Is your instinct always to do an emergency stop?

AdrianC

matttye wrote: »

I was driving along a dual carriageway in a right hand lane this morning when some complete idiot in the left lane indicated right and started to move over when I was almost alongside them. I instinctively swerved right towards the Central reservation rather than trying to stop and luckily avoided a collision.

Given that they were doing pretty much the same speed as you, just a quick tap of the brakes would have been sufficient, to get you out from alongside them.

matttye

AdrianC wrote: »

Given that they were doing pretty much the same speed as you, just a quick tap of the brakes would have been sufficient, to get you out from alongside them.

Probably but I didn't have time to check how close the person behind me was.

arcon5

matttye wrote: »

Probably but I didn't have time to check how close the person behind me was.

The person behind you is irrelevant. If they crash in to you then they clearly didn't leave enough space. I'd rather be hit from behind then hit a central reservation.

As for your original query, no emergency brake isn't always a persons instincts. It may not have even allowed you to avoid the collision - it's more than possible using the space to the right was more appropriate to avoid a collision.
I wouldn't over think the situation.

AdrianC

matttye wrote: »

Probably but I didn't have time to check how close the person behind me was.

If you need to check, you've not been using your mirrors enough. But in a situation like you describe, you only need to shed about 10mph or so, and less than a car length. Also, anybody right up your chuff has already seen the numpt to your left start to pull out, and should also be backing off to give you space.

silverwhistle

I once hit a very large Alsatian dog on the motorway in a Rover 216 (no ABS or power steering). It came from the dark of the outside lane and neither myself or the dog had a chance. I was only conscious of hitting it straight as any reaction would have had to have been so extreme that an uncontrolleable swerve might have resulted.

One dead dog and one dead radiator. Needless to say the dog didn't have a collar. The police who stopped dragged it off the motorway and routinely breathalysed me: I certainly needed a drink when finally home!

matttye

arcon5 wrote: »

The person behind you is irrelevant. If they crash in to you then they clearly didn't leave enough space. I'd rather be hit from behind then hit a central reservation.

As for your original query, no emergency brake isn't always a persons instincts. It may not have even allowed you to avoid the collision - it's more than possible using the space to the right was more appropriate to avoid a collision.
I wouldn't over think the situation.

I'm not the original poster and I was nowhere near hitting the Central reservation. I thought I'd rather swerve and definitely avoid a collision than brake and maybe avoid one. Was that wrong?

AdrianC wrote: »

If you need to check, you've not been using your mirrors enough. But in a situation like you describe, you only need to shed about 10mph or so, and less than a car length. Also, anybody right up your chuff has already seen the numpt to your left start to pull out, and should also be backing off to give you space.

I check my mirrors enough just not every 2 seconds.

It's easy to comment when you're an armchair motorist rather than actually there.

mjoneseyjones

Obviously a bit different to being in a car, but you're actually taught and tested on an emergency swerve at speed in your motorcycle test these days.


You often have less than a split second to make a decision when a hazard pops up on the road. You just have to make your choice and stick to it. So long as you've kept reasonable distances/speed/aware then you'll come out ok. Dont over analyse.

AdrianC

matttye wrote: »

I check my mirrors enough just not every 2 seconds.

If you'd ever done any advanced driver training, you'd be used to having a clipboard or similar slapped across the interior mirror then being asked what's behind you.

If you haven't got a mental picture of what's around you, you aren't observing properly.

Iceweasel

Checking the mirrors every 2 seconds is a bit daft.

Every 5 to 10 seconds would be about right.

Longer than that and you are not fully aware/informed of potential hazards.

matttye

AdrianC wrote: »

If you'd ever done any advanced driver training, you'd be used to having a clipboard or similar slapped across the interior mirror then being asked what's behind you.

If you haven't got a mental picture of what's around you, you aren't observing properly.

The fact I know there was a car behind me, a car to my left and a central reservation to my right would imply I know what's around me.

Iceweasel wrote: »

Checking the mirrors every 2 seconds is a bit daft.

Every 5 to 10 seconds would be about right.

Longer than that and you are not fully aware/informed of potential hazards.

I would say I check my mirror probably every 10 seconds, especially in town. If I'm driving late at night or on a quiet stretch of road then I'll adjust accordingly.