using hazard lights when approaching an accident

Wig

I find it difficult to believe the car in lane 1 had had no-one in front of him the whole time he was approaching the area, he would have seen cars before him going through the area unscathed although maybe slowing down to have a look across.

Difficult to understand why he did that, and why lane 2 then did the same, unless lane 2 was slightly behind lane 1, then lane 2 could be said to have acted correctly.

I have to say though unless OP was positive lane 1 had no unseen hazards, to ignore not 1 but 2 cars suddenly slowing in lanes 1 & 2 and to carry on relatively fast in lane 3 could be said to be reckless. But I wasn't there so I cannot judge the OP, I might have done the same myself.

But this is food for thought of what might have been going on....you never know why he suddenly braked, so was it wise to continue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEIRxztJZI

DaveMacD

hothothot wrote: »

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

If you never expect much from other drivers, you will never be disappointed. There is a motorcycling saying that is relevant for everyone. Treat everyone else as being out to get you, and act accordingly. Stupidity is rife, so presume idiots are all around, and expect the unexpected

hothothot_3

Wig wrote: »

I find it difficult to believe the car in lane 1 had had no-one in front of him the whole time he was approaching the area, he would have seen cars before him going through the area unscathed although maybe slowing down to have a look across.

Difficult to understand why he did that, and why lane 2 then did the same, unless lane 2 was slightly behind lane 1, then lane 2 could be said to have acted correctly.

I have to say though unless OP was positive lane 1 had no unseen hazards, to ignore not 1 but 2 cars suddenly slowing in lanes 1 & 2 and to carry on relatively fast in lane 3 could be said to be reckless. But I wasn't there so I cannot judge the OP, I might have done the same myself.

But this is food for thought of what might have been going on....you never know why he suddenly braked, so was it wise to continue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEIRxztJZI

very good point on the youtube video. Yet Im still wondering what the correct thing to do would have been, perhaps take up lane 3, switch on hazards and bring the A1 northbound to a grinding halt?

I dont think there was any other drivers for a long distance ahead beyond driver 1 (left lane), but the driver in lane 1 was far further ahead than me to had an early view of what was going on.

and you are correct driver2 in middle lane was also ahead but was about 4 car lengths distance behind driver 1. I think he reacted panicly after assuming driver 1 had seen something.

I guess my only mistake in hindsight was I should have taken up lane 3 earlier, reduced speed and use caution.

Regarding the youtube video - despite the drama, the actions of the woman should not have happened had she been properly restrained by the police.

Wig

Wig wrote: »

But this is food for thought of what might have been going on....you never know why he suddenly braked, so was it wise to continue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEIRxztJZI

I wonder what happened to them, as I recall one of them was later charged with a stabbing murder, after she had jumped off a road bridge. She still failed to kill herself just broke her ankles.

Ahhh
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/woman-free/article-1307546-detail/article.html

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/brother-s-killer-mentally-ill-8211-evil/article-1555249-detail/article.html

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Friend-haunted-memories-killer/article-1310861-detail/article.html

Wig

hothothot wrote: »

I guess my only mistake in hindsight was I should have taken up lane 3 earlier, reduced speed and use caution.

Correct, no need to stop completely just slow down enough that you can stop if needed.

computershack

hothothot wrote: »

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 had to swerve out to the right hand lane and proceed past the accident scene

So you noticed the accident from a mile away and the conditions were bad yet you drove so close to the car in front you had to take evasive action to avoid a collision when they braked which appeared to come as a complete surprise to you. Did it enter your head to think that they stopped because the vehicles in front of them had?

I suggest strongly that you take a good look at your own driving because from here, its far below par. So apart from driving too close, I take it you were rubbernecking as well?

computershack

hothothot wrote: »

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

Says the person who drove too close to the vehicle in front in bad conditions and seemed completely unable to think that they might stop and failed to plan for it....

I've done 100,000's of miles on motorways and come across what you've described quite often yet haven't even had to brake hard...

hothothot_3

computershack wrote: »

So you noticed the accident from a mile away and the conditions were bad yet you drove so close to the car in front you had to take evasive action to avoid a collision when they braked which appeared to come as a complete surprise to you. Did it enter your head to think that they stopped because the vehicles in front of them had?

I suggest strongly that you take a good look at your own driving because from here, its far below par. So apart from driving too close, I take it you were rubbernecking as well?

There wasnt any vehicles in front of them, the driver in front of me panicked, doing the equivalent of an emergency stop. Once I got ahead of both of them, and assessed the situation, I wondered what the first driver was so hyper about.......indeed, I checked my mirrors and they both stopped using the hazards and continued behind me on their journeys. I think it was bad driving on both their parts, yet my mistake was not to anticipate the harsh reaction of the driver in front of me, visibility was poor and I should have had greater distance. 4 second rule. Learned my lesson.

hartcjhart

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.

and here due to bad conditions

Why when you say it was bad weather and bad road conditions were you driving at 70mph

hothothot_3

hartcjhart wrote: »

and here due to bad conditions

Why when you say it was bad weather and bad road conditions were you driving at 70mph

ive got a good car that can cope with a bit of snowfall - and I already had been held up for 2hours on what should have been a 30minute journey, wanted to get home fast as possible.