DSC just saved me

"StudyStudyStudy" (jesterjin)
04/25/2019 at 15:22 • Filed to: None

I just merged onto the freeway, got up to speed, looked over to change lanes and looked back to see the cars in front of me SLAMMING on their brakes HARD.

I didn’t even have enough time to try and hit the brakes, I threw the steering wheel left hard, knowing the car would understeer right into the car in front of me, to my surprise, and what I suspect, the car understeered for a fraction of a second and then hopped over.

I’m guessing the DSC, Dynamic Stability Control which is supposed to sense steering input, sensed the sudden turn and grabbed the rear left brake even though I was on the throttle and threw me hard left. I corrected with a hard turn right and the rear end started to kick out and once again I think it came in and caught it.

Car is 14 years old, but very well equipped. I’m real thankful for that today. As I drove past I saw a dark blue police cruiser sitting under a freeway over pass in the shadows . People probably couldn’t make out what it was till they got close and got spooked and slammed their brakes. There also was an accident on the left involving quite a few cars which brought that lane to a stand still. I managed to fish tail into the only open lane and squeak through without hitting anyone.

DISCUSSION (6)

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > StudyStudyStudy
04/25/2019 at 15:43

Whew, close call. This is one of the reasons why I’m always on yellow alert when I am too close to the car in front of me, which happens uncontrollably all the time as you merge into the freeway!

And if I see a bunch of people braking I will brake preemptively as well, been saved by a those warnings a bunch of times about speed traps. Glad to see you made it through with out issue.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > StudyStudyStudy
04/25/2019 at 15:49

Glad nothing bad happened. I’ve been saved by electronic assits several times.

ESP:

Forward collision alert/automatic braking:

ABS:

StudyStudyStudy > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
04/25/2019 at 16:00

Yea heart was beating for a while. It was remarkably sudden. I’ll cover my brakes and pay attention if I see cars slowing down in front of me, but this was one of those, “hey everyone let’s all hit our brakes now!” type of situations. Annoying part is it wasn’t warranted. The police car didn’t even look like it was running. Wasn’t parked to be taking speed readings or have their lights on anything. Either it was broken down or he was taking a nap in the shade under the overpass.

StudyStudyStudy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
04/25/2019 at 16:03

Goodness, remind me to stay away from Omaha...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > StudyStudyStudy
04/25/2019 at 16:04

This ain’t even the half of it. Run. Run away.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > StudyStudyStudy
04/25/2019 at 17:07

Glad that you’re safe.

The DSC doesn’t work that way on the Mini btw. It’ll allow miles of understeer. Maybe it loaded up the suspension and then turned in?

It will definitely catch the rear end tho. Even with a stiffer sway bar at the back, it’ll catch it