SHOCKING footage revealed the moment a lorry ploughed into a stationary car in the middle lane of a motorway.
Fellow drivers have reviewed the clip but are still unsure who is in the wrong.
The dashcam clip shows the huge red truck hurtling toward a car that had stopped in the road.
Seconds before the crash, the car can be seen briefly indicating but didn’t move into another lane.
The lorry made no effort to slow down and hit the car at speed.
On impact, the smashed-up vehicle was barged off the road and onto the hard shoulder.
“The fault is on the red car that suddenly parked in the middle of the road,” one person wrote on X.
“100% the car. A semi cannot stop at those speeds that quickly. He was completely full stopped in the middle of the interstate.”
Others suggested that the red car could have broken down or been in an emergency situation.
But someone disagreed, adding: “No. Truck had to observe safety distance and for example, the red car it may have had a sudden engine breakdown. Truck driver was distracted.”
“If the truck driver can’t stop in time, he’s going too fast. In this case, it seems as if he just wasn’t paying attention,” echoed another.
Defending the lorry driver, one wrote: “The truck is no faster than other traffic, so probably not speeding. Would have little time to realise the car isn’t moving, especially without hazard lights on and in a central lane.
Rules of stopping on a motorway
According to The Highway Code…
You MUST NOT stop on any carriageway, emergency area, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except:
- In an emergency
- When told to do so by the police, traffic officers, an emergency sign or by red flashing light signals.
Do not stop on any part of a motorway to make or receive mobile telephone calls, except in an emergency.
“Moving lanes or braking heavy, especially if carrying a heavy load, is probably more dangerous.”
According to Rule 271 of the highway code, you must not stop on any carriageway, emergency area, emergency area, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency, or when told to do so by the police, traffic officers, an emergency sign or by red flashing light signals.
The rule of thumb in the UK is it is the fault of the driver who goes into the back of another car.
Rule number 126 of the Highway Code states that motorists should drive at a speed that will allow plenty of time to stop.
The RAC says that: “An insurance company is unlikely to decide liability in favour of anyone who has driven into the back of the car in front. More often than not, if you drive into the back of someone, it will be classed as your fault.”
