You're about to be rear-ended at a traffic light. Do you press the brake, or roll with the impact?

In a situation where you are about to be rear-ended at a traffic light, it is generally safer to press the brake and brace for impact. Here's why:

1. Minimize Forward Movement: By pressing the brake, you can reduce the forward momentum of your vehicle, which can help mitigate the severity of the collision. Rolling with the impact would allow your vehicle to continue moving, potentially causing a more forceful collision.

2. Protect Against Whiplash: Pressing the brake can help stabilize your vehicle, which can reduce the risk of a sudden jolt upon impact. This may lower the chances of suffering whiplash or other injuries.

3. Prevent Secondary Collisions: If you roll with the impact, there is a risk that your vehicle could collide with the vehicle in front of you, potentially causing a chain reaction of collisions. Applying the brakes can help you avoid such secondary collisions.

4. Vehicle Damage: By pressing the brake, you may be able to prevent your vehicle from being pushed into the intersection or other obstacles, potentially reducing the risk of further damage.

5. Legal Considerations: In many jurisdictions, it is a legal requirement to attempt to avoid or minimize accidents by taking reasonable actions, which would include using your brakes in a rear-end collision situation.

It's important to stay as calm as possible, keep both hands on the steering wheel, and keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal in anticipation of the impact. After the collision, it's essential to follow proper post-accident procedures, such as checking for injuries, exchanging information with the other driver, and reporting the accident to the authorities if necessary.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model