Actually gobsmacked

[Hawkeye]

3 weeks ago, my son was sitting at a set of lights behind 3 other cars. The lights change to green and everyone pulls away. This is a 70k stretch so the cars were not hanging around. 15 secs later as they get across the intersection, the front car slams it's brakes on because a plastic bucket blew across the lane. The other cars also follow suite and brake. Unfortunately for the son, he hit the brakes but didn't stop in time and hit the car in front.
Not a problem with that. It's a learning experience. He exchanged details with the other party and came home. I rang the insurance company immediately and give them all the details.
7 days ago, the other party rang up wanting him to accept liability, to which he informed them it was in the hands of the insurance company and to discuss it with them.
This obviously pissed off the other party because they have put a complaint into the police.
Today, a letter arrived from the police stating that, as it was his fault and there was a complaint against him, he was being fined $154.

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.

[CookMySock]

I know its nasty, but he has to be able to stop. Because you didn't admit liability they took the next step to force it, and that was to lay a complaint with the feds and get you processed for it, THEN they claim against you using a copy of the police report.

Yep, not nice, but thats rugby.

Steve

[KiwiKat]

Gob smacked is a polite way of saying how you feel. My understanding is that it's the old rule of being able to stop within the clear distance in front and this has screwed up many an inexperienced driver. Unfortunately your son was probably just starting to accelerate when he had to brake so he would have been slower to react.

A real bummer. at least it's only a fine and insurance costs. Everyone's OK?
Amazing what we do to protect endangered buckets. You and he keep smiling.

[hospitalfood]

yep, have to be able to stop. sucks......
next time im in my car and some dumb arse does something similar ( stops with no warning for a sparrow or whatever ) i will not be bothering with the brakes, i will be straight on the gas and doing my best to kill the stupid fucker!

hit them as hard as my V8 can manage.

[maybe]

Apparently if you hit any one in the rear its your fault no matter what they tell me

[nadroj]

My understanding is one must be able to stop within half the clear distance ahead.......unless riding a motorcycle!

[xwhatsit]

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.

It's a bit stink that they complained to the police, as the insurance companies should really have taken care of it on their own. That said the police would've been notified anyway. But really, your son is at fault, and you have to side with the police here; hell, if I slam on my brakes leaving a green light because, say, a red light runner comes screaming through, or a wee child runs out across the road, then I don't want to have somebody serve me up the arse because they couldn't stop in time.

I think the only defences against running into the back of somebody is if they cut into your lane without leaving enough room (I see people do this in front of trucks coming up to traffic lights very often, absolute madness), or if somebody pulls out from a side-street and didn't give you enough room.

[Mully]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?

[Bren]

I agree with the above comments....always leave enough space to do an emergency brake if needed...Have a safety zone between you and the car in front...and if some prick decides to pass you and jump into your zone then pull back...even when stopped at lights you should have some kind of zone so if you get bumped up the arse ya dont plow into the car in front of you...
If ya gonna drive or ride on the roads ya gotta do things to minimize risk, and a good gap is one of those things...

[Skyryder]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?

That's problay the case. I've done a bit of driving one way or the other and it's a 'standing order' that you never admit liability even if it is obvouse that you are in the wrong. But you should always ask the other party.


Skyryder

[CookMySock]

Could slappy have been uninsured, which is why he is being a dick?

He's not being a dick, he's using the law to his benefit and thats just the way of the jungle. Its nasty I know, but the only way past it is to climb the food chain somewhat, and get sneakier, if you like to live your life like that.

That's problay the case. I've done a bit of driving one way or the other and it's a 'standing order' that you never admit liability even if it is obvouse that you are in the wrong. But you should always ask the other party.

Yup. It's a jungle out there.

Steve

[portokiwi]

yes mate thats the law.... Tail gating.
Thats why I had to drop the bike in Panmure, Same situation leaving the lights behind another car but in my case another car pulled out causing the car in front of me to hit his brakes.
I droped my bike so I wouldnt hit his flash BMW. I knew no matter what I would be in the wrong and have to pay out.
It sucks my bike still has the damage on her.

[Duke girl]

and all in the case of a plastic bucket. I too think that rule sucks as there is that much road rage on our roads today, all it needs is some dickhead to overtake you then once in front slam the brakes on that hard that you haven't got time to react and then end up slaming up the arse of them. I see it all the time on our roads and its usually those who dont care about themselves without caring about anyone else out there who use the roads. Doesn't seem to matter who's at fault like what others have said on here its always the one from behind who ends up coughing up the money for damages as well as for the fine. Will that rule ever change, who knows but in the mean time it is the law and i guess we have nothing more to do with it than except it regardless of our thoughts on it.

[imdying]

Yep, not nice, but thats rugby.

Pretty much, the other party are doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Although, could've been the insurance company that passed on the details to strengthen their case?

Amazing what we do to protect endangered buckets.

Or possibly a paint job...

next time im in my car and some dumb arse does something similar ( stops with no warning for a sparrow or whatever ) i will not be bothering with the brakes, i will be straight on the gas and doing my best to kill the stupid fucker!

Excellent, some others might as well do the same... maybe it'll be an XB12R in front of them when they do it...

I am completely and utterly gobsmacked.

Don't be too upset, your son did all the right things by not admitting liability and letting the insurance company deal with it, it's just the way the game is played. $150 is a pretty cheap lesson in following distances.

[avgas]

do the crime do the time.
its the sad fact - but he is required to not crash into anything by law.
$150 is a valid lesson - considering his excess could be more than the damage to the car.