I have a skoda superb. this morning in rush hour traffic, i suddenly noticed a car behind me getting so close i couldn't even see the bonnet. the woman (yes, it's another dozy cow) seemed to be engrossed in something underneath her steering wheel, probably her phone. then I had to stop because the car in front of me was stopping. then she went into the back of me. i couldn't actually stop because I was on a bridge (no sidewalk), as soon as we crossed the bridge, because I was in front and didn't know where she would go, she immediately turned off when I went past a turn off without indictating and ran off. I didn't manage to see her plates. 

 

1) I didn't have much time and I was wondering whether to put hazards on, or hope she'll see my car or sound the horn. I was worried that would startle her and cause the car to hurtle into me even faster. as it turned out, she plowed into the back of me anyway. 

 

what exactly am I supposed to do in that situation?

 

2) the speed was probably 10mph or less. there was definitely a thud when she hit me. there seems to be no cosmetic damage to the car. but the car is a dsg and my foot was on the brake at the time she hit me. does getting hit like that damage the brakes in anyway? I thought the engine was holding its revs a bit higher / longer, but that might just have been my imagination as I couldn't actually inspect for damage until I went to somewhere I could actually stop. 

 

should i be worried about anything?

 

-----

 

probably a side rant but I've only been driving a couple of years and this is the second time someone's hit me (I've not hit anyone else). And again, it was a bloody woman, at low speeds. The first time, a woman driver was reversing. she paused, so I thought she saw me, as I was about to go on, she started reversing again, i sounded the horn, but again, watched helplessly as she plowed straight into me. 

Edited 12 September, 20169 yr by newskodadriver

_{How to stop it happening again ... stop driving, you'll never be able to controlthe idiots on the roads.}

 

_{What you can do to protect yourself ... Get a dash cam front and rear.}

 

_{Will it have caused damage to the brakes / gearbox .... unlikely}

Edited 12 September, 20169 yr by mk4gtiturbo

Not a lot you can do at low speed, especially in an auto where you're probably already covering the brakes. I have had one where I got out and said "would you mind doing me a favour and either leave a bit of a gap or possibly look where you're going rather than playing with your phone please?" didn't go down well, but it worked. 

 

Higher speed and tailgating, I do find visibly adjusting my mirror as if I'm lining up a crash for cash works quite well, if it doesn't, I just stop somewhere really awkward for them, wave them past and give a ****** sign. I did it to an unmarked Police 4x4 the other month, and was truely hoping for them to pull me over so we could have a chat about the manner of their driving. 

Edited 12 September, 20169 yr by StevesTruck

Contact the rozzers as she left the scene and get the vehicle properly checked over oh and might be an idea to get her phone checked also and defo get dash camera front and rear

Big spike on the back of your car. For some reason not legal.

 

I had this happen to me about 10yr ago a week after I got a new car. Girl again like OP.

She didn't get out her car and seemed bemused that I would actually be bothered she'd run into me. Some minor scratches so I just roared at her for a few minutes.

 

Depending on the speed and where you connected it may have done nothing or bent something.  If she scampered she might not have been insured.

Contact the rozzers as she left the scene and get the vehicle properly checked over oh and might be an idea to get her phone checked also and defo get dash camera front and rear

Didn't get the plate of her car, didn't get her details, she didn't even stop... contact the rozzers with what?

In that sort of situation, forget that you're obstructing a traffic lane! Kitten well STOP and demand her insurance details there and then!!

 

Remember that it's an offence to leave the scene of a crash without giving your details to a person having cause to require them (such as the guy you just drove into the back of).

Have you considered a non-detachable towbar?

Have you considered a non-detachable towbar?

 

With one of these

 

Bumpers will pop back into shape after light bumps, but there can be damage underneath. Best get it checked out, and buy dashcams. They won't stop you being hit, but at least you'll have evidence.

As Dr.Z says; after being rear ended my bumper looked fine to all intents and purposes but the crash bar underneath was stoved in.

With one of these

 

Or better yet a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_cm_Flak_30/38/Flakvierling#2_cm_Flakvierling_38 

Or better yet a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_cm_Flak_30/38/Flakvierling#2_cm_Flakvierling_38 

 

 

This is how wars start

Or better yet a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_cm_Flak_30/38/Flakvierling#2_cm_Flakvierling_38

Single axle and under 750kg, so dont even need a seperate trailer license

As Dr.Z says; after being rear ended my bumper looked fine to all intents and purposes but the crash bar underneath was stoved in.

so skoda superbs have a "crash bar" on the rear bumper? and if I take it in, that's what I tell them to look for? Do I have to take it back to dealership where I bought it from (used car) or go to independent local a bit closer if it's not a big job. 

Edited 12 September, 20169 yr by newskodadriver

I think in that situation I'd personally (if possible) drive after them if they thought about driving off. Don't care how far it takes me out of my journey I'll do it to prove a point and hopefully they'd think twice about doing it again. Especially if I thought there could be damage to my car.

I like to have powerful enough windscreen washers that can put a spray onto vehicles very close up my jacksy when you are crawling along in traffic.

I know this can cause road rage in others, and sometimes it just does the job after a couple of washes of my screen.

 

It was particularly good recently with a Audi Convertible that seemed to want to be in my back seat even though we were travelling through 5 miles of nose to tail traffic.

I gave 'her' a couple of miles to complete her call and get off my ar53.  Then it was time for her bad hair day.

She went ape and was right back on the phone.  Then i washed my screen again. It was childish i know but sometimes driving can be boring and i prefer watching the traffic in front and alongside and lane changers and trust the car behind to do similar.

Specialist body shop rather than a generic garage if you've got one close to you.

Above all else though, make sure it's a garage or body shop you trust as there are some real cowboys out there.

so skoda superbs have a "crash bar" on the rear bumper? and if I take it in, that's what I tell them to look for? Do I have to take it back to dealership where I bought it from (used car) or go to independent local a bit closer if it's not a big job. 

{several Wikipedia pages later}

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cross_section_of_Saab_9000.jpg shows a typical modern bumper (OK, it's a front but rears are similar). The black plastic on the RHS of the photographed car is the "self-repairing" skin you can see, and the silver channel section it covers is the "crash bar". What people are saying is that the crash bar can be damaged and not show up because the skin reshapes itself after an impact.

 

I'd also suggest, from reading this thread, that you should have a proper read of the http://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/117-racing-and-advanced-driving-techniques/ sub-forum.

Sorry to sound blunt but after two years driving you still seem a very inexperienced driver with much to learn. As has already been said, always stop at the scene of an accident unless unsafe to do so, don't worry about holding up traffic.

You can never completely eradicate these incidents but you can learn techniques to minimise them, take an advanced driving course, much of your time will be spent on how to manage the space around you.

1, never be afraid to stop on a bridge, I'd have got out, wrote down her ref number and told her to pull up at the end of the bridge.

2, as others have said, fit a tow bar, it'll not only protect your car but it'll also cause substantial damage to theirs even at low speed.

Towbars can make things worse as they transmit the impact into the frame of the car.

As much as they put people off tailgating.

As previously stated by others - back and front dash cam is the answer. Blackvue do the dvr650-2ch that looks pretty good.

Back and front cameras are good at showing the driver responsible, they are terrible at stopping accidents happening.

 

Like pieces of paper.

The Police officer that asked me and a driver why we had no seat belts on in a light commercial was told we had exemption because we were doing short drops.

He said that the letter was little good if we were going through the windscreen.

 

My mate caught him shortly after and ran across to his car and said, that uniform will not help stop you going through the windscreen, best belt up, or words to that effect.

In that situation i wouldn't care about the traffic queuing up for a few minutes.
Put the hazards on, get the phone out and get a picture of the cars positioning her and the plate.
After that, i'd set it to record, put it in my pocket then request her details.
If she refused then i'd call the police on the non emergency number.

If they have done a runner, then nothing .   Other than I whole heartedly say come and join the front and rear camera club

Edited 14 September, 20169 yr by lfc958