I received a really great Email question in response to my article on "How to Avoid Rear-End Accidents" from Margo Gregory.   It follows:

“I agree with your “How to Avoid Rear-end Collisions” blog … however, I do have a question. If you know someone is about to rear end you (sometimes you can see it coming) … do you apply the brakes as hard as you can … or do you lightly press the brakes to allow less impact … or do you not apply the brakes at all (as long as you are not at a busy intersection) ???”

Hmmm!  A very good question and a really difficult one to answer.

While I know of no significant studies on this issue, I would offer a few suggestions on how to handle an imminent Rear End Collision – besides just simply praying!
 

Before absorbing the impact, I would want to already have the answers to three questions, two obvious, the first, maybe not.

Am I driving a vehicle with ABS (Antilock Braking System)?

Is there someone in front of me?  If so, how much space is between us?

Am I the lead car stopped at an intersection?  If so, how clear is it?

If I have ABS I should have two significant advantages when being struck from the rear.  Both would require that I press down on the brake pedal as hard as I can.

The ABS braking system with the brake pedal pressed hard, unlike a vehicle without it, will allow me to steer the vehicle even when I break traction and am skidding - a likely event when I'm struck from behind.  This would be a distinct advantage while being shoved towards oblivion.  Perhaps I could at least steer to the least damaging said oblivion!

Also, the ABS when engaged will stop me in the least possible space.  Kinda’ nice!

I also don’t want to be a Stop on my Tail-gater.  If there is a vehicle stopped in front of me, I want to have at least a half car’s length to a car and a half’s length, between my front bumper and its rear bumper.  As most intersection rear-enders are not of the high velocity persuasion, this space may allow me to cautiously but quickly inch forward if my rear-view mirror is suggesting the puppy behind me is inevitably going to stop in my space.  I truly believe I have avoided a number of accidents with this simple maneuver and in any event, it would hopefully lessen the impact and possibly keep me from being pushed into the car in front of me.

That being said, I’m still personally an advocate for hard braking once I do stop.  If I have an “out” in front of me, I’ll probably be on the gas anyway, aiming for the least dangerous place to be.  Otherwise, my feeling is by braking hard I will stop more quickly when whacked.  I will probably break traction and skid forward anyway, and I’m not sure there’s much impact difference between being struck and pushed into a skid or being struck and coasting forward with no or light braking applied.
 

I would welcome any comments on this concept as again, I’m unaware of any studies on the issue,  I’m not a physics professor, and the issue may be somewhat controversial!

Okay, now I’m the lead car at an intersection.  One critical rule here, even if preparing for a left turn, is to keep the front steering wheels pointed straight ahead – or at least in a safe direction.  If I’m turning left and have the wheels aimed left while I’m waiting, I will be forced into oncoming traffic if I have ABS or if my foot comes off of the brake in a non-ABS vehicle.  Don’t want to be there.  If I don’t have the ABS and my car breaks traction because I’m braking hard when struck, it won’t matter.  I’ll be pushed in the direction from where I’m struck.  (There’s no steering when we break traction in a non-ABS vehicle).

Okay, impact is imminent.  I need to prepare for it.  How best can my body (forget the car) absorb it?

I do NOT want to lean forward or try to duck (unless I'm behind a vehicle with an imovable object that looks like it wants to decapitate me)!  I need to avoid being “jerked around” as best as possible.  My back wants to be firmly pressed against the back of my seat and my head wants to be pressed back firmly against the headrest.  This will offer me the best support available to avoid whiplash.  I also want to warn any passengers to do the same, if possible, by shouting “lean back”!

Finally, as hard as it may seem, I want to completely relax my muscles.  A relaxed muscle will absorb more impact with less damage, than one which is all tensed up.  Practice it when you’re stopped somewhere.  Just completely relax your muscles.  Yup, relax – and take the hit!  And if you’re so inclined – yeah, pray!