I'm no rocket scientist but 4 wheel drive might have helped??
I’ve got about 120k miles behind that very wheel. In retrospect I should have braked even sooner and left more space. You know what they say, hindsight is 20:20.
From past experience in similar situations, 4wd would make little to no difference. Having somewhere to go to avoid the collision would make a bigger difference. I was at a point where I had to decide low speed impact on a tailgate, possible head on collision, or sideswiping a faster moving vehicle. A dent in a rear hatch seemed like the best option of the lot.
As my Comercial driving instructor put it… despite all your care, consideration, and careful driving if you log enough miles sooner or later you’ll find yourself in a spot where you think, “WTFDYD”. After 32 years, 800k kms, and avoiding getting hit at least three times that same week, I had to choose what would do the least damage and have the least chance of inuring someone else.
Back in the day I would have sourced a Chevy Venture tailgate and bolted it on for the guy.,. But now after 32 years of driving it was easier to make a claim and use one of my many claims that won’t affect my insurance premiums. About 11 years ago my son hit a vehicle with my Durango… at that time I was told I could be responsible for 4 more accidents without it impacting my premiums. I don’t know if recent changes to ICBC will impact that, but I’m hoping not.
