Driver Error in Fog Kills Two in 100 Car Pileup in California
18 Tractor Trailers were involved in a 100 car pileup in a California fog on November 4, 2007, and the tragedy is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require drivers to use "extreme caution" if they have poor visibility. This was an avoidable collision for the truck driver's, and the Innocent's hurt by their recklessness, if the tractor trailer drivers had only followed the law.
Specifically 49 C.F.R. § 392.14 states a driver must exercise "extreme caution" when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Had the driver's exercised "extreme caution" there is no doubt in my mind that there would have not been 18 tractor trailers involved in this collision and the photographs I am pasting below would not have included a tractor trailer.
Would of this been prevented if the break lights came on when the rig was decelerating?
Brake lights were probably on for all stopped vehicles, the article did not say to my recollection. I generally activate my hazard lights anytime I am traveling at less than normal highway speed.
In this case, even if the brake lights were not on, had the truck driver's been using "extreme caution" as they were required to do under the law, this wreck would not have happened as shown.