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Been there and done that and am alive because of my quick thinking and reacting.
Back in the 90's I had a concrete block truck behind me while coming down a steep mountain in the Watchung mountains. I'm watching this guy the whole time I'm driving; he's not slowing down. We get over the over pass and on to route 22 which was being worked on; it came to a dead stop. I look behind me, the truck is still coming so I turn the wheel and hit the gas, managed to almost get on the shoulder to where he took out the rear corner panel of my siblings car and totaled the station wagon in front of me. He hit it so hard that the back bumper was in the back seat!
Having said that; my SUV was totaled last year while I was turning into a driveway. I was hit (T-boned on the drivers side) by a furniture delivery truck parked in the wrong side of the street. I actually watched them hit me. Normally I'm quick to react but that day was different. I was being harassed after a long day and was crying. I was so focused on what had happened to make me upset that I didn't give it gas to get away. The driver never looked forward until he was almost hitting me. I watched him looking down then turning his head to look. If only I didn't sit in the Walmart lot crying for 15 minutes... I'd still have my car and my body wouldn't be more torn up.
Maybe 3 years ago, I was in a rental car on Connecticut I-95 in the left lane at 60 mph. The traffic ahead of me comes to a complete stop so I stop a couple car lengths behind the stopped car in front of me. I look in my mirror and see the car behind me stopped but the car behind him is roaring up at full speed. I get off the brakes and get as close as I can to the car ahead of me. Crash! The car behind me is mangled but I’d created enough separation that the rear bumper on my rental car barely gets tapped. Like usual, a distracted driver looking at their smartphone. It was dumb luck that I’d left enough space to do that.
I have been rear ended several time, almost always while stopped or slowing down. My suggestion is always give yourself enough space in front of you when slowing down. Leaving a car length or more (if on a fast road), is vital. Always be checking rear and side mirrors to know traffic behind and next to, so you can prepare for the worst. If you see the person behind is about to hit you, pull up if possible or let off the breaks so the impact isn't as severe. That car length or more ahead of you is your buffer and the impact will be less damaging if rolling. Of course break immediately after impact.
Depends on location and traffic. If clear, hit the gas pedal turning out of the path of the vehicle. If not clear to move anywhere, drop your arms. Your instinct is to grip the steering wheel tight. If you have airbags and they deploy you can be injured by gripping the steering wheel tightly.
If there is no one in front of me, and clear road, at least get off the brake to help absorb the impact
If no one is in front of you and the road ahead is clear - don't "at least get off the brake" - hit the gas! If possible, move to another lane or off the road.
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