I’m not sure who believes and who doesn’t, but I’ve been in more than 30 car collisions. I’m not sure exactly how many because I’ve lost track.
One was an offset head-on collision. I think the other driver fell asleep. He claimed I came into his lane and hit him, but the impact shattered the windshield washer fluid in my car, and destroyed the front-right tire. The impact left a puddle of fluid in the middle of my lane, and the rim of the front right wheel left grooves in the street leading from where my car stopped back to the point of impact.
I was sideswiped three times. All three were hit and runs. One of them was caught on my dash cam and I got my deductible back. The other two got away.
All the rest were rear-end collisions. It happened so many times that I started to think I must be doing something wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what. Around that time I happened to look in the rear view mirror just before the impact to see the driver looking down at something on the passenger seat beside him.
Since then, I’ve understandably become very aware of what the drivers behind me are doing.
The last two times:
In late 2021 I was approaching an intersection and had a green light, but on the other side of the intersection was a school bus letting out kids. I stopped, and the jeep behind me hit me at full speed. My truck was totaled. I was knocked very briefly unconscious, but I was able to control the truck as I was pushed through the intersection and stopped.
Ironically, I had been thinking about trading in my truck for a new model. That day, on the drive home before the collision, I decided I wanted to keep it.
At the time, getting a replacement took months. I was getting to and from work driving the Civic that we bought for the kids to use. Two months after the truck was totaled I was in slow, stop-and-go traffic. Every time I had to stop, the car behind me would pull all the way up to within inches of my bumper. I wanted to scream at him. Of course, the person behind him hit him, and pushed him into me.
Luckily, that time it was slow, low speed impact. Easy damage to fix.
For the love of all that’s holy, follow at a safe distance! Three seconds minimum between you and the car in front of you. And when you stop, stop far enough back to see where the tires on the car in front of you touch the street.
If you want to slipstream (aka, drafting), become a race car driver.
Whewwwww… not doubt you’ve become hyper aware now. Where I live, a big proportion of drivers do not understand minimum distance. They will keep one meter behind you even as you drive 70+. There are few things in life that get me as irate as this.
Mood. My city is usually bumper with people squeezing up against each other so people can’t get in. The only way to get around is too not participate. Use a bike if you can
Well, not 30 for me, but I’ve been rear ended driving ~5 times. Not even sudden stop issues or anything, like, literally sitting at a stop light and the next person just doesn’t stop and hits me.
One time was waiting for a train and a dude in a huge SUV slammed into me. They tried to offer me $200 cash to not report it to insurance, I said fuck off. Ended up being like a $12,000 repair and they literally said, “fuck you” on the phone to me with the insurance agents on the line.
Whenever you see a driver following too closely or driving erratically try to get away from them, change lanes, let them pass, whatever. Also try not to drive next to other cars. Stagger positions so if they have to serve into your lane they won’t hit you. Last tip is don’t drive in people’s blind spot when they are in the next lane. Pull ahead of them or let them get in front of you
I learned in New Jersey: driver following too close? Foot off the gas. You do not put it back on until they have angrily passed you and sped off into the night.
I’m not sure who believes and who doesn’t, but I’ve been in more than 30 car collisions. I’m not sure exactly how many because I’ve lost track.
One was an offset head-on collision. I think the other driver fell asleep. He claimed I came into his lane and hit him, but the impact shattered the windshield washer fluid in my car, and destroyed the front-right tire. The impact left a puddle of fluid in the middle of my lane, and the rim of the front right wheel left grooves in the street leading from where my car stopped back to the point of impact.
I was sideswiped three times. All three were hit and runs. One of them was caught on my dash cam and I got my deductible back. The other two got away.
All the rest were rear-end collisions. It happened so many times that I started to think I must be doing something wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what. Around that time I happened to look in the rear view mirror just before the impact to see the driver looking down at something on the passenger seat beside him.
Since then, I’ve understandably become very aware of what the drivers behind me are doing.
The last two times:
In late 2021 I was approaching an intersection and had a green light, but on the other side of the intersection was a school bus letting out kids. I stopped, and the jeep behind me hit me at full speed. My truck was totaled. I was knocked very briefly unconscious, but I was able to control the truck as I was pushed through the intersection and stopped.
Ironically, I had been thinking about trading in my truck for a new model. That day, on the drive home before the collision, I decided I wanted to keep it.
At the time, getting a replacement took months. I was getting to and from work driving the Civic that we bought for the kids to use. Two months after the truck was totaled I was in slow, stop-and-go traffic. Every time I had to stop, the car behind me would pull all the way up to within inches of my bumper. I wanted to scream at him. Of course, the person behind him hit him, and pushed him into me.
Luckily, that time it was slow, low speed impact. Easy damage to fix.
For the love of all that’s holy, follow at a safe distance! Three seconds minimum between you and the car in front of you. And when you stop, stop far enough back to see where the tires on the car in front of you touch the street.
If you want to slipstream (aka, drafting), become a race car driver.
Whewwwww… not doubt you’ve become hyper aware now. Where I live, a big proportion of drivers do not understand minimum distance. They will keep one meter behind you even as you drive 70+. There are few things in life that get me as irate as this.
Mood. My city is usually bumper with people squeezing up against each other so people can’t get in. The only way to get around is too not participate. Use a bike if you can
Well, not 30 for me, but I’ve been rear ended driving ~5 times. Not even sudden stop issues or anything, like, literally sitting at a stop light and the next person just doesn’t stop and hits me.
One time was waiting for a train and a dude in a huge SUV slammed into me. They tried to offer me $200 cash to not report it to insurance, I said fuck off. Ended up being like a $12,000 repair and they literally said, “fuck you” on the phone to me with the insurance agents on the line.
Whenever you see a driver following too closely or driving erratically try to get away from them, change lanes, let them pass, whatever. Also try not to drive next to other cars. Stagger positions so if they have to serve into your lane they won’t hit you. Last tip is don’t drive in people’s blind spot when they are in the next lane. Pull ahead of them or let them get in front of you
I learned in New Jersey: driver following too close? Foot off the gas. You do not put it back on until they have angrily passed you and sped off into the night.
30? Insurance must be a nightmare
I haven’t had my rates increase noticeably for any of the accidents.
I had the same thought…