Driving tricks to help you survive accidents

[Doogstar]

Found this surfing the net and thought it might be of interest to people here.
It was an American website, so I have swapped the 'left and rights' around in the text below.

Here is the original site: http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/dr...icksh_tvst.htm


Driving tricks to help you survive accidents

Many automobile accidents happen in fractions of a second or are completely unavoidable. A skilled driver, however, can minimize the chances of injury by learning these tricks.

Sometimes the difference between a horrific wreck and a survivable crash is the brake pedal you failed to hit or the clearing you failed to find. Successful defensive driving involves making decisions which may feel counterintuitive at first. Accelerating a car during a crash may not seem like the best solution, but it might beat braking and losing all maneuverability. Steering deliberately into a guardrail may seem suicidal, but it's preferable to a head-on collision at highway speeds. An accident can occur in a fraction of a second, so learning how to anticipate the actions of other drivers involved can help you survive.

Here are some driving tricks which can improve your chances of surviving a serious car wreck:

1. When in doubt, steer to the left. Metal can be fixed, but sometimes bodies can't. If you sense a potential accident in front of you (a chain reaction pile-up, for example), your natural reaction should be to steer to the left. There may be a guardrail or a utility pole or trees in your path, but none of them are travelling at highway speeds. Turning to the right could result in a head-on collision if you cross the median and staying straight could guarantee you'll be next in the pile-up. Most highways are designed to have some clearance on the left for just such driving emergencies. This is why there are signs discouraging drivers from parking on the shoulder of a freeway.

2. Protect the driver with aggressive steering. This is a grim choice to make, but if an accident appears inevitable- the other driver is directly in your path and not avoidable- then steer your car to the right to protect yourself, not your passengers. In an unavoidable collision, you'll want as much metal between you and the other driver as possible. In a direct head-on collision, your engine block should snap off and drop, but there could still be significant intrusion into your passenger compartment. If you have the chance to turn right sharply, then the impact will be on your passenger side and not the engine block. You may still be able to drive out of the wreck or escape through the driver's side window.

3. Think like a NASCAR driver. Cars are subject to the laws of physics, so they often follow predictable patterns in an accident or collision. A car sliding into another car on the right will continue to move right until something stops it. This means that the left side of the road will be clear for a few seconds at least. If you see such a wreck in front of use, drop down to the left hand side of the road and accelerate until you have cleared the other cars.

If a car's rear quarter panel is tapped from behind, the front end of the car will most likely twist in the direction of the quarter panel that was struck. This means steer your car to the opposite direction until you've cleared the accident scene. For example, a car changing lanes too quickly may strike the left rear quarter panel of the car in the new lane. The struck car will probably spin to the left and its passenger side will be exposed. By steering to the right, you'll allow that driver to recover in the left lane and you'll only strike his rear, if you hit him at all.

4. Be prepared to accelerate, not brake. Braking is an instinctive reaction to a driving threat, but it won't always prevent accidents. Sometimes it helps to think like a running back on a football team. Sometimes during an accident, holes will be created which will allow you to drive away from danger. Braking at high speeds may take away your maneuverability and send you plowing into another car anyway. If you can anticipate the actions of another driver, you can look for opportunities to punch your way out. Quite often the left hand side of the road is clear enough to accelerate through a bad wreck.

5. For a sudden change of direction, try a bootlegger's turn. Sometimes a sudden accident in front of you may require a quick change in direction. There is a driving trick used by stunt drivers called a bootlegger's turn which will allow you to change direction in a hurry while still maintaining some control over the car.

The trick is to turn around and accelerate before any collision can happen.

To perform a bootlegger's turn, you must have it in your mind that such a turn is necessary. You won't have much time to think about it when it actually happens.

If you need to make a 180 degree turn from a potential accident, maintain your forward speed as long as you can- aim for 45 mph at least. When you're ready to take the bootlegger's turn, a few things have to happen almost simultaneously.

First, grab your emergency brake with one hand or stab the emergency pedal on the floorboard with your non-driving foot. Keep your hand near the brake release. At the same time you apply the emergency brake, steer the car completely to the left or right. Steer hard and fast. The car should skid forward and then turn sharply. The rear or the car should slide around, leaving you facing in the opposite direction. Release the emergency brake and accelerate quickly, avoiding oncoming traffic. This maneuver will get you out of harm's way faster than most other turns you could make.

[DBourne]

bootleggers turn = J turn?
nice read

[Ghiadude]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

bootleggers turn = J turn?
nice read

handbrake u turn, j turn, big skid lots of smoke and noise.

But if you have time to do a u turn and go the other way..........?

What about not sitting so close to the wheel that your face doesnt hit it before the airbag has a chance to inflate properly. What about maintaining your brakes properly, what about making sure your tyres arent too worn and are inflated properly i could go on and on ...

[woteva]

Second point kind of contradicts the first. :

[Walkinshaw]

how about.

drive to the conditions

CONCENTRATE!

easy

[Unco]

First, grab your emergency brake with one hand or stab the emergency pedal on the floorboard with your non-driving foot. Keep your hand near the brake release. At the same time you apply the emergency brake, steer the car completely to the left or right. Steer hard and fast. The car should skid forward and then turn sharply. The rear or the car should slide around, leaving you facing in the opposite direction. Release the emergency brake and accelerate quickly, avoiding oncoming traffic. This maneuver will get you out of harm's way faster than most other turns you could make.

i'm afraid something in the P6 will break if i try this...

i'd rather pay attention to the road and driving according to the conditions. but thanks for the suggestion.

[Doogstar]

I think you guys are missing the point of this article, it's not about concentrating on the road or making sure your car is in ideal condition. You may be the most alert driver and have the best prepared car, it won't matter if a car is careering out of control toward you or four cars in front of you have a crash at high speed in heavy traffic.

It's about what steps you can take to avoid a almost certain accident and/or minimise the chance that you will be killed or seriously injured. Personally I would rather break something or wreck the car than die.

Point 1 is about trying to avoid a multi car pile up by steering off the road rather than into the back of the car in front.

Point 2 is about if you cannot do point 1 and a collision is unavoidable, you should try and minimise the damage by steering the impact into the passenger side. Something I wouldn't do if a passenger was aboard, but good advice if you are alone in the car.

I think that you guys need to read it again, or not, that's up to you. This information could help save your live one day.

[Gammaboy]

What a crock of .

[Doogstar]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

What a crock of .

Wow, I didn't look at it that way, you have completely changed my point of view with your strong argument. :P

[Gammaboy]

Originally Posted by Doogstar

Point 1 is about trying to avoid a multi car pile up by steering off the road rather than into the back of the car in front.

Read it again. Its about steering off the road to avoid a head on.

I have to say, the article is clearly written by a idiot. If you have the time to perform a "bootlegger turn", you have more than enough time to stop/steer out of the way.

[bodes-sh]

so what happens if the two people heading towards each other into a head on both have the same or should i say opposite ideas on what to do, and end up steering into each other anyway....?

[Doogstar]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

Read it again. Its about steering off the road to avoid a head on.

I have to say, the article is clearly written by a idiot. If you have the time to perform a "bootlegger turn", you have more than enough time to stop/steer out of the way.

Actually, I suggest YOU read it again...

1. When in doubt, steer to the left. Metal can be fixed, but sometimes bodies can't. If you sense a potential accident in front of you (a chain reaction pile-up, for example)


Bootlegger turns? Well I admit, I wouldn't think of that in an accident situation.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

If you have the time to perform a "bootlegger turn", you have more than enough time to stop/steer out of the way.

Why? You could just jump out and stickytape pillows to the front of your car instead and not have to clean the mud off your tyres when you get home.

[SubJimbo]

Good post, Could be helpful!!

[seduced_xr]

bang on the brakes and give it plenty of horn :P

[Yellow_Festiva]

I think when your seconds away from a dire accident your not thinking about the points listed. The 1 thing that people should try to remember is to not slam hard on the brakes in a car without ABS, but rather try to pulse it to slow down in a hurry keeping the wheels turning.

Had the worst experience as a lad slamming on the brakes in the rain, hooking the wheel hard to the left to avoid a car only to continue in a dead straight line and stop 1 foot from the car I was trying to avoid.

[The Stylist]

To avoid a head on or rear end accident, my reaction would be to aim for any gap available and focus on steering through it.

[XR06T]

ba handbrake cant hold a bootlegger turn.

[jcxr]

They forgot the " put head between your knees and kiss your *** goodbye" instructions. lol

[Falcon_Phill]

Originally Posted by Doogstar

Wow, I didn't look at it that way, you have completely changed my point of view with your strong argument. :P

Its kind of true but. The car could do anything at the point something may go wrong, you could practice 10 million moves but in reality theres 20 milion things the car may or may not do, or go - then theres the other car, or tree, or pole.

Drive like a nascar driver? Accelerate until you have cleared the cars? If you 'tried' anyone of these things just by reading your article, and fudged it up half way through (because you only read about it) then things could get even worse.

Drive safely in a decent car, obey the rules and hope for the best if something does happen.

[troppo]

I think what the atricle is trying to say is the brakes are not your ONLY option in an emergency situation, a point worth remembering. Too often people panic and forget there is a wheel in their hands because they were never taught to consider it.

[Sonik]

What a load of crap. Pull the handbrake and do a 180 at 45mph? (72kmph for those that don't know)
Yeah thats a brilliant idea.

[Joey_Falcon]

Will a BA/BF handbrake do this? I tried pulling it up whilst in motion and it made an awfull sound.

[Dezza]

If I pull the handbrake while I'm moving, the car just beeps at me!

[flappist]

While I disagree with their thinking and theory I strongly support the idea of preparation for emergency situations.

Find your friendly local advanced driving school and do a few courses. You will be amazed at what you can learn and experience before you learn "the hard way".

AFF QLD recently had a skid pan day and I learned that almost all of the people who went to play had very little if any control over their cars in the wet. Of course they will dispute this but there is a lot of video to support my position.

The basic FPV course by John Bowe Driving is a good start as it shows you what can happen when this get a bit silly.

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...cr%3DcountryAU

[Rev28K]

Originally Posted by flappist

AFF QLD recently had a skid pan day and I learned that almost all of the people who went to play had very little if any control over their cars in the wet. Of course they will dispute this but there is a lot of video to support my position.

I can remember being on a wet skidpan years (decades!?) ago and trying to practice things like front-end throws and rear-end throws. Even after a full day I’d be lucky if 1 in 3 attempts worked, God knows what I’d be like now.

And yes I am a poor little city boy who was doing it for the first time, not a country boy who had years of practice trying this with paddock bombs.

[Keepleft]

Handbrake turn - not good with ESP, = damage to car.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Keepleft

Handbrake turn - not good with ESP, = damage to car.

With well developed ESP, you would have just stayed in bed.

[f6 typhoon]

AFF QLD recently had a skid pan day and I learned that almost all of the people who went to play had very little if any control over their cars in the wet. Of course they will dispute this but there is a lot of video to support my position.

mate i was there on that skid pan day i was there to have a little bit of fun in the wet in a controlled environment better than doing it on the streets

[Keepleft]

Be nice to see Vid examples up on say YouTube et al.