Has anyone got rear ended while on the highway?

Thanks Lynnmor

Lynnmor wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
I also want to know. were you sitting still on the ramp? If so. Why? I have seen traffic so bad you couldn't merge, but run along the medium till I find a hole. I always try to hit the bottom of the ramp at the speed limit of the interstate. Gives you more options.

Don't quite understand why anyone would go full speed into an impossible situation. Expecting all the traffic on thru lanes to get out of your way is not the definition of yield.

Anyway, I had to stop on a short ramp while pulling a snowmobile trailer due to solid thru traffic. The no stop, full speed ahead, idiot behind me slammed the trailer causing the hitch and coupler to be destroyed. The genius cop gave me rats for not towing the trailer to the next exit, because it was obvious to him that the damage was not a problem. The coupler was off the ball and pinched between the ball and bumper.

Because that is the only way to merge. You can't merge from a stop. At the same speed of the traffic. You have a much better chance to merge. If at the VERY END of the merging lane you can't get in, then you slow. Other than that, Only IF traffic is stopped on the interstate, do you stop. It is your responsibility to merge with the flow, with out disrupting the flow, and you can't do that sitting still.

However. IF the guy in front of you on the ramp stops. Then you have no choice but to stop as well. Have to look ahead, and to the side at the same time.

Terryallan wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
I also want to know. were you sitting still on the ramp? If so. Why? I have seen traffic so bad you couldn't merge, but run along the medium till I find a hole. I always try to hit the bottom of the ramp at the speed limit of the interstate. Gives you more options.

Don't quite understand why anyone would go full speed into an impossible situation. Expecting all the traffic on thru lanes to get out of your way is not the definition of yield.

Anyway, I had to stop on a short ramp while pulling a snowmobile trailer due to solid thru traffic. The no stop, full speed ahead, idiot behind me slammed the trailer causing the hitch and coupler to be destroyed. The genius cop gave me rats for not towing the trailer to the next exit, because it was obvious to him that the damage was not a problem. The coupler was off the ball and pinched between the ball and bumper.

Because that is the only way to merge. You can't merge from a stop. At the same speed of the traffic. You have a much better chance to merge. If at the VERY END of the merging lane you can't get in, then you slow. Other than that, Only IF traffic is stopped on the interstate, do you stop. It is your responsibility to merge with the flow, with out disrupting the flow, and you can't do that sitting still.

However. IF the guy in front of you on the ramp stops. Then you have no choice but to stop as well. Have to look ahead, and to the side at the same time.

I guess in this case it depends on what Lynnmor means by the phrase "solid thru traffic"! If it means the highway was stopped then yes stopping is the only option, if traffic is just heavy, then you need to get to speed and show intention to merge.
As to me I assess the speed and flow of traffic a the top of the on ramp, if traffic is moving well I pick a bumper to slide in behind, hasn't failed me yet..

I also don't follow a slow to accelerate vehicle down a ramp closely they may stop at the end, I want to get up to speed even if they can't.

Coming north through Chicago a couple years ago on I75 I got my TT "front ended". I was changing one lane to the right when a kind soul backed off to allow me room BUT someone a lane to the right of him saw an opportunity to jump in front of him.
The guy that hit me told me and the police officer he saw my truck go by but didn't see my 34' trailer. He messed up the whole side of his car but damaged just the front corner fiberglass of my trailer. Not bad at all. I was quite surprised by how little.
It was just strange how it never touched my truck but got the front corner of the trailer.

cbshoestring wrote:

Redterpos3 wrote:


Still can't figure out why anyone would stop in the middle of that ramp. It is just not a place to stop, ever!

Stopping in the middle of a ramp still gives you room to get up to speed to "merge" with traffic

Well, not so much on the ramp in the location I am describing. The individual stopped about 100 yards in, and still couldn't even see the traffic to merge onto, so your description doesn't fit. He didn't stop in preparation to merge, but to drive in to work at the construction site. He should have pulled over to the side of the road so as not to cause the problem he did. It was just a weird place to stop on a major roadway.

10 years ago I was towing my 28' coachman to myrtle beach... Typical summer Friday afternoon on a busy hwy 30 miles from the beach. I was traveling at 45 mph in solid traffic when some jerk from the left lane veered into my lane (because I had left a proper cushion in front). Just then all the brake lights in front lit up and everyone was panic stopping. I jammed my brakes - did that quick mental calculation... And realized I was good - I had room to stop. (That's a good feeling)

Whew - then I remembered the tractor trailer combo behind me! I glanced into my mirror and did another calculation - and told my wife to brace! The truck shortened my trailer 4'. He rode over the bumper and frame and just crushed the back wall - rolling up the sides. The impact wasn't severe rather a shove.

The trailer was totaled - the truckers insurance paid for a hotel and all was good. My pickup truck had no damage... That I could see - 6 months later the rear differential ate a bearing... And I found a broken snap ring from the limited slip clutch pack that was the culprit. I guess the impact was a little harder than I thought! Their insurance couldn't be convinced to buy me a new differential!

Joe

Jframpey wrote:
My pickup truck had no damage... That I could see - 6 months later the rear differential ate a bearing... And I found a broken snap ring from the limited slip clutch pack that was the culprit. I guess the impact was a little harder than I thought! Their insurance couldn't be convinced to buy me a new differential!

Joe

Years ago, I was waiting to make a left turn in large Oldsmobile when an idiot slammed my rear. That was the good old days when cars had truck-like frames. Months after the car was "fixed" the steering box dropped off the cracked frame. I went up the bank and once again had damage. Insurance was useless. That slam was hard enough that it caused unseen damage that far front. If I ever again have severe damage, I will get rid of the vehicle as soon as it comes out of the shop.

I had a guy in an airstream back into me, sort of the same thing, did a nice crumple job on it, hardly scratched my truck. (an older Ford at the time)

It really does not matter if the OP was stopped or moving, right or wrong, forwards or backwards.... another driver ran into him. That is the other drivers fault, period.

Lynnmor wrote:

Jframpey wrote:
My pickup truck had no damage... That I could see - 6 months later the rear differential ate a bearing... And I found a broken snap ring from the limited slip clutch pack that was the culprit. I guess the impact was a little harder than I thought! Their insurance couldn't be convinced to buy me a new differential!

Joe

Years ago, I was waiting to make a left turn in large Oldsmobile when an idiot slammed my rear. That was the good old days when cars had truck-like frames. Months after the car was "fixed" the steering box dropped off the cracked frame. I went up the bank and once again had damage. Insurance was useless. That slam was hard enough that it caused unseen damage that far front. If I ever again have severe damage, I will get rid of the vehicle as soon as it comes out of the shop.

That is common with the 70's - late 80's GM frames. Fatigue causes the subframes to crack at the box... Seen a few