Someone reversed into me on the M25 wtf??!
Someone reversed into me on the M25 wtf??!
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Discussion

msportpanda

Original Poster:

722 posts

154 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
Needing some help or advice please. I was changing lanes in slow traffic yesterday on the M25 near Heathrow where it’s 5/6 lanes.

The person in front of me in the lane I was going to change into comes to a complete stop despite no reason to do so. I stop too. Then they engage reverse and accelerate into me!

No dashcam, worried about the outcome on this. It seems such an infeasible thing to happen, I can’t even fathom why this has happened.

The car in front was a Tesla Model 3 highland, I believe they come with auto shift, can anyone clarify if it will choose reverse if the car comes to a complete stop? I also imagine the cameras on the Tesla would have recorded the accident - is there anyway the insurers can force them to share the footage?

Silverbullet767

11,254 posts

235 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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Crash for cash. Not much use now, but you need a dashcam.

Arrivalist

3,480 posts

28 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
Silverbullet767 said:
Crash for cash. Not much use now, but you need a dashcam.
Indeed.

Nemophilist

3,216 posts

210 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
Must be plenty of eye witnesses who saw?

msportpanda

Original Poster:

722 posts

154 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
Needing some help or advice please. I was changing lanes in slow traffic yesterday on the M25 near Heathrow where it’s 5/6 lanes.

The person in front of me in the lane I was going to change into comes to a complete stop despite no reason to do so. I stop too. Then they engage reverse and accelerate into me!

No dashcam, worried about the outcome on this. It seems such an infeasible thing to happen, I can’t even fathom why this has happened.

The car in front was a Tesla Model 3 highland, I believe they come with auto shift, can anyone clarify if it will choose reverse if the car comes to a complete stop? I also imagine the cameras on the Tesla would have recorded the accident - is there anyway the insurers can force them to share the footage?

Competizione

1,087 posts

241 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
You thought it won't happen to you, but too late now.

Dashcams are getting cheaper and cheaper with non-Nextbase brands saturating the dashcam market.

I hope you resolve this matter. Once this is closed, get a dashcam.

croyde

26,325 posts

259 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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Bit of a pricey car to commit cash for crash.

Far Cough

2,481 posts

197 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
You need to find some footage of the crash or an independent witness

Hoofy

80,015 posts

311 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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Did 50 people get out all holding their necks?

msportpanda

Original Poster:

722 posts

154 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
You’re all absolutely correct, I thought I would see things like this a mile off and be able to avoid them. Should have bought a Dashcam years ago. Kicking myself for not doing so, I can picture the whole scene vividly but it’s no use without any proof.

There were witnesses but nobody wanted to stop, the lady behind said she had a dashcam and would send me the footage but she didn’t want to give me her number so I left mine with her. Nothing yet sadly.

The only definite witness was my partner in the passenger seat but I imagine her testimony isn’t as weighty.

Moulder

1,648 posts

241 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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No idea if they'd actually help, but contact the Highway Agency with the location and time of the incident, they may have camera coverage.

OP doesn't say, did you do the details exchanging thing?

durbster

12,051 posts

251 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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The obvious answer is it's a crash-scam but as you say, a Tesla would be an odd choice for that since they are covered in cameras.

Was it one of the newer Teslas that have the drive selector on the screen? If I remember correctly, in some reviews they didn't always respond quickly and it's possible you could accidentally swipe into reverse. Although that would seem an odd thing to be messing with on a motorway.

OverSteery

3,794 posts

260 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
There are a lot of camera on the M25 around there. Is there any point in asking them - somehow I fear not banghead

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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What happened after they reversed into you?

TwigtheWonderkid

48,976 posts

179 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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Arrivalist said:
Silverbullet767 said:
Crash for cash. Not much use now, but you need a dashcam.
Indeed.
Very much doubt it. Tesla far too expensive for that, and cash for crash involves getting you to hit them. They wouldn't reverse into you, just in case you have a dashcam. Was their 4 passengers in the Tesla? If not, even less likely to be cash for crash.

Wait and see. Probably a genuine accident, and hopefully Tesla driver will tell the truth.

Heathwood

3,032 posts

231 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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What happened following the crash? Did the other driver get out, admit liability, offer a reason for reversing into you, did they try to pass the blame on to you or did they stay tight lipped?

croyde

26,325 posts

259 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
I nearly reversed into a garage door yesterday as I was convinced I was in drive.

One thing I don't like about my DSG gearbox with just touch buttons to select D, R, N and P.

I'd still prefer a proper stick, like an old automatic.

So possibly a genuine accident. What did they say to you?

stef1808

1,030 posts

186 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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msportpanda said:


The car in front was a Tesla Model 3 highland, I believe they come with auto shift, can anyone clarify if it will choose reverse if the car comes to a complete stop?
Yes but the car needs to come to a complete stop first. You then have to turn the wheel 90 degrees and tap the brake pedal so it very unlikely it can be activated by mistake. That said people will/have try to blame the software.

A much more likely scenario is a Tesla moving in slow traffic and the driver takes of seatbelt for some reason. This automatically puts the car in park. In a panic the driver engages reverse by mistake.

Edited by stef1808 on Sunday 13th April 13:44

OverSteery

3,794 posts

260 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
quotequote all
stef1808 said:
msportpanda said:


The car in front was a Tesla Model 3 highland, I believe they come with auto shift, can anyone clarify if it will choose reverse if the car comes to a complete stop?
Yes but the car needs to come to a complete stop first. You then have to turn the wheel 90 degrees and tap the brake pedal so it very unlikely it can be activated by mistake. That said people will/have try to blame the software.

A much more likely scenario is a Tesla moving in slow traffic and the driver takes of seatbelt for some reason. This automatically puts the car in park. In a panic the driver engages reverse by mistake.

Edited by stef1808 on Sunday 13th April 13:44
So that would be the "helpful" software at fault then wink

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

202 months

Sunday 13th April 2025
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I've had a car slam on and come to a complete stop on a empty motorway slip road. I fell for it and crashed into them.

5 blokes get out all holding their necks.

You only fall for it once.