cruiser]

Following a friend's unfortunate experience (luckily he's ok, just a little whiplash), I'm still wondering what is the best thing to do if you see it coming in your mirror. Suppose you are stationary in a queue, and there is no where to go to the sides, do you:-

- do nothing?
- release the brakes and put the clutch down?
- pull the handbrake on tighter?
- move your car forward to touch the car in front?
- switch the engine off?
- or something else?

.... to give maximum protection to (a) you, and (b) your car?

[Cotty]

Last time it happened I was stationary. Saw A Chimera lock up behind me with smoking tyres. I just waited for the impact that didn't happen.

[KFC]

Assuming you're not risking serious injury and we're talking minor stuff, I'd be doing everything possible to avoid hitting the car in front. So handbrake and footbrake on... i definitely wouldn't be trying to touch the car in front!

[valiant]

Handbrake on to minimize damage to front, head pushed as far back into the headrest as possible and BRACE!!!

[73mark]

Brace brace and fu*k the car

[anonymous-user]

Stand with your back against the wall would be my advice

[CBR JGWRR]

hope I get flung clear rather than trapped...

[davepoth]

Brakes on as hard as possible, and put your head onto the headrest. Best not to tense if possible as that can cause problems, especially if you do hit the car in front and you're thrown forwards.

[MX7]

You need to be relaxed. Vodka.

[Vladimir]

I've avoided two rear enders by spotting them in time and moving out of the way. Both times the cars skidded way past me before they came to a halt.

Phew.

[jimbobsimmonds]

Lube up...

[WinstonWolf]

Try to turn your wheel to point you away from an additional frontal impact.

[leafspring]

Handbrake tighter and brace with your arms at your side...

[Siscar]

If it's really happening there is probably nothing you can do. The 206 that went into the back of me was estimated to be doing 50, I was in the third lane of a motorway not moving, barrier to the right, non moving traffic to the left. Nowhere to go, nothing you can do.

If that happens to you then whiplash isn't nothing, seven years later I still get neck pain, but believe me a 911 is well designed to take the impact.

[CB2152]

Mine was fairly slow speed and only did paintwork damage to the bumper (to give an idea of how slow).

However, when I saw it coming I put the car in neutral, handbrake and footbrake on, and put my head on the headrest. Obviously at that point I didn't now how fast he was going to hit me. I just had time to say "brace yourself, he's not stopping behind us" to my passenger before the impact. We were both fine.

Looking back on it, I probably wouldn't have kept my foot on the brake in case it was high speed. Both feet flat on the carpet would be better I guess...

[sherbert90]

Lubricate

As others have said, if nowhere to go, handbrake, head into headrest and brace. I wouldn't tense though, that would more than likely do more harm than good...

At a high speed (say 50mph plus) I'm not so sure. Perhaps handbrake off, sod the car in front. I wouldn't like to be in a car that is going to absorb all that force with minimal movement. What does everyone else think?

[ouch]

At high speed I doubt the handbrake would make much difference. I'd put it on personally to minimize the chances of your recently bent car rolling out of control after impact and potentially putting you in harms way (again).

I'd keep my feet clear of the pedals - depending on how likely it looks like I'm going to be pushed into the car in front - there's a lot of stories about broken ankles caused by a foot jammed on the brake pedal during impact.

I'd consider turning the engine off - definitely put the car in neutral though. Wind down windows in case the doors get jammed?

[CoolC]

Siscar said:

but believe me a 911 is well designed to take the impact.

I was in a test facility a few years ago where they were doing some tests on car seats for their rear impact capabilities for the driver/passenger. The chap taking us around commented that the ones on the sled were Porsche seats, and that Porsche were sending people over to see the test as they have failed "big time" the first time around rating amongst the worst they had ever tested.

This was around 2003/4 and I don't know what model they were for, but I was shocked to hear that at the time.

[Benbay001]

~Assuming you have a little more time- flash your rear brake light a couple of times.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Vladimir said:

I've avoided two rear enders by spotting them in time and moving out of the way. Both times the cars skidded way past me before they came to a halt.

Phew.

Well done, the correct answer.


Leave a bit of room to move when you come to a stop too OP so that you can do the above.