using hazard lights when approaching an accident

hothothot_3

Was driving in snowy conditions on a 3 lane dual carriageway and noticed from a mile away the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles on the other side of the carriageway. I was travelling in the middle lane and there was two vehicles in front of me, one in the left and one in the middle. All of a sudden as we got close to the incident (a lorry had skidded into the central reservation - otherwise all lanes were perfectly clear), the car in the left lane slowed down (at a rate of 10mph per second) to a total stop! on (national speed limit road!) and put his hazard lights on, due to bad conditions I was travelling at around 50, slowing down to 40 as the accident scene was getting closer. After this happened the guy in the middle lane abrubtly braked and put his hazards on too, mimicing the guy in the left hand lane, I had to swerve out to the right hand lane and proceed past the accident scene - which to repeat, had no vehicles obstructing any of the lanes. The police cars were on the other side of the carriageway.

Putting the hazards on to warn of an approaching accident should be used with common sense and not to the point of causing another accident!

Whats the point warning other motorists behind - they can see the blue strobes from a far enough distance to slow down - fair enough if there was carnage blocking the entire 3 lanes, than the hazard lights would help others, but using them unneccessarily causes confusion.

pompeyrich

Surely if it was snowing and you had seen the accident scene from a long way off, you would have realised there would be a good possibility that your side of the road would be affected by rubber-neckers and adjusted your speed accordingly. You also said a lorry had hit the central reservation, so you couldn't be sure that some debris hadn't landed on your side of the road.

Pete*G_4

Sounds to me like you saw the accident far enough away to be ready to take any necessary action, however you didn't. Also sounds like the first motorist paniced and slammed on, which caused the second motorist to panic and do the same, thinking there was an obstruction he hadn't seen.

I do have to question how/why you sat and calculated the decelleration rates of the other car(s) whilst driving yourself, during adverse weather conditions and at considerable speed, approaching a potential hazard?? Do you have a deathwish or are you trying to justify your post? lol

hothothot_3

pompeyrich wrote: »

Surely if it was snowing and you had seen the accident scene from a long way off, you would have realised there would be a good possibility that your side of the road would be affected by rubber-neckers and adjusted your speed accordingly. You also said a lorry had hit the central reservation, so you couldn't be sure that some debris hadn't landed on your side of the road.

I did reduce speed from 70 to 50 down to 40 as the situation got closer. What I didnt think was reasonable was the car with hazards to crawl to a complete stop, blocking a lane and then another car to slam the brakes to copy him. No debris on the road as the lorry was on the other carriageway until it skid into the central reservation.

I think there are too many wannabe-motorway enforcers around, and im annoyed that their poor driving style nearly caused me to crash.

hothothot_3

Pete*G wrote: »

Sounds to me like you saw the accident far enough away to be ready to take any necessary action, however you didn't. Also sounds like the first motorist paniced and slammed on, which caused the second motorist to panic and do the same, thinking there was an obstruction he hadn't seen.

I do have to question how/why you sat and calculated the decelleration rates of the other car(s) whilst driving yourself, during adverse weather conditions and at considerable speed, approaching a potential hazard?? Do you have a deathwish or are you trying to justify your post? lol

no i calculated after the event, but at the time all I saw was two cars decelerate and then the second slam on the brakes (like you said, panicked from the action of the first car). I just continued normally (albeit at around 40ish) past the scene. What im saying is, please observe first the situation fully before putting on the hazards and slowing down, it is not always neccessary to use hazards when the road is otherwise clear to proceed.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I tend to agree with but with reservations, drivers of large vehicles do use hazards when approaching an unexpected blockage for instance, this is sensible as the vast majority of following drivers including other trucks can't see what they're approaching so it's good for everyone, vehicles a long way back get early warning too.
Like most things driving it needs a bit of common sense applied.

What does baffle me is the absolute panic stop you've described and i've seen this overreaction more times than enough, especially if there's some blue lights involved, you see similar near speed cameras where some brake to 20 or more mph below the speed limit.

I think this type of non emergency heavy braking is caused by so many drivers being incapable of looking far enough in front and clueless as to whats going on around them, the scene of accident/unusual traffic doesn't register till they're almost on top of it and hence panic.

pompeyrich

hothothot wrote: »

I did reduce speed from 70 to 50 down to 40 as the situation got closer. What I didnt think was reasonable was the car with hazards to crawl to a complete stop, blocking a lane and then another car to slam the brakes to copy him. No debris on the road as the lorry was on the other carriageway until it skid into the central reservation.

I think there are too many wannabe-motorway enforcers around, and im annoyed that their poor driving style nearly caused me to crash.

You are probably right but people do like to have a look, you often hear travel reports about an accident on the Northbound cariageway causing severe delays and traffic being effected on the Southbound carriagway past the scene due to onlookers, so your situation was a possibility and should have been allowed for.

In your case it turned out there was no debris on your side but there was every chance there could have been a bumper/spoiler or something so slowing down was not totally stupid. OK coming to a complete stop was pretty foolish but maybe they weren't as experienced as you.

raebhoop

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I think this type of non emergency heavy braking is caused by so many drivers being incapable of looking far enough in front and clueless as to whats going on around them, the scene of accident/unusual traffic doesn't register till they're almost on top of it and hence panic.

That would be around a third of male drivers....and ALL of female.

hothothot_3

pompeyrich wrote: »

You are probably right but people do like to have a look, you often hear travel reports about an accident on the Northbound cariageway causing severe delays and traffic being effected on the Southbound carriagway past the scene due to onlookers, so your situation was a possibility and should have been allowed for.

In your case it turned out there was no debris on your side but there was every chance there could have been a bumper/spoiler or something so slowing down was not totally stupid. OK coming to a complete stop was pretty foolish but maybe they weren't as experienced as you.

I also had a good look, its quite difficult not to. Have yo seen the 'new' flares the traffic police have? They are small but powerful blue LED lights placed along the side of the accident to keep traffic out of that lane in the night. they were so interesting / distracting they fail not to attract attention. Although this isnt always a good thing, as recently someone ploughed into a parked police car due to not paying attention on the road but the accident itself. Im not that experienced on the road, which is why any advice on how to deal with these situations is welcomed :cool:

it just goes to show, you can never predict easily that another driver will behave in the way you expect them to.

gilbert_and_sullivan

raebhoop wrote: »

That would be around a third of male drivers....and ALL of female.

Your on your own there matey...:eek:

My sister has probably driven more miles than me and is very competent (still drives a LHD artic for a living and her manoeuvering skills are legendary) but far steadier than my lovely lady who's reaction times and general competence and traffic ability are a pleasure if unnerving to witness.
Both could show the vast majority of male drivers a thing or two.

pompeyrich

Not seen the flares over here yet, did see them in use in America, seemed pretty effective. As for advice it's all down to experience, you are constantly learning, in this case you are shocked by the driver panicking whereas I would have almost expected it and you will next time so a valuble lesson learned. You do/will develop a sixth sense and just know that idiot is about to pull out in front of you, or will eventually see that police car in the left hand lane and slam on his brakes. The list is endless, heres a good tip, BMWs dont have indicators !!