Fordnatics List Archive
Braking when rear ended
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Mail From: John Bolton <(email redacted)>
> In your case, since it sounds like you drove away from the
> accident it doesn't sound to me like you were hit at 40 mph. However,
> not using the brakes probably prevented some damage and if no one was
> hurt you probably made the right decision.
I lost my '89 LX 5.0 hatch in a 35-40 mph rear-end collision last May.
On the driver's side, the roof was buckled up, the metal between the
front and rear subframes (floorpan?
) was buckled down, and the
front of the front seat was torn from its floorpan mounts. The rear,
especially the driver's side 1/4 panel, was damaged extensively. The
front suffered only broken lenses and scratched paint, despite totaling
the circa '85 Mazda 626 in front of me. Amazingly, considering all the
damage to the rear of my car, no glass was broken. As for me, I
suffered a sprained finger and a mild neck strain, the symptoms of
which were both delayed until hours later (adrenaline rush, I figure).
I can remember seeing the car in my rear view an estimated 50 feet
before impact (less than 1 second), and leaning back to minimize the
distance between the back of my head and the head restraint. I don't
remember if I made it all the way back. I was stopped in traffic just
past the crest of a hill. The girl who hit me was in a '94 Integra,
and was "looking for something" in her car as she crested the hill.
> IMO if this happens and if there is a passenger in the car one
> should probably use the brakes and have the guilty party get you a
> different car.
I can tell you in no uncertain terms that even if you have time to
react to an impending 40-mph rear-end collision, if you have
a foot planted firmly on the brake pedal, it won't be there after
a 40-mph impact (quite a jolt). Having the presence of mind to brake
after impact might prevent a secondary collision, but not in my case.
I hit the car in front of me hard enough to total it and knock it into
the car in front of it. A nice double whammy, and I'm glad I always
use my safety belts (didn't used to not so long ago).
- --
John Bolton GTE Government Systems Corp
(email redacted) Research Triangle Park, NC
'93 LX 5.0
Mail From: John Bolton <(email redacted)>
> In your case, since it sounds like you drove away from the
> accident it doesn't sound to me like you were hit at 40 mph. However,
> not using the brakes probably prevented some damage and if no one was
> hurt you probably made the right decision.
I lost my '89 LX 5.0 hatch in a 35-40 mph rear-end collision last May.
On the driver's side, the roof was buckled up, the metal between the
front and rear subframes (floorpan?
) was buckled down, and thefront of the front seat was torn from its floorpan mounts. The rear,
especially the driver's side 1/4 panel, was damaged extensively. The
front suffered only broken lenses and scratched paint, despite totaling
the circa '85 Mazda 626 in front of me. Amazingly, considering all the
damage to the rear of my car, no glass was broken. As for me, I
suffered a sprained finger and a mild neck strain, the symptoms of
which were both delayed until hours later (adrenaline rush, I figure).
I can remember seeing the car in my rear view an estimated 50 feet
before impact (less than 1 second), and leaning back to minimize the
distance between the back of my head and the head restraint. I don't
remember if I made it all the way back. I was stopped in traffic just
past the crest of a hill. The girl who hit me was in a '94 Integra,
and was "looking for something" in her car as she crested the hill.
> IMO if this happens and if there is a passenger in the car one
> should probably use the brakes and have the guilty party get you a
> different car.
I can tell you in no uncertain terms that even if you have time to
react to an impending 40-mph rear-end collision, if you have
a foot planted firmly on the brake pedal, it won't be there after
a 40-mph impact (quite a jolt). Having the presence of mind to brake
after impact might prevent a secondary collision, but not in my case.
I hit the car in front of me hard enough to total it and knock it into
the car in front of it. A nice double whammy, and I'm glad I always
use my safety belts (didn't used to not so long ago).
- --
John Bolton GTE Government Systems Corp
(email redacted) Research Triangle Park, NC
'93 LX 5.0
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