eeeandrew wrote:Lets say there is two car lengths from the back of the bus to my mirror. That's around 20-25 metres.
eeeandrew wrote:daz6215 wrote:Could you have stopped further back from the bus more than you did? It may have given you more space and time to react to the other drivers position. i.e. to drive forward to the left as you see them compromise your space!
I read this earlier and had a think about it. In theory, yes this is possible. However, I'm static and the oncoming car was up to speed. 30mph=14.3 meters per second. A full size bus is what 15 metres long? Lets say there is two car lengths from the back of the bus to my mirror. That's around 20-25 metres. That gives me less than 2 seconds from that car passing the bus until it hits my mirror. I can't release a hand brake, get in gear, move off and steer in that amount of time. I hate to give driving situations up as "no win" and I'll raise this as a discussion point at a group meeting but I don't see a winable outcome unless the other driver was taking more care.
eeeandrew wrote:
I did have a plan B in place. My plan B was "if someone rear ends me here then I want to have my handbrake on to avoid getting sandwhiched between a whoever hit me and a bus." I tell my associates(and was taught myself) that sitting with clutch on the floor and in gear not only causes increased wear on the clutch release bearing but if something surprises you or someone hits you then your foot is likely to leave the clutch and rocket your car forward into whatever is waiting.
eeeandrew wrote:
As it was, someone did hit me and despite my moment of panic my car remained secure in place and put no one at risk. That would have been a far worse situation to find myself in, where someone hits my mirror or a firework goes off nearby etc. and in my moment of panic I release the clutch and crush a crossing pedestrian against the back of the bus.
eeeandrew wrote:I don't debate that in this particular situation having the car in gear and clutch down MIGHT have allowed me time to maneoveur to a location that MIGHT have avoided the loss of my mirror
eeeandrew wrote:
I always apply the handbrake and select neutral any time the car comes to a stop. I don't sit on the foot brake with the clutch down nor do I sit holding the car on the clutch. For the reasons detailed above, the car is safe and secure and should any number of things from me sneezing to the car being rear ended happen the car won't travel far and endanger anyone else. Also sitting with the clutch down causes wear to the release bearing so avoiding that will save you some money as it's the most common clutch component to fail..
eeeandrew wrote:I was still in the centre of the lane and completely static. I don't see how I can be blamed for the collision. I don't know if this is just because I'm working on a big uni assignment and under a bit of strain but the responses to this thread appear to me, to have become a bit accusatory suggesting that I've not applied observations or may even have stopped my car on the wrong side of the road.
Return to Advanced Driving Forum
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests