Who's at fault in a 3 car motorway pile up?

[Stu]

OK, I know in a normal situation of running into the back of someone, the person behind is at fault for failing to stop in time.
Now the 2 second rule is sufficient for you to react to someone stopping in front of you, but not sufficient if they stop dead because they've hit someone. So my question is, "Does that make the person in front at fault for their rear end collision for failing to avoid the first accident"


Is that clear?

[Bluepete]

Yes, because you should be looking further down the road than the bumper of the car in front.

[the_lone_wolf]

If the person in front of you, or behind you, isn't leaving an adequate gap you should leave additional space to account for it IMO, on the motorway you should be aware of what's going on in front of the car in front of you and spot a situation developing long before the car in front simply stops dead...

Surely the two rear drivers are both responsible, as neither kept the appropriate distance?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Bluepete

Yes, because you should be looking further down the road than the bumper of the car in front.

Thanks, but your justification doesn't fit your answer.

Again, is the 2nd car, i.e. the one in the middle responsible for the 3rd car hitting it up the ar*e because the 2nd car was involved in an accident.

You can't always see in front of the vehicle in front of you, what if it was a van?

I think the 2nd car is responsible for hitting the 1st; and the 3rd is responsible for hitting the 2nd.

If you cant see in front of the vehicle in front of you then always better to be that much further behind

[Bluepete]

If it's a van, you should be further back then, sufficient to see past it.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by 7755matt

as neither kept the appropriate distance?

The HC recommends 2 seconds distance, yet the HC stopping distance at 70 is 6.5 seconds.
So it is clearly intended that you don't have to allow for the car in front to stop dead in an accident.

Originally Posted by Stu

You can't always see in front of the vehicle in front of you, what if it was a van?

Then you change your road positioning to enhance you view, ie. increase the gap! If you cant see ahead, anticipate the hazard!

HC

On the motorway
260
When you can see well ahead and the road conditions are good, you should drive at a steady cruising speed which you and your vehicle can handle safely and is within the speed limit (see Rule 124)

keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front and increase the gap on wet or icy roads, or in fog (see Rules 126 and 235)

126
Stopping Distances. Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. You should leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance (see Typical Stopping Distances PDF below)
allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads
remember, large vehicles and motorcycles need a greater distance to stop. If driving a large vehicle in a tunnel, you should allow a four-second gap between you and the vehicle in front