Stopped on roadside - stand in front or behind your vehicle?
Poll: Stopped on roadside - stand in front or behind your vehicle?
Total Members Polled: 39
Discussion
So, you've broken down and are stopped on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Should you stand behind your car or in front of it and why?
I'm thinking if you stand behind you have a better view of the road and might be able to move yourself out of the way of a car coming off the carriageway towards you. On the other hand, standing in front of your car means that your vehicle provides some protection against another vehicle careering off the road towards you, but your view is worse and the wreckage after hitting your car would be less predictable.
What's common wisdom on this then?
I'm thinking if you stand behind you have a better view of the road and might be able to move yourself out of the way of a car coming off the carriageway towards you. On the other hand, standing in front of your car means that your vehicle provides some protection against another vehicle careering off the road towards you, but your view is worse and the wreckage after hitting your car would be less predictable.
What's common wisdom on this then?
Ok ok ok.
i) What if the road design doesn't permit you to get onto the verge (e.g. there's a concrete wall or barrier at the side of the sliproad)
ii) Even so, should you be in front or behind?
Regards the 'reminder' I didn't want people to think "in front" meant on the side where approaching cars would see you first. I.e. to an approaching driver you would be 'in front', from his point of view, of your car if you were stood by it's tail lights.
i) What if the road design doesn't permit you to get onto the verge (e.g. there's a concrete wall or barrier at the side of the sliproad)
ii) Even so, should you be in front or behind?
Regards the 'reminder' I didn't want people to think "in front" meant on the side where approaching cars would see you first. I.e. to an approaching driver you would be 'in front', from his point of view, of your car if you were stood by it's tail lights.
Ranger 6 said:
hugo a gogo said:
Road Hog said:
thought you were supposed to sit away from the car ...on banking or other side of any barrier.
+1On the verge/kerb, behind the barrier, up the bank, but never in front or behind the car - unless you're actually doing something on/to the car.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Stand in front, but put full lock onto the car pointing at the verge/curb. That way any energy transferred to the car in the event of a shunt will drive the car into the verge/curb and hopefully leave you sprinting safely out of harm`s way without feeling like Indiana Jones.
(This is of course assuming getting to the side is not an option)
(This is of course assuming getting to the side is not an option)
Edited by crisisjez on Monday 11th May 21:31
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
And who knows, you may be lucky enough to prevent your car from damage by absorbing the full impact as you find yourself sandwiched between the two cars. Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
When I broke down on spaghetti junction there was no verge. And the other side of the barrier was a 50ft drop onto another part of the motorway.
Was I safer to stand to the rear of my car or inside it.... If someone had lost control and come along the barrier I'd have been squished beside it and the barrier, or between it and my car.... Had I been in the car I'd have had some steel around me as a buffer....
But the car is more likely to attract zombies who cant avoid driving into things they notice.....
Was I safer to stand to the rear of my car or inside it.... If someone had lost control and come along the barrier I'd have been squished beside it and the barrier, or between it and my car.... Had I been in the car I'd have had some steel around me as a buffer....
But the car is more likely to attract zombies who cant avoid driving into things they notice.....
Munter said:
When I broke down on spaghetti junction there was no verge. And the other side of the barrier was a 50ft drop onto another part of the motorway.
Was I safer to stand to the rear of my car or inside it.... If someone had lost control and come along the barrier I'd have been squished beside it and the barrier, or between it and my car.... Had I been in the car I'd have had some steel around me as a buffer....
But the car is more likely to attract zombies who cant avoid driving into things they notice.....
Sitting in the car wont save you from an HGV, which TBO, do tend to wander into the hard shoulder with alarming regularity, so its best to keep a sharp eye out and be ready to run like hell. Especially if the cars broken down on the highway.Was I safer to stand to the rear of my car or inside it.... If someone had lost control and come along the barrier I'd have been squished beside it and the barrier, or between it and my car.... Had I been in the car I'd have had some steel around me as a buffer....
But the car is more likely to attract zombies who cant avoid driving into things they notice.....
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
That seems to be exactly backwards - are you sure you have you 'upwind', 'behind' etc the right way round?Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
crisisjez said:
Stand in front, but put full lock onto the car pointing at the verge/curb. That way any energy transferred to the car in the event of a shunt will drive the car into the verge/curb and hopefully leave you sprinting safely out of harm`s way without feeling like Indiana Jones.
I don't understand this. The car is going to go in the direction it's hit. If hit directly from behind (parallel to lane 1), it will slide straight, irrespective of which way the wheels are pointing won't it? Once the static friction is overcome, there's no slip angle set up to cause the car to change direction?I know AA/RAC do this, but I'm not sure the physics add up.
crisisjez said:
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
And who knows, you may be lucky enough to prevent your car from damage by absorbing the full impact as you find yourself sandwiched between the two cars. Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
GreenV8S said:
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
That seems to be exactly backwards - are you sure you have you 'upwind', 'behind' etc the right way round?Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
ADJimbo said:
GreenV8S said:
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
That seems to be exactly backwards - are you sure you have you 'upwind', 'behind' etc the right way round?Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
Vaux said:
crisisjez said:
Stand in front, but put full lock onto the car pointing at the verge/curb. That way any energy transferred to the car in the event of a shunt will drive the car into the verge/curb and hopefully leave you sprinting safely out of harm`s way without feeling like Indiana Jones.
I don't understand this. The car is going to go in the direction it's hit. If hit directly from behind (parallel to lane 1), it will slide straight, irrespective of which way the wheels are pointing won't it? Once the static friction is overcome, there's no slip angle set up to cause the car to change direction?I know AA/RAC do this, but I'm not sure the physics add up.
ADJimbo said:
crisisjez said:
ADJimbo said:
Never, ever stand 'upwind' of your vehicle, if you are on a hard-shoulder or even up the banking...
Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
And who knows, you may be lucky enough to prevent your car from damage by absorbing the full impact as you find yourself sandwiched between the two cars. Should your vehicle be struck from behind, there is only one way it will go - forwards. By standing behind it, you ensure that you are not then struck by it...
If you stand behind your car you would really have no choice but to run into the road, and that would increase your chances of being hit either by the car which swerved at the last moment to avoid hitting your car, or the car behind who possibly wouldn`t see you. Or possibly oncoming traffic in the case of a single lane.
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