Tegger <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote:
Or, if you have a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, and your engine is in "idle
stop" mode, you don't want to creep forward, because the engine will start
again.

--
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

Elle wrote:
Ho hum. Elle, sorry to hear it, but glad it turned out fine. Been a long
time since I've been here--haven't had many problems with my trusty 94
Civic EX sedan since I got so much help here from you and others some
years ago! But I, too, was just rear ended in stop & go traffic on the
highway, by a 2001 Ford Explorer, driven by a numbnut who was probably
tuned into his cell/MP3 player and probably playing with it as he
accelerated from tailgating a tractor-trailer in the center lane (with
the corresponding loss of visibility to either side), right into me,
stopped in the left lane. I didn't have enough time to go anywhere else.
Not sure of the speed, maybe 10 mph? These things happen fast.

You'd think someone in stop & go traffic might be a little more careful,
but the guy was dumb enough to leave his earbuds in while the state cop
was talking to him...

Unfortunately for me and his insurance, I was on my way back from Boston
to NYC with the brand-new custom bike (bicycle) I had literally JUST
picked up from the shop, mounted on a trunk rack! Crank was wrapped
around the chainstay from the impact, bike frame totaled, trunk lid
mashed up. Bumper wasn't bad, but I do have to check the absorber and
beam. I credit the bike, rack, and trunk lid with absorbing most of the
impact and saving my neck.

Luckily, his insurance company didn't quibble over the bike, and wrote
me a check for the full amount, plus repairs to the trunk (well, sort
of). I got the trunk lid and rear shell straightened out until I can get
another lid. Ugh. Bike has been rebuilt with a new frame, but I don't
yet have it! PITA, to drive with schmucks!

Lesson for me on this one is NEVER pass a worrisome tailgater once they
go around you. The schmuck had been glued to my bumper before he decided
he didn't like how much space I was leaving in front of me and zoomed
into the center lane to tailgate the tractor-trailer--remember this is
stop & go traffic! And it is critical to leave sufficient space in front
when stopped that you don't get mashed into the car ahead of you if you
are rear-ended. Luckily, I had done that.

Abe

abeness, quite a story! Glad you're all right. One can only hope that
the driver who hit you got more than the usual citation due to wearing
the headphones. I imagine all the cavalierness about causing an
accident while driving is as much about the darned insurance companies
being so seemingly nice, mostly because they know they get to raise
the rates. It is like credit card companies: Sure pile on the debt!
[It's more gravy for our companies!]

Elle wrote:
Sadly, I doubt it. No way for the trooper to ascertain whether he had
been wearing the phones at the time of the accident. <sigh> I can only
hope that the perp's insurance rates will go up, and that he at least
gets the message that tailgating isn't cost-effective. Since he didn't
seem like the brightest bulb, well, I doubt he'll get the idea that it
isn't safe!

Happily, I stumbled across Slate Valley Automotive in Granville, NY, in
my search for a trunk lid near where I was vacationing. They had a blue
one, but they also did body work, and could paint it for me (my car is
red). Turned out to be a gem. Rick there straightened out the rear end,
and resealed the floor pan to prevent exhaust coming up through the gap.
Apparently it was pushed in about 2 inches! Not only that, he was able
to do it the same day. Lid closes like new. Of course, my newly painted
lid looks better than the rest of the car... No, I'm not gonna repaint
the rest of it! ;-)