Nicole

Was hit in the rear 2 weeks ago. I had planned to take the 928 that day, but last minute decided to drive the other car. Glad I did, or I'd have a GTS rear bumper cover in the near future.

fraggle

I learned my awareness on motorcycles. Always flashing the rear brakes if I'm at the end of a line at a stop, flipping hazards on when approaching stopped freeway traffic, always staying aware of what's coming while stopped, etc. Awareness is the biggest thing.

The Fixer

Very true about Motorcycles, i used to ride a BMW R75 to school every day no matter the weather, it was then that i realized how many calories are burned just concentrating, i would be starving after riding 25 minutes thru Philly.

Oh yeah, hit and run by a Dodge Neon on Spring Garden Street.

mickster

Can't do that safely here on Long Island (and need to be careful in general). Used to manually shift my Acura TL-S to slow down and got rear ended because the kid was young and inexperienced and didn't judge speed as he entered the highway...

17prospective buyer

Clutches cost alot more? They sure do... still don't see any relevance to what i was talking about. Done it on all the cars i've had and never had any issues... i don't ride the clutch you see.

Alan

I have a GTS rear bumper cover already...! what's so bad about that... ? (though I can understand not wanting to be hit at all...)

Alan

M. Requin

Absolutely! And learning the driver on the side road or in the driveway who is looking straight at you - eye contact and all - is the one who is going to pull out in front of you. The right hand gets very fast...

Nicole

I would not want it on my S4 - it's not original, and the (buckling) reflective strip doesn't excite me enough to desire it as an "upgrade".

Alan

No buckles here... but I know that you'd want to keep it original looking...

Lots of people also seem want to drive way too close - amazing they still have fronts on their cars! They are usually the ones who just don't get hints with brake lights either...

I think a bank of LEDs as central brake light that could also send messages would be cool. A scrolling "Back Off !!" message maybe - or something slightly more polite initially. or even less polite eventually.

Still probably flashing Red & Blue lights would work better than anything else...

I do actually have a pulsing LED center brake light - flashes 3 times in quick sucession on first application of the brakes - then goes steady, once brakes are on it has a timeout - they have to have been off for about 10 sec before it will flash again - so in stop & go traffic it doesn't do it all the time. There are lots of these available now though some have very annoying patterns (flashing all the time...).

Alan

Nicole

I like your ideas, but they would not have helped me two weeks ago. I was sitting at a traffic light, two cars behind me. Suddenly I heard an engine roar and two loud bangs. The lady in the second car behind me claimed she sneezed and slipped off the brake onto the accelerator. Your choice to believe it or not.

SteveG

You were talking about downshifting and saving your brakes. It's common knowledge. You have every right to do what you are doing, which I think I said.

Alan

I don't think he actually ever mentioned downshifting..

Just coasting down in gear in order to avoid stopping at lights is a smart thing to do generally - as long as there isn't anyone anywhere close behind you. And if someone does come up behind you - best to have your brake lights on well before they get there...

If you want to play like this you'd best be actually paying attention.

Slowing down significantly without brake lights when someone is behind you is a little silly though - like an invite to run into the back of you - really... if thats what you are doing - stop doing it before it hurts!

While it will still be thier fault for hitting you - how much does that actually help you?

Alan

Mike Frye

Nah, if you were in your 928 you would have gotten to your destination 10 minutes earlier.

There's probably something to that. I used to have a scooter (I know, I know) but that thing couldn't get out of it's own way and I felt like I might as well have been on roller skates in the middle of two cars anytime I was stopped at a light. Practically invisible and when someone tailgates you on a motorcycle or scooter it's freakin SCARY. It will teach you situational awareness that you don't get from being a vehicle.