Almost got in a car accident last night on the freeway. Did I do the right thing?

[rudeguy]

I spent 3 years commuting 90 miles each way on I95, this kind of thing happened more than once. Guess what? I braked. If I swerved into the other lane I would've caused a multiple car pileup.

Brakes are always my last resort. I learned how to drive in rear wheel drive cars in MI before ABS was around. It was ingrained into me that when you brake, you don't have control. With the exception of the light pole I met when I passed out, this has worked out well for me.

I've avoided many accidents by speeding up instead of slowing down. I also am very, very aware of the people around me. I plan for people doing idiot things because a good percentage of the time, they do idiot things.

Bottom line is you didn't wreck, didn't make anyone else wreck and didn't spill your coffee. You did good.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Brakes are always my last resort. I learned how to drive in rear wheel drive cars in MI before ABS was around. It was ingrained into me that when you brake, you don't have control. With the exception of the light pole I met when I passed out, this has worked out well for me.
I've avoided many accidents by speeding up instead of slowing down. I also am very, very aware of the people around me. I plan for people doing idiot things because a good percentage of the time, they do idiot things.
Bottom line is you didn't wreck, didn't make anyone else wreck and didn't spill your coffee. You did good.

You must have had some interesting vehicles; I've driven rear-wheel-drive automobiles without ABS for forty years and, except for two instances on hard-packed snow, have never lost control while braking.

 

[rudeguy]

You must have had some interesting vehicles; I've driven rear-wheel-drive automobiles without ABS for forty years and, except for two instances on hard-packed snow, have never lost control while braking.

I was simply saying that's how I was taught to drive. Besides...snow is easy to drive on. Its the ice that'll get ya

 

[DominionSeraph]

Switching lanes without looking is NEVER the right thing to do. You just did the same thing as the guy who almost hit you.

This is not true.

The initial action is with the intent of full lane occupation. This would be to the center of a 12 foot lane. The response of the second driver, (if the person knows how to drive) is a measured move of the minimum distance required to avoid a collision. With your average passenger vehicles, this will leave half the second lane clear. So, Car1 moves over 12 feet, Car2 only has to move ~8 feet to avoid. This leaves the possibly present Car3 only needing a 4 foot adjustment, and a Car4 wouldn't have to move at all.

If you're a lane hog, Car1 only has a small distance before they impact you, and they will impact you at the point where closure rate is highest. If you allow them to eat into the buffer, then move with them, this drastically reduces the rate of closure and extends the encounter along the points where the sensory angles have most changed. (A car now sitting at a distance of 1 foot is a heckuva lot louder than one at five feet and will fill your entire sideview mirror. Better to give Car1 three seconds along with they can process this data than 0.2.)

 

[JTsyo]

I don't think there's a choice. When it looks like you'll crash reflexes kick in and try to avoid it. It's just a question of what your reflexes are or what you trained them to be.

 

[DominionSeraph]

I don't think there's a choice. When it looks like you'll crash reflexes kick in and try to avoid it. It's just a question of what your reflexes are or what you trained them to be.

A freeway lane change is generally a leisurely affair. If you shoot right into amped-up panic mode your cognitive abilities are shot. But if you're pre-prepared to take things in stride, there's quite a bit of time with which to analyze the situation and to ease into a response.

Having someone merge into me happens pretty much every time I'm on the highway with my bike. There's so much time and so many outs that it's actually boring. Twist the throttle, and with a little swerve around their nose you've passed them in two seconds - without downshifting. Or tap the brake, and with four three-piston calipers on two rotors on the wheel all the weight shifts to, he's suddenly leaping ahead with a 20mph differential.

A car doesn't have the free room, the power, or the brakes of a bike, but getting squeezed is still not a big deal. Ease into the brakes, moving your car backwards relative to his, granting you extra space and therefore time as his tail trails his nose, while sliding over just enough to keep your nose out of his side.

 

[CycloWizard]

This is not true.

The initial action is with the intent of full lane occupation. This would be to the center of a 12 foot lane. The response of the second driver, (if the person knows how to drive) is a measured move of the minimum distance required to avoid a collision. With your average passenger vehicles, this will leave half the second lane clear. So, Car1 moves over 12 feet, Car2 only has to move ~8 feet to avoid. This leaves the possibly present Car3 only needing a 4 foot adjustment, and a Car4 wouldn't have to move at all.

If you're a lane hog, Car1 only has a small distance before they impact you, and they will impact you at the point where closure rate is highest. If you allow them to eat into the buffer, then move with them, this drastically reduces the rate of closure and extends the encounter along the points where the sensory angles have most changed. (A car now sitting at a distance of 1 foot is a heckuva lot louder than one at five feet and will fill your entire sideview mirror. Better to give Car1 three seconds along with they can process this data than 0.2.)

You are talking about a controlled avoidance maneuver rather than an all-out lane change. The OP just went all the way over without even checking. Most drivers now seem incapable of doing anything in analog fashion: their foot is mashing one pedal or another at all times (sometimes one foot on each as I see almost every day now), lane changes come four at a time without a signal at a 45° angle, and so on. While there are still a few of us who are capable of the maneuver you suggest, the vast majority don't seem to be aware that anyone else is on the road anymore. But then, maybe I'm just cynical after driving in St. Louis for the last six years and having to actively avoid an accident every 100 yards or so.

 

[BudAshes]

Seeing that I drive on the interstate 160 miles each and everyday it's more about ANTICIPATING other vehicles moves.

1) Don't pass on the right, period. Just don't. You have to assume that when you do the vehicle on the left will come into your lane without warning.
2) If you do decide to stupidly decide to pass on the right you had better be prepared for what would happen if they move into your lane, because they ARE going to come into your lane because they don't expect you to be passing them on the right. This entails you have a plan for what to do should they do so. Can I safely move into the right lane?, I already am aware of the vehicles around me. Can I safely brake hard without being rear-ended, I am already aware of the vehicles to my front, my behind to my right and to my left.
3) You must ALWAYS assume when you are in another vehicles blind spot they cannot see you and WILL move into your lane. Don't put your vehicle's blind spot and if you must, get the fuck outta there.

Anticipate other drivers stupidity and be prepared, it could save your life.

160 miles a day is your commute to work?

 

[sandorski]

Seeing that I drive on the interstate 160 miles each and everyday it's more about ANTICIPATING other vehicles moves.

1) Don't pass on the right, period. Just don't. You have to assume that when you do the vehicle on the left will come into your lane without warning.
2) If you do decide to stupidly decide to pass on the right you had better be prepared for what would happen if they move into your lane, because they ARE going to come into your lane because they don't expect you to be passing them on the right. This entails you have a plan for what to do should they do so. Can I safely move into the right lane?, I already am aware of the vehicles around me. Can I safely brake hard without being rear-ended, I am already aware of the vehicles to my front, my behind to my right and to my left.
3) You must ALWAYS assume when you are in another vehicles blind spot they cannot see you and WILL move into your lane. Don't put your vehicle's blind spot and if you must, get the fuck outta there.

Anticipate other drivers stupidity and be prepared, it could save your life.

If there were a Driving subforum, I probably wouldn't "Fail" you so much. :biggrin:

 

[MrX8503]

People seem to forget that while traveling at high speeds a simple tap on the brakes would of increased their distance quickly. I think using the brakes would of been the safer route.

 

[MJinZ]

People seem to forget that while traveling at high speeds a simple tap on the brakes would of increased their distance quickly. I think using the brakes would of been the safer route.

Nice brakes there buddy.

 

[TuxDave]

Brakes are always my last resort. I learned how to drive in rear wheel drive cars in MI before ABS was around. It was ingrained into me that when you brake, you don't have control.

You can brake pretty damn hard without entering a skid AND be good enough to deal with a person swerving into your lane (unless he decides to brake while still turning into your lane which then you're just screwed)

 

[JulesMaximus]

The right thing is for you to know what is around your car at all times in case you have to make an emergency lane change.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Brakes are always my last resort. I learned how to drive in rear wheel drive cars in MI before ABS was around. It was ingrained into me that when you brake, you don't have control. With the exception of the light pole I met when I passed out, this has worked out well for me.

I've avoided many accidents by speeding up instead of slowing down. I also am very, very aware of the people around me. I plan for people doing idiot things because a good percentage of the time, they do idiot things.

Bottom line is you didn't wreck, didn't make anyone else wreck and didn't spill your coffee. You did good.

WTF?

Dude, that makes no sense whatsoever. Unless you lock up all four wheels you have all the control you need and if you do lock all four wheels then you pump the brake pedal to regain traction.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Been said by several others in this post, but agreed 100%

You should have known if you had a car to your right. Always be aware of your surroundings, and always mitigate risks ahead of time. Why were you driving next to this other car? If there's 4 lanes, then make some distance between the two of you.

 

[krylon]

Were your tires inflated to sidewall?