I think there's a group of people who have the power to maintain highly honed rational thought when in a panic. I've been in 3 massive panic situations. First was when I was working on a car and a jack stand broke while my dad was under it. Instead of panicking and running around like an idiot I immediately grabbed the pneumatic Jack stuffed it under the frame and slammed the valve to open leaving my dad with broken ribs but alive. Never in my life had I trained for or imagined that situation ever happening.
Second was on the highway. A steel beam came loose and fell off a truck Iwas behind and instead of slamming on my breaks and letting it impale me, I swerved into the next lane. Studies have shown that the first thing motorists do in a panic situation is slam the brakes. The guy behind me did, the beam impaled the passenger side of his car (thankfully nobody was in the seat) and he got rear ended. Again, another situation I have never once planned for or imagined.
Third was when I crashed my bike at 50mph. I hit an unexpected patch of gravel which was apparently a couple inches deep, soft, and being used to fill in some rough areas of the road. I was prepared for the rough road but not the gravel. It ate my tire and kicked me off the bike, and instead of going stiff and bracing like most people, I went limp the moment I knew the bike was kicking me off and let my body roll and do whatever until I stopped. I ruined my jacket jeans and helmet and have one scar on my arm to show I was even in an accident. Had I braced I'd have probably held onto the bike and been injured by the bike itself like my buddy was a few weeks later when he ate it after hitting a sudden chunk of asphalt in a tight corner. He's in a leg cast. I have a scar.
There's a select few of us who can actually manage to think in a panic situation and I'm glad I'm part of that crowd. Also if you're on a motorcycle and you crash, FUCKING GO LIMP. More injuries are bound to happen when you try to add your input to the huge amount of kinetic energy your mass is relieving itself of. Hyper extensions, unnecessary broken limbs, holding on for dear life and breaking your leg with the bike... They really should cover that one in the safety courses.