Serious men vs. women driving question.....?

vf29_sandman

i know i always watch my mirrors rolling up on a stop sign or light on the bike. u wouldnt belive how many drivers are very 'nearsighted' to things in front of them unless they're big objects. i've had to split lanes at the last second because of someone not looking like they were going to stop. i refuse to become the middle of a cage sandwich....i'll let the other guy take the hit.

Scott

He is on the right track, but not quite there. As long as he is watching his following distances, it is the responsibility of the person behind him to brake in time. However, he should increase his following distance if he notices the person behind is following too closely. Your BF is trying to avoid getting hit in the rear, but if in doing so he hits the person in front, your BF is at fault.

roscoedeadbeat

I have been driving (in Los Angeles) for over 30 years. I have no accidents or tickets on my driving record. When you put on the breaks, your main job is to watch in FRONT of you to be sure that you do not hit the person in front, or go over the line. I find that AFTER I have come to a stop, I often check behind me, to make sure that the person behind me is going to stop in time. I leave room in front of me to roll up a bit just in case. But it is the job of the person behind me to make sure they stop in time.

THAT is why if you are "rear ended" it is always the fault of the REAR driver.

jason j

I do that too because Im not trying to get hit or hit someone's car. I usually give a large amount of space when a car is in front of me and if a car is tailgating me I just to another lane if its possible. Your boyfriend probably does that for his safey so he can stop where he wont hit the car in front of him but not brake too hard where the car behind hits him. Think about how long it takes to get your car fixed and get car insurance cleared in an accident. Thats probably why your bf does this.

Voice_Of_Reason

OK, being a guy, I see where he's coming from. I've done that, but I don't do that on a day to day basis. If someone's been tailgating, then I watch for it, or if my stop is sudden/unexpected.

Yeah, the other guy should be watching, but come on...these days...people are on the phone, drinking coffee, reading (yes, reading), fighting with kids in the back seat, etc.

I don't think you can drive like whatever, and blindly expect everyone to follow the rules of the road when you drive.

Although not breaking, let me give you an example from two days ago: I was pulling out of a parking lot onto the street. I was going to turn right. There was only ONE car coming my way, and it had it's right blinker on (possibly indicated that the driver was going to turn into the parking lot. They went straight. Moral of the story, you can't assume what the other driver will do, and should err on the side of caution.

Strictly from a safty standpoint, I'm with your BF on this one.

macman

Both of you are correct! Driving defensively means just that. You n ot only have to look infront, but to the sides and rear of your vehicle. you are not only responsible for you, but for other people on the road. If you break behind someone and you see that the person behind is not paying attention, what would you do, let that person hit you or Tap your brakes to try and get the person to see something out of the ordinary and get that driver from his distraction. it also means that if you see that this driver is going to hit you, then you have to find a way "out", if possible. In this day and age of Information age drivers(cell phones,computers,ipods and such), people don't pay attention to what is important behind the wheel, other LIVES!!! If you can save a life by avoiding an accident, then you you should take every action to do so. One last line to lighten this note, remember, public transportation was invented for at least 70% of the drivers on the road today! I sure wish they would use it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The life you save may be your own, drive defensively!!!

dodge man

i own a repair shop,and you and him are right on this one,i usually do like he does also,,to keep from getting hit,,but it doesn't hurt to be care full when breaking,i have almost been hit a few times,,and once about 22 years ago i did rear end one because of this,but it is up to the person behind you to make sure they see your brake lights,and stop in time,,i still drive very cautiously though,after you hit someone its always there to remind you that it could happen again,but truthfully both of you are right here,,the laws say that if you can avoid an accident you should do so,,but i don't think my opinion is going to help you prove him wrong on this one,,good luck,i hope this help,s.

mrhuangsta

If a person crashes you from behind, they are at fault, not you. Secondly, how stupid is he to think that it is better to risk hitting the person in front of you just to avoid from being hit from the behind. If you hit someone, you are at fault, so why would he want to put himself at fault ? And it might be dangerous to look in your rearview during tight situations, you might not respond fast enough to the environment.

misc 75

I always check behind me when braking, it has saved my rear a few times. Yes you are in the right when hit from behind, I was on a motorcycle once, stopped without looking behind, next thing I knew I was waking up in the hospital and spent the next six months in physiotherapy...11 years ago and still hurts. If I would have looked back I could have avoided getting run over by the woman who was daydreaming. Yeah... I was in the right, but it still hurt. Ever notice that alot of semi drivers turn on the 4 way hazards when the have to stop quick, it's because people see so many brakelites in a day that it dosn't always register.
Always leave yourself an "out"
All of the answers that are more concerned about being in the right should lay in a hospital bed for six months and applaud everyday for being in the right. Take a look around at all the trucks and other large vehicles you share the roads with everyday and use your imagination.

vrrJT3

If he speeds up or delays braking, he'll just have to brake harder later, increasing the probability of either being rear-ended or rear-ending someone else, or both at the same time.

His number one priority is to make sure he doesn't rear-end anyone. The people behind him can take care of themselves. He needs to have a little more faith in the people around him.

The best thing he can do to not get rear-ended is to make sure *he* follows at a safe distance, and gives himself plenty of room to stop. It's almost idiot proof.

Garacaius

I would think that your boyfriend has a lot of accidents running into people. He seems to spend too much time looking in his rear mirror. The brake lights are to warn that the brakes are on. Everyone should pay attention to the car in front of them. I agree with you.

Garnet D

When you are driving you should be aware of everything that is going on all around you. When you start to brake you have to know who is behind you and how close they are. If they are too close and they are going to hit you, you have the option of taking evasive action to get out if their way. It's one of the reasons you should leave a 2 second gap to the car in front.

So yes if you can avoid being rear ended by adjusting your braking or having an escape route then do it.

Mister

I agree with him somewhat.

I do that myself, but I don't think it's my 'responsibility' to do so.
I've actually avoided a few accidents by moving forward or out of the way when I saw someone unable to stop in time.
I didn't do it because it was my responsibility - it was the driver's responsibility in the other car. I do it because I don't feel like being in a car accident

LeftField360

ok, I think it is acceptable to look in your rear view mirror when braking ..just checking to see if you are going to get smacked from behind is a good idea.......

But ...it is up to the person who is behind you to keep from hitting you ..they are supposed to have their vehicle under control...by law..they are the responsible party...you are supposed to keep for every ten miles an hour your are going.. a car length behind....if you are doing 50 than you should be five car lengths back from the car in front of you... which should give you plenty of time to brake........that is why if you rear end someone else you are always responsible for the accident..it doesn't matter if they lock their brakes up ...it is still you fault.........

Dean A

you are required to be aware of your suroundings from all sides when drivingits called defensive driving

Paul

It is MY belief that you should pay attention to what's going on in FRONT of you more than anywhere else.

WHY?

If someone hits you from behind, it's THEIR fault, not yours, so if you are busy watching everyone BEHIND you and crash into the back of someone else, it's YOUR fault.

logicalgal

Of course you should always check your rear view mirror just as you touch the brake pedal. It's a great habit! Also he could tap his brake pedal just enough to light up the brake lights in advance of braking too.......this is a good WINTER driving technique to get the attention of the driver behind you.
Following distance is also important.......about 3 to 4 seconds behind other drivers in town, and double that on the higher speed roads. This gives you time and space to slow down or let up on the brake if someone is about to hit you.

tooyoung2bagrannybabe

First he should ensure he will not rear end the person in front of him before he checks his rearview mirror. My hubby does this as well. Personally I think a driver should be more concerned with where they are going than where they have already been.

Honus W

Hi Audrey403! Sorry, but I'm going to lean towards your BF's method with the exception that it's NOT his responsibility as far as the drivers behind him are concerned. Now, I said responsibility. In all reality, every driver should be scanning their mirrors while being primarily focused on where they're going. But in an instance of bumper-to-bumper traffic moving along at 50mph and all of a sudden everyone comes to a standstill, I'm going to check my rearview once I know I'm not going to impact the car in front. Least of all to know if the guy behind me is going to hit me. I want to know if I'm going to be hit so I can brace for it. Yep, I've been rear ended. And I knew it was coming. Did it make a difference. You bet.
I instruct at several high performance driving schools and have raced on and off for 10 years. Anticipation is key. You can only anticipate if you know what's going on around you. Let's face it, most drivers are relatively unskilled. I teach all sorts of people and even those who think they are gifted, learn otherwise very quickly when pressed for performance. On the road and on the track, I watch those around me. If they don't appear particularly competent, I get away from them.
Here's 2 basic tips. 1) Always know what's going on around you. I personally don't want a semi hanging on my bumper in any instance. If he hits me, I could be killed. I'll move over if I can't speed away. 2) Look way ahead. Most people have no idea what's happening further than 10 feet off their front bumper. Your eyes should scan ahead as far as you can see. This is really important in heavy traffic. Brake lights 1/4 mile ahead will effect you shortly. Ease off the throttle and allow a greater gap from the car in front. This way if there is a sudden stop ahead, you can gently slow down as can the cars behind you.
No one wants to be in an accident (short of those involved in insurance fraud.) It's a big inconvenience and you could be injured or killed. They say its watching out for the other guy, but really you're watching out for yourself.
Happy Motoring!

GreekGurl84

Sorry, he is wrong!! It is common sense. Also what he is doing might cause him to rear-end somebody, because like you said he thinks he might have to speed up so the idiot behind him does not crash into him, it would definately be his fault for not paying attention.
Another rule is you should leave a two second space between the car infront of you so you are not tailgating which leaves you enough room to brake easily and the guy behind you enough notice that you are braking. If everyone followed this rule too there definately would not be alot accidents.

blackmagic

Both of you have valid points. Have you ever heard of defensive driving. It's a driving course taught in many states. The ultimate point is that you drive for the other guy. If the person behind you is driving too close, then increase your space between you and the person in front you, then tap your brakes to encourage the person behind you to back off you. Remember the three second rule.

gregthomasparke

You're right. Its not your responcilbity to get out of the way if your going to be rear ended, but if you can then that is the wise thing to do to avoid injury and damage. If you can't get out of the way then too bad for you. I've been hit before, a few times. One of the times i knew i was going to get hit, and all i could do was hit the brakes harder so i didn'thit the guy infront of me. I drive an 1989 Ranger with a nice 1/4 inch steel bumper, needless to say, my truck drove away with a scratch, and the car that hit me (civic go figure) was towed away and probably a write off. Most of the time you're looking ahead of you to make sure that there is nothing you are going to hit infront of you, don't worry about whats behind you. if you know you're going to be in an accident, it will cause you worse injuries then if you didn't know, if you know you tence up, when if you don't you're relaxed. The rear view mirror is for checking behind you to make sure nothing is coming up on you and possibly startle you if it passes.

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