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

Question

This might be long but please read so I can finally prove him wrong....

Okay so my BF has never had driving lessons. He drives with one major belief- when you break you are supposed to watch behind you to make sure the person doesn't crash into you.

Basically- If you are driving at any speed, and someone breaks due to traffic or a red light, you don't just break with traffic, you look in your rear view mirror and make sure the person behind can break too. So you can't just put on your breaks, you have to break, and SPEED up to make sure you don't get hit.

He thinks it is up to him not to get HIT from behind. He says that's what the rear view mirror is there for. I tried to explain to him that once you see the break lights come on in front of you, you should ease on the breaks. If everyone cautiously follows this rule it would reduce accidents.

If you have an opinion please please respond, I told him I would write on here and see what others' thought.....

PS- He definitly does not give enough driving distance in between himself and others. But one thing I can say in his defense is that he's only been in one accident ever- and it was absolutely not his fault/not at all related to this question.

Really great answers so far, thank you....

Ok, as I have tallied, so far he is beating me by two points. Keep up the great answers!

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

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!!!

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

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.

Answer 8

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.

Answer 9

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.

Answer 10

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!

Answer 11

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