Ahhhh! I ALMOST got into a yucky car accident!

[mark_amdg]

So here's the scoop:

Me in Prius in Carpool Lane.
134 Fwy by Glendale/Pasadena area.
9:30 PM.
Going 70 MPH.

About 1/4th-1/2 mile ahead of me, I see a car stop suddenly. His emergency lights start blinking. The car behind him doesn't react fast enough. He hits rather violently and forcefully the stopped car ahead of him. Glass is everywhere. The car that hit him then spins around towards the carpool lane (which I AM ON). I foresee a very messy and deadly accident ahead of me and I start to break. I see that car in my lane and I start to panic and APPLY THE BREAK REALLY HARD. I hear my car screaching and I begin to pray for my life.

I then find that my car was literally a feet away from hitting the car ahead of me. I completely stop and I see on my rearview mirror these cars slamming on their breaks and all these screaching noises everywhere. More hits.

I escape the mess alive and I drive along to the next exit, worried that my poor prius might have been hit. Thankfully, me and my car were both alive and well. No scratch, no nothing.

All in all, thanks to the Prius for its amazing breaks. If it not were for my Prius' excellent breaks, I would've been involved in a horrible accident -- or worse, even dead.

Paying $27k + tax for a Prius is well worth it -- especially if it saves your life.

- Mark

[Catskillguy]

Originally posted by mark_amdg@Mar 5 2006, 05:44 PM
So here's the scoop:

Me in Prius in Carpool Lane.
134 Fwy by Glendale/Pasadena area.
9:30 PM.
Going 70 MPH.

About 1/4th-1/2 mile ahead of me, I see a car stop suddenly. His emergency lights start blinking. The car behind him doesn't react fast enough.  He hits rather violently and forcefully the stopped car ahead of him.  Glass is everywhere.  The car that hit him then spins around towards the carpool lane (which I AM ON).  I foresee a very messy and deadly accident ahead of me and I start to break.  I see that car in my lane and I start to panic and APPLY THE BREAK REALLY HARD.  I hear my car screaching and I begin to pray for my life. 

I then find that my car was literally a feet away from hitting the car ahead of me.  I completely stop and I see on my rearview mirror these cars slamming on their breaks and all these screaching noises everywhere.  More hits.

I escape the mess alive and I drive along to the next exit, worried that my poor prius might have been hit.  Thankfully, me and my car were both alive and well.  No scratch, no nothing. 

All in all, thanks to the Prius for its amazing breaks.  If it not were for my Prius' excellent breaks, I would've been involved in a horrible accident -- or worse, even dead.

Paying $27k + tax for a Prius is well worth it -- especially if it saves your life.

- Mark

[snapback]220729[/snapback]

Whew

Via Con Dios

[EricGo]

Paying attention and having enough open space in front of you saved your butt, not the Prius. Nice defensive driving.

BTW, in case you are looking for *another* reason to slow down, it takes about 1/2 the distance to stop from 50 mph, as it does from 70 mph. Or about 3/4 if going 60 mph.

[pjconner]

Sounds like your BRAKE assist came on. Glad it didn't BREAK (just kidding).

[Tideland Prius]

Yup especially since our brAkes are smaller than usual since we use regenerative braking most of the time (compare ours to a Corolla with 15" wheels).

Nice.

[mark_amdg]

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Mar 5 2006, 04:40 PM
Yup especially since our brAkes are smaller than usual since we use regenerative braking most of the time (compare ours to a Corolla with 15" wheels).

Nice.

[snapback]220770[/snapback]

Yes, maybe my being extra attentive and defensive driving saved my butt, but I am convinced that the Prius helped me by giving me that extra foot of "space" from fully colliding with the vehicle in front of me. In fact, I would have hit the the car at its driver's side, hitting the driver. My dad is a Toyota mechanic and he told me the Prius' brakes are EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD. Nice to know. Yet another reason to buy a Prius, and a big reason for us to feel a bit safer on the road with our Prius.

[EricGo]

I remember Prius brakes as being about average for car class, but I may be wrong.

I am more impressed that you stayed in your lane.

BTW, how many turtles did you get ?

[burritos]

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Mar 5 2006, 06:40 PM
Yup especially since our brAkes are smaller than usual since we use regenerative braking most of the time (compare ours to a Corolla with 15" wheels).

Nice.

[snapback]220770[/snapback]

Were you able to see on the screen how much regenerative braking energy was returned to you?

[lowspeed]

Originally posted by burritos@Mar 5 2006, 07:52 PM
Were you able to see on the screen how much regenerative braking energy was returned to you?

[snapback]220797[/snapback]

I'm sure that was on his top priorities after an almost accident

[Schmika]

Lest you think that brakes are the whole story, brakes can only stop a car as fast as the grip of the tires will allow. Pay attention to the tires....