ARW wrote

You know that you are going to get arse ended.

Do you keep your foot on the brakes so that you don't get pushed into the
car in front or do keep your foot off the brake and have two bumps but of
less severity?

Depends on whether you have the car comprehensively
insured or not and if you wouldnt mind if the car was
written off with the rear ender paying for you new car.

If you are fully insured, best to not have
your foot on the brake so you can claim for
whiplash injury as well as getting a new car.

If you have no insurance, safer to not have
your foot on the brake to minimise the
damage that you might have to pay for
yourself if the rear ender also isnt insured
and just makes an obscene gesture in your
general direction when you send in the bailiff