405 rear ender

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

A lot of the California people on this forum have probably seen this type of thing...

I was driving home, South on the 405 this afternoon coming down off the hill, between the Gettys Center and Sunset Blvd. The hill drops down and into a curve...usually at that point around 4:30 PM, you can expect traffic to stop dead pretty much either just before Sunset, or between Sunset and Wilshire.

So we in traffic, came to the typical dead stop... I was in the middle lane. In the left lane slightly ahead of me was a Chevy Pickup...

Just then, I noticed in the rear view mirror, an older grey Mercedes barrelling down the hill and not slowing down. Just at the last second, he/she locked them up... screeching tires, billowing blue grey burning rubber smoke..

But it was too late, the Mercedes slammed into the Chevy pickup truck, right next to me. He hit it hard, probably going 25-30 mph.... the Chevy lurched forward and almost hit the SUV in front of it... the Mercedes front end crumpled up like an accordian... debris sprayed all over my 911...bits of metal and rubber.

Just then traffic started again, and I moved forward. I considered stopping to help, but if you know that area of traffic, its not a good idea to stop once you get going. Typical 405, its a jungle out there.

john70t · 03-05-2004, 05:05 AM

The solution is obviously more people.
Vote for Bush. {said with a smart#ss grin}.

VaSteve · 03-05-2004, 05:48 AM

I was travlling too fast the other day on an interstate near me and I had to lock it up when I realized that traffic came to a near dead stop in front of me (for no discernable reason). My car listed to the right a little and I was able to recover.

The biotch in a mini van behind me (obviously tailgating me) gives me a honk and 'tude because I slowed down so suddenly. WTF was I supposed to do?

Zeke · 03-05-2004, 07:39 AM

The 405 thing happened to me exactly as you said! Same place. Except the pickup was an older small import. When the car hit, the two guys heads simultaneouly went thru the back glass. Right there a scant few feet from me. Maybe 6 feet away. This is an image I'll never forget. I didn't stop. As you said, I would have compounded the problem by stoping in my lane. This was for the folks right behind. The blood would have done me in.

I avoid the 405 and drive thru downtowm fi I can reasonably reach my destination that way.

VaSteve · 03-05-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
. When the car hit, the two guys heads simultaneouly went thru the back glass.

SilverPoly · 03-05-2004, 10:37 AM

I believe the 405 was recently voted as the worst freeway in the nation.

Witnessing an accident up close like that is pretty traumatic. Ever drive by a car on fire? I was in the #1 lane when a vw jetta was blazing on the shoulder. Even with my window up I could feel the immense heat.

GrindingGears · 03-05-2004, 10:53 AM

405? Four or five hours!

I avoid that stretch of the 405 unless it's 7am and I'm on my way to a Mulholland fun run.

"It's a jungle out there." INDEED!

Zeke · 03-05-2004, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve79SC
I believe the 405 was recently voted as the worst freeway in the nation.

Witnessing an accident up close like that is pretty traumatic. Ever drive by a car on fire? I was in the #1 lane when a vw jetta was blazing on the shoulder. Even with my window up I could feel the immense heat.

That has happened to me too. On the Hollywood Fwy, IIRC. The fire was on the opposite side in the center divider. I was in the left lane on my side and traffic was moving a 5mph while everyone gawked at the scene. I jumped out and handed my extinquisher over the rail with a business card and hopped back in my truck and moved off.

Never heard from the people.

SteveStromberg · 03-05-2004, 07:21 PM

I drive 100 miles on the 405 everyday. Heres the key: Do Not Tailgate I leave a safety zone ahead I will pace a truck or other driver to keep a nice buffer in front of me. When it comes to a crawl I leave a good two car spaces ahead and I never stop just keep rolling even a few mph. I figure if I am not stopped I wont get rearended.Steve

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

** As Fukin Fate would have it....

I got Rear Ended Today in my 911.... ugh.

It happened on Topanga Canyon. 17 year old chick hit me going 15-20 mph. She hit me pretty hard. There appears to be no damage, luckily...but I have to take the car to get it looked at professionally to be sure.

It sucks out there. This is why I am thinking about buying a second Porsche....in case some nutt disables my current one.

Milt...interesting story. It is pretty traumatic to have happen next to you. Imagine how you feel when you are in the car.

wilke3169 · 03-06-2004, 06:53 AM

I was rearended this week. Same situation, interstate traffic at 60 then to a dead stop. I was actually stopped and it wound up being a 4 car deal, all behind me thank goodness. Luckily I was in my work truck and not the P-car. I can tell you a Mitsubishi sedan is no match for a Chevy step bumper. Mitsubishi is likely totaled and I doubt I will replace my bumper.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Ahhhh .... life in "paradise".

john70t · 03-06-2004, 04:12 PM

I'm with SteveStromberg on the driving technique.
When I take off behind stopped traffic, it frustrates the heck out of the cars behind me that I take off slowly, but it frustrates them even more when I pass them at speed at the start of the next surge.
The average of zero and 50 mph and zero is a steady 25mph.

stupenal · 03-07-2004, 01:59 AM

Yeah that stretch ALWAYS comes to a halt, same goes for heading North right before the 101 when you start goin downhill there's sudden braking. The 405 = teh ghey. Like seriously. Its funny how not many people know the shortcut of going the LAX exit heading north on the 405 then merging back on.

My work hours are really cool and coincide very nicely with the 405's "flow." I head south from UCLA to torrance at 8:30am. Then I come back north at 1:00 pm. Perfect 65-75mph the entire way. Slight slowdown before Howard Hughes parkway when construction takes away one lane.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

stupenal...I know what you mean. I take the Vista Del Mar through to Culver City and then the 90 over to 405 shortcut going north.... its quite a nice drive along the ocean and dumps me out just past the worst part of traffic going north.

Going south, I often get off at Gettys or Wilshire and take Sepulveda all the way down, then Culver Blvd over to the Vista del Mar shortcut. Lots of red lights, but at least you are moving and its not quite as crazy/unpredictable.