Truck collides with rear of car
Sequence of events:
While driving on the highway during daylight at a speed of 90 km/h, a truck driver crashed into the back of the car ahead in the center of the righthand lane at approximately 30 to 50 km/h. Around 34 meters a?er this initial collision, the car, which had become wedged by the truck, was shunted into a coach. In response to an upcoming tra?c jam, the coach and car drivers had reduced their speeds at the right time; the brake lights, which were veri?ably functional at the time of the collision, would likely have been clearly visible to the following tra?c. A technical inspection of the truck gave no indication that the vehicle’s braking system had a defect prior to the collision with the car. Visibility was good; the road surface was dry.
While driving on the highway during daylight at a speed of 90 km/h, a truck driver crashed into the back of the car ahead in the center of the righthand lane at approximately 30 to 50 km/h. Around 34 meters a?er this initial collision, the car, which had become wedged by the truck, was shunted into a coach. In response to an upcoming tra?c jam, the coach and car drivers had reduced their speeds at the right time; the brake lights, which were veri?ably functional at the time of the collision, would likely have been clearly visible to the following tra?c. A technical inspection of the truck gave no indication that the vehicle’s braking system had a defect prior to the collision with the car. Visibility was good; the road surface was dry.
Vehicles:
Truck, car, coach
Truck, car, coach
Consequences/injuries:
Two car occupants were killed and several passengers in the coach su?ered minor injuries.
Two car occupants were killed and several passengers in the coach su?ered minor injuries.
Cause/problem:
According to the accident analyst, the cause of the accident can be attributed exclusively to the fact that the truck was traveling with excessive speed and the driver did not react to avoid colliding with the back of the car.
According to the accident analyst, the cause of the accident can be attributed exclusively to the fact that the truck was traveling with excessive speed and the driver did not react to avoid colliding with the back of the car.
Avoidance measures, mitigation of consequences/ strategy for road safety measures:
The truck driver would have been able to react to the tra?c slowing down ahead of their vehicle or the brake lights of the coach being illuminated by braking slightly; he could have reacted to the later clear proximity to the car by braking hard or executing an evasive maneuver into the le?-hand lane or hard shoulder, thereby avoiding the collision. The accident could also have been avoided or at least the severity of the consequences for the car occupants could have been diminished had the truck been equipped with an automatic emergency braking assistance system. Lives could have been saved if the truck driver had been attentive and focused.
The truck driver would have been able to react to the tra?c slowing down ahead of their vehicle or the brake lights of the coach being illuminated by braking slightly; he could have reacted to the later clear proximity to the car by braking hard or executing an evasive maneuver into the le?-hand lane or hard shoulder, thereby avoiding the collision. The accident could also have been avoided or at least the severity of the consequences for the car occupants could have been diminished had the truck been equipped with an automatic emergency braking assistance system. Lives could have been saved if the truck driver had been attentive and focused.