. In many such instances there is never any indication of braking prior to impact, which I think does tend to support my theory. Doesn't make it any less traumatic fio those involved though.
A good friend who was in the police walked between two parked police cars which had their blue lights flashing was severely injured and crippled for life when a drunk driver careered into the back of the one police car. Prior to hitting the rear police car, he also clipped another private car.Some very lucky people there!
A brilliant testimony of why you should never, and I do mean never stand behind a vehicle when at the roadside (or between a car and trailer) That was one of the very first ever lessons I had when I started on Traffic Patrol.
It has certainly saved me from serious injury, or worse, at least 3 times over the years.
I have a theory why this sort of thing happens (especially on motorways at night) Drivers go into a semi sleep state, their brain "sees" a vehicle ahead on the road thats NOT "on the road" and they "tuck into" the same lane to follow it
Thank heavens no one was killed or seriously injured. Wrt your theory I remember years ago a Trathens double decker on the London to Plymouth route had an accident exactly as you described at night. There are too many such instance for it not to be a reasonable theory.Some very lucky people there!
A brilliant testimony of why you should never, and I do mean never stand behind a vehicle when at the roadside (or between a car and trailer) That was one of the very first ever lessons I had when I started on Traffic Patrol.
It has certainly saved me from serious injury, or worse, at least 3 times over the years.
I have a theory why this sort of thing happens (especially on motorways at night) Drivers go into a semi sleep state, their brain "sees" a vehicle ahead on the road thats NOT "on the road" and they "tuck into" the same lane to follow it
Railways experimented with various rear red lights upgrading from the old paraffin ones. They found flashing red lights on a moving train gave better warning than solid on. Maybe a rethink is needed? That said I assume in this case and yours the hazard flashers were being used?Some very lucky people there!
I have a theory why this sort of thing happens (especially on motorways at night) Drivers go into a semi sleep state, their brain "sees" a vehicle ahead on the road thats NOT "on the road" and they "tuck into" the same lane to follow it
Flashing red on a push bike is very noticeable even in daytime. Some Wilts police cycle officers fitted flashing red on their bikes at a time when they weren’t considered legal. Sensibly the Nelson Touch prevailed. But would it have prevented this incident? Not known if hazards were flashing at the time of this incident, but even if not ,it’s not the norm to switch hazards on when coupled up in a lay-by.
Where's your spirit of adventure?
Similar reasoning for police patrol cars to use flashing red to highlight their position - but flashing red is illegal on ordinary vehicles.
I'm sure you're right about the law - but most drivers would use hazard flasher if broken down on the hard shoulder of any conventional motorway - it warns other drivers that there may be pedestrians near the running lane - so I think most drivers will break the law in the interests of improved road safety.
As per Mr Plod's post, the driver is on the motorway and warning of an obstruction ahead so is legal using flashers.
i know that it’s different on motorways compared to other roads, but Mr Plodd did not address running lanes, rather hard shoulder. The present guidance in the Highway Code is spot on.
My braking lights will flash under heavy braking at speeds above 30mph; so the handbook says.
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