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Speeding blamed for pileup involving 8 Ferraris, 1 Lamborghini

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Speeding was fingered as a possible cause Monday of what is believed to be Japan's most expensive ever road accident when up to 300 million yen worth of supercars ended up in a crumpled heap on the Chugoku expressway in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Eight Ferraris and a Lamborghini -- plus a Toyota Prius -- were among the vehicles involved in the crash, which witnesses said happened when a speeding car slid across a wet road surface.

Television footage showed mangled Ferraris -- many of them racing red -- and debris spread over some 400 meters of the east-bound side of the expressway, the main trunk road in southern Honshu.

A pack of about 20 supercars was travelling in convoy on Sunday morning on a stretch of wet highway when the leading Ferrari slid into a guardrail, police said.

Those behind slammed on their brakes, but for many of them it was apparently too late.

"I've never seen such a thing," highway patrol lieutenant Eiichiro Kamitani told AFP by telephone. "Ferraris rarely travel in such large numbers."

Kamitani said 10 people -- five men and five women -- sustained slight injuries, in the accident. "It is highly possible that they were driving in couples."

"Many of them were probably on their way to Hiroshima," some 130 kilometers to the east, for a gathering of supercars there, said Kamitani.

"Speeding was possible but we have yet to determine the exact cause," he added.

The Prius and a second Toyota also caught up in the 14-car smash were not thought to be part of the supercar pack. The three other vehicles involved in the accident were all Mercedes-Benz.

An unidentified male eyewitness told the TBS network: "A group of cars was doing 140-160 kilometers per hour. One of them spun and they all ended up in this great mess."

The speed limit on that section of the highway was 80 kilometers per hour.

"The front car crashed into the left embankment and bounced off toward me," another man told public broadcaster NHK.

One of the Ferraris was reported to be a F430 Scuderia, a model with a top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

Kamitani said the lead Ferrari was being driven by a 60-year-old self-employed man from Chikushino, near Fukuoka in Kyushu.

Japanese media said the total cost of the pile-up could run to 300 million yen, with new Ferraris retailing at more than 20 million yen each and Lamborghinis costing anything up to 30 million yen.

Supercars are not necessarily owned by the super-rich in Japan. Many owners are young people who save up their earnings to satisfy their dream, according to media.

© AFP

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187 Comments
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the owners of those cars have a lot of money falling out of thier butts in other words they can afford to buy new cars

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Speeding blamed for pileup involving 8 Ferraris, 1 Lamborghini No kidding?

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One thing I can not stand in life, auto otaku!

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" 11 Good VirtuosoDEC. 05, 2011 - 08:57AM JST To own a Ferrari in a country with a 100 km/h maximum speed limit is the height of illogical self indulgence."

The mission accomplished ! These guys' intention was to show off their wealth & toys, now the whole country is aware of their ' miserable' accident...in their Ferraris. The real miserable guys were those in their Toyotas !

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I laugh at the comment about how much the losses in money for this stupidity! They threw away the money when they purchased the cars! Possessions like this are for those that have no real clue to much of anything but greed and self indulgence! I know, I've been there! And yes, I was a dumb ass for doing so! But I had fun! More fun building than driving!

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Just because you have the keys to a lambo or C4 turbo porche, doesn't mean you know how to drive it fast! I have taken 9 high performance driving schools, built a track car and was confident in car control! I was asked to instruct but declined! I knew how I was and my ability at my first school! (road course) Any idiot knows that the streets are not the place to race anything! Little old ladies and people that have health conditions drive on streets! Everyday or so, I hear of a mishap of stupidity! I've seen newbies show up at the track with a new hot ride, only to be winching it on the trailer after it got stuffed into a wall on the second run out! Over confidence after a 20 minute run session and now they are experts! If idiots put 200 mph cars on the road with other traffic and F up, they should never be allowed to drive again! Period! How many friends have I known that became successful and went out and bought a 911 and taken a wild ride off the road and into trees! I can count 5 people I know or knew! They don't realize that the number for emergencies is in chrome numbers on the rear hatch! 911 I think everyone that drives should have to learn car control and stupidity control! Or learn the hard way? Thing is that aggressive driving will get you killed and I also can tell you this. If I see someone doing something like this and I'm there, they will learn what it means to be aggressive! I can put them in a ditch even with them following me! Dumb-asses!

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anyone who thinks those cars will be written off should think very hard. They will resurface somewhere else, and be sold on with the second or third subsequent owner never being told.

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Speeding and a little Darwinism thrown in for good luck.

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I love this story. I wish I was in the accident with them. Sounds like too much fun!

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For any Australians out there - NOT the Ferrari!

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Still can't help but laugh at this.

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WilliB well they should all have a reunion in jail minus the Prius they hit. What is with it with the sports cars in a country where so much of the highways are 80km per hour max. 100 km per hour is only on certain sections of the expressways. At 100km per hour they should of been able to keep control, so they must of been speeding. They should at least get Professional negligence resulting in injury. Suspend their drivers licenses and let they ride the bus and train. This once again shows "there is no cure for stupid".

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There are cameras and radars to measure over speeding in all Japan's Express way. Where are this people and patrols assigned to monitor speeding cars.

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The stereotype that only small men feel the need to own expensive cars gets a whole new meaning in Japan.

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@WilliB

All they need now is a goup photo :-)

Or, if it was recorded, a video of them staggering out of their cars with a dumbfounded look on their face....

「どうしよう?!」 Translate into any language, it would still be funny!

Sympathy felt: None

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lol!! @megosaa me too! thought it was a movie scene

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When I read this news I just Think about my Husband who drives 2/3 times in a monthe with his Premio, from Tokyo to Niigata,,I feel Scary!!

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Scrote - I'm an excellent driver and not once been involved in an accident. Naruhodo and I were simply pointing out your very flawed theory.

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Naruhodo1 and Horserfella: Of course, if you stop for a break you won't get fined. But isn't it a little silly to drive like a deranged lunatic and then park up right by the toll gate? Why not take it easy and arrive in one piece?

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I have never seen such a thing - highway patrol lieutenant Eiichiro Kamitani told AFP by telephone. Ferraris rarely travel in such large numbers.

Kamitani said 10 people—five men and five women—sustained slight injuries, in the accident. It is highly possible that they were driving in couples.

Many of them were probably on their way to Hiroshima, some 130 kilometers to the east, for a gathering of supercars there, said Kamitani.

Remarkable powers of observation! Thank you for my daily chuckle, Kamitani-san!

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I would hate to pay their insurance premiums after this!

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The highways have cameras at the toll gates that record the license plate numbers. It should be a simple matter to calculate the average speed a motorist has travelled at between two toll gates. If this is higher than the legal limit points and fines can be automatically applied. That should prevent these groups from driving like lunatics.

Scrote, what if I stop at a rest area for a smoke and a pancake for an hour?

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Ah,hm a toyota prius was not thought to be part of the super car pack?

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Scrote, nice try, but if i parked my car for 10 min before exiting, debunk your idea?

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@Gurukun Don't worry. The insurance companies are doing everything to refuse payout, once it can be proven that they were speeding. I think the drivers will be crying :)

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they were bringing them to a car show in Hiroshima. well a car carrier would have been safer. these cars were going way too Fast! so once one hit the rail the others piled up. were they going crazy with other trafic? who knows what happened before. but they are lucky no other city drivers were hurt or killed. its an expensive lesson. but one people shouldn't be joking about.

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ReformedBasher:

" Up until the crash these guys thought they were so cool. Photos of the expressions on their faces before and after would be funny. "

Well, look at it this way: They got their moment of fame. I have seen this story now appear on news outlets around the world. All they need now is a goup photo :-)

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Blahahahahahahahahahahaha...........what a great story! A bunch of super rich ar__holes racing around and scaring other drivers. Then, "wham"! Eat concrete scumbags!

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They've been watching Initial D.

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i wonder if the guy had the "old age" yellow/orange sticker on his ferrari...that would have been a sight to see - a pack of ferraris with these on. The sticker on the prius prob said "my other car is a ferrari".

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GW - I'd argue that given the fact I'd moved from the inside lane to the outside lane to allow any cars coming on to the expressway easy access to the road that it couldn't possibly be regarded as being dangerous or wreckless. The car that didn't look that went across three lanes was wreckless and dangerous but I was going fast. And I'd be amazed if I was the only person on this board who has travelled on the Tomei at around 140 km/h

Going back to this accident, as well as the fact that they were travelling too fast for the conditions, what odds that they were travelling too close together. When I travel in traffic on the Expressway, I like to give enough room between me and the car in front. Unfortunately many see this as an excuse to pull out in front of me.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

what where they racing against , the Toyota Prius ???

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The highways have cameras at the toll gates that record the license plate numbers. It should be a simple matter to calculate the average speed a motorist has travelled at between two toll gates. If this is higher than the legal limit points and fines can be automatically applied. That should prevent these groups from driving like lunatics.

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I've joined these races in Aichi and Osaka events. This 'new highway' between Nagoya and Osaka isn't that congested. And by the way, the cops are always around the corner. So we don't speed that much though.

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This story made "FAIL of the Week" on YouTube oh HAPPY DAY!!!

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Bwahahahahahah!!! I feel sory for the Toyotas. The others are just fools.

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Gramie, well said!! Someone is speaking sense for once. I cant believe nobody was injured. No serious training is needed to drive a car (and im sure theve practiced on tje.track before). But under wet conditions, its a totally diff story. And perhaps why they might have been going very very slow at 150km/h. This type of PILE UPS are not limited to supercars. In fact, its rare for obvious reasons. Anytime a.car loses control on a semi crowded highway will cause such a pile up. I love all of the envy on JT.

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"The Prius and a second Toyota... were not thought to be part of the supercar pack." Duh!

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Just seen some images of this on the Daily Telegraph. White Ferrari (or Lamborghini) written-off on the side of the highway with the cops interviewing a 30-something yankee looking guy with two young women, one of them tall and leggy with a mini-skirt up to her neck. There lies the problem. These cars are racetrack cars. They are too fast for highways and for young guys showing off to their leggy mini-skirted girlfriends.

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gelendestrasseDec. 06, 2011 - 02:48AM JST. I wonder if any of these people had training on how to control a car at that speed, let alone on a wet road.

They probably knew how to drive fast and probably had summer tires. They will slide regardless of how good the driver is. On a wet road, you have to have right tires and these Ferraris probably had wrong tires under the wet conditions. I hope they have good insurance, else they are out of couple millions in total damage.

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SPEED eh? brilliant deduction

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idiots

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Apparently, this kind of accident is far from being uncommon : http://www.gizmag.com/the-worlds-most-expensive-automobile-accident-not/20727/

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I wonder if any of these people had training on how to control a car at that speed, let alone on a wet road. The Germans have all sorts of special training for driving at high speed. The Japanese roads top out at 100kph. It's easy enough to fly along at high speed but the training kicks in when something goes wrong.

I have no idea why people would want to own a Ferrari in Japan to drive it. Just a complete waste. Better to be a poser in Ginza than wreck the car on the highway.

On the other hand, this has put Japan on the front page of every RSS feed I have...."look at me in my Ferrari, aren't I cool?" Epic fail.

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I can believe that the road death rate is much lower in Japan than in many other countries. First of all, the number of km driven each year, per capita, is very low in comparison. So many people walk, ride bicycles, and take the train.

Second, typical speeds are far, far lower. I used to have to drive between two towns in Osaka Prefecture, and my average speed was something like 25 km/hr. So many cars, so many traffic lights. At lower speeds, fewer people will be seriously injured or killed.

Of course, to balance that, you see young children standing on the passenger seats as their mothers run red lights....

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The Ferrari's may have been too slow if these Japanese drivers were used to Suzuki Hayabusas!

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Supercars are not necessarily owned by the super-rich in Japan. Many owners are young people who save up their earnings to satisfy their dream, according to media.

Oh well, I guess they will just go back to their parents house and start all over again. If your dream while you are young is to only have an expensive sports car while you are young, I guess you will have not much to look forward to for later in life.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Its probable that most of the cars were fitted with on board video cameras that records a history of travel for possible insurance claims or accidents.No doubt these will quickly be viewed by the police unless the drivers quickly took the SD cards out?

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I used to such things... but only in Playstation... lol :)

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I have seen many Ferraris in Japan, but it is extremely rare to see one driven fast. The same is true for Porsches and other exotic imports. The cars that are driven fast are Japanese ones such as the WRX and Skylines. There was, probably still is, a video on youtube of a Skyline doing well over 300 kph in the Aqualine. Ferraris and Porsches are for posers. The seriously fast drivers want tuned Japanese cars, some of which produce 1,000 bhp and that is serious power.

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Amazing story... I never thought I could see this number of super cars running in a straight line... my heart goes with insurance companies... :)

Kamitani said the lead Ferrari was being driven by a 60-year-old self-employed man

No comments :)

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The problem, as I see it, is that the owners keep the imported steering wheel on the left so it looks cool and sophisticated as a foreign import.They would find overtaking very difficult in this situation unless they have had externsive training in driving these sorts of vehicles.Its about time Japan stopped Foreign imports of these kinds of cars unless the owner agrees to change the steering to comply with Japanese roads.

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Im happy people buy cars like Ferraris and lambos...it makes driving on the tomei a hell of a lot more interesting! But that prius got me kind of worried though, I hope no battery fluids got lost....

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@ReformedBasher

Let's see how many chicks you score now that all you have is your charm and wit.

And just what, exactly ,makes you assume that these drivers are male, you sexist? ;)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There were 20 supercars travelling as a pack ... and speed was involved? I`m thoroughly surprised!

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Well it looks like the Japanese Autobahn Experiment is a total failure.

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Up until the crash these guys thought they were so cool. Photos of the expressions on their faces before and after would be funny.

Look forward to the fines, paying for damages to guardrails, paying to get your pretty cars fixed and being blacklisted by every insurance company forever. Let's see how many chicks you score now that all you have left is your charm and wit.

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@almostshatDec. 05, 2011 - 08:17PM JST

Great to see this really important topic has generated so much interest (that's irony, mod). ganbatte Sinclair C5!

You should check out Yahoo America - already 800 comments there.

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"Supercars my rear end. Expensive, that's all. A supercar would be, for example, my old AMC Gremlin."

I know who's rear end I'd rather be looking at, and it would beany of these Italian wild-childs, not yours young man. Even a smashed-up Ferrari retains it's class.

The AMC Gremlin stands on a par with Citroen's 2 CV for being the design worlds' "Why" of the century.

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@TravisB

To give an example -overtaking is usually accompanied by one flash of the indicator a lane change- I am talking about driving on expressways where lane changes are frequent.

Also,looking at the tyres on the Ferraris;they looked pretty worn out to me...........

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"a pack of about 20 supercars"

Supercars my rear end. Expensive, that's all. A supercar would be, for example, my old AMC Gremlin.

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Joy ride bragging their expensive fast cars.

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Banned for life from driving should be the sentence.

There is also no way these guys are young and have "saved up" to buy this stuff. Either rich old men or youngish guys with rich daddies. Also willing to bet these the drivers are all male. I hope no insurance company will touch them after this if they are not banned from driving again.

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awesome, dudes

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Of course they were bloody speeding! You can bet they were all hovering around the 100mph or more. Think about it! These are all high quality sports cars with the best brakes for any car and they couldn't stop quick enough to avoid the carnage? C'mon, you don't have to be a nuclear physicist to add that one up. And, the best thing is, cos they were speeding their insurance companies are gonna tell them all to go jump in the lake! Awesome!

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tmarie

Takahiro, do you know how Japan rates "deaths" in Japan for this? It is my understanding that if the person does not die within 24 hours, they don't get included in that rate making that stat a very large lie.

One link off the bottom of his link says "Deaths are currently defined by those who die within 30 days of the date of the accident, but 1980 and before are one day accident deaths." So quite reasonable, and fatalities are in fact pretty low here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_Japan_by_year

I think the driving here is a heck of a lot better than any other place I have lived. Maybe it's because traffic is bad so you are rarely going anywhere at speed.

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It's Prius driver's fault just kidding !!!!!!

so, let's hope the Prius driver will receive " gomenasai money " from the Ferrari clan.

will anybody get a ticket ?

suspended license ?

wreckless driving charge ?

anything ?

I am very sorry for the Prius driver because he/she has to use Prius everyday for work or other tasks The Ferrari clan only drive on the weekends. Very sad !!!!!

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Jeez that's rough. I was hoping it was a transport truck that accidentally got wrecked. I can't blame these guys for trying to enjoy it, I know I would, but not on a slippery road.

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Those smashed Ferrari's reminds me of the aftermath of a jalopy race in the fifties.

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Great to see this really important topic has generated so much interest (that's irony, mod). ganbatte Sinclair C5!

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How is it possible for a young person to save up a million dollars for a car these days is beyond me. Most people won't even make that in a lifetime.

Not necessary: 200.000$ will suffice.

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The Lamborghini in the group is probably like the guy that brings a Mac computer to a classic Windows enthusiast club.

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Many owners are young people who save up their earnings to satisfy their dream

How is it possible for a young person to save up a million dollars for a car these days is beyond me. Most people won't even make that in a lifetime.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This accident is making publicity worldwide.Just saw it on BBC, it is also on German news. Those oyajiiis will get their Ferraris back in no time once they sold their copyrights to 'Fast and Furious - Generation 3'.

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If all of them are positively confirmed to be speeding by the police, I guess there won't be any insurance cover this time...

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I felt an acute sense of schadenfreude reading this

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I keep my racing activity to the race track. There's no need to take that kind of risk on a regular road. I take out my Ferraris, Lamobos and Bugatti on the weekends to Den en Chofu, Nakameguro and Daikanyama to meet some ladies. It's not worth sacrificing your investment by driving like a maniac.

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Many owners are young people who save up their earnings to satisfy their dream, according to media.

hmmm, have an adult life with your own house, or remain a child forever but drive a Ferrari on weekends....

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Television footage showed mangled Ferraris—many of them racing red

Black Ferraris are indeed not as fast!

and have found that the Japanese don't handle speed well nor do they plan manoeuvrers on the road well either.

Ummm....kurisupisu, you are not supposed to handle speed on the road and maneuvers should be kept to a minimum. Its not that Japanese don't drive well. Its that most of them drive like they are driving on the road, and not the racetrack. That inevitably leads to them to seem less qualified for the track. Yeah, I know they drive over the speed limit. But the speed limit is criminally low.

Lack of awareness and not driving to the road conditions are killers here.

There I can only agree.

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Speeding was fingered? The reporting on this site is so bizarre sometimes.

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Takahiro, do you know how Japan rates "deaths" in Japan for this? It is my understanding that if the person does not die within 24 hours, they don't get included in that rate making that stat a very large lie.

Drove on the Meishin yesterday and saw FIVE accidents alone. Horrific drivers who tailgate. I was nearly taken out yesterday by the car behind me when I had to slam on my brakes due to a random car stopped in the right lane. Went from 95 to a full stop in about five seconds. Not pretty and was left shaking after. Wasn't worried about hitting the car in front of me but was damn worried about getting hit from behind.

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@foxie

Thank you for the link.

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maybe japanese don't drive well, but apparently there are less "Road fatalities per 100,000 motor vehicles" in japan than in super-speedy germany, and japan is safer than usa, belgium, and quite some more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

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I don't feel the need to speed regardless of how empty the road is in front of me. I don't care how empty the road is ahead of me. I will arrive at my destination when I arrive.

Your blood pressure must be really great. ;)

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A few years ago I was driving on the Tomei. I was driving fast, very fast, well and truly over the speed limit. We approached Hon Atsugi and so I moved in to the outside lane to allow any traffic to filter on. A car came on to the empty expressway and moved into the outside lane where I was travelling. I was the only car on the road and I had no choice to move into the middle lane. If I'd tried to have breaked I would have gone through that car. It would have killed me and would have ruined his day.

Some will rightly say that I was at fault for driving too fast. It's somewhat surprising that at least one other would argue that that driver had the right to move to the outside lane as he wasn't breaking the law.

Heda,

I am pretty sure there are other terms than just speeding & consequences as well for what you described above, for example there are: Reckless Endangerment or Dangerous Driving.

Clearly in your example you were in the wrong as you admit, clearly the other driver wasnt watching, which illustrates another problem I see with lots of drivers in Japan, when drivers check other cars around them many just glance(ie get the equivalent of a photograph), when they shud be looking longer in order to judge speed, acceleration etc.

That said I think any car rear ending another is going to get most of the blame because the laws thinking imo is that you need to allow yrself enough time & space to stop to avoid ANY collision, if you dont your at fault, thats how I see things play out in Japan.

Another factor that sometimes dictates outcome is size, ie the larger vehicle can sometimes take more blame even though it might be clear that they may not have even done ANYTHING wrong at all. The whole thing about assesing blame in Japan can involve a great deal of voodoo!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

IMHO the Japanese just don't drive well.

I have owned a WRX for over 10 years(without incident) and have also done over 250k/h on the autobahn for hours on end.I have also driven in over 10 foreign countries and have found that the Japanese don't handle speed well nor do they plan manoeuvrers on the road well either.

Lack of awareness and not driving to the road conditions are killers here.

I once caught a lorry driver wandering off the road at 4am (asleep?) only my klaxon saved him from driving off the road and crashing........scary

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Sickening destruction.

I've no doubt these are simply another case of rich people that can't drive getting behind the wheel of a super-car.

There should be a special permit for anything above 300bhp. These people are a public danger.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No, in that situation it would have been called speeding. Which is what it was. And I would have been given 3 points on my licence and been fined. Had there been an accident in this situation in the UK and I had somehow survived and had their been witnesses to what happened the other driver would most certainly have been prosecuted for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention. Under British law speeding is bad, but causing an accident is far worse. And moving on to the outside lane of an expressway for no reason and then causing another car to plough into the back of you is exceptionally dangerous driving.

Which lane of traffic do you normally drive in?

Under what circumstances do you usually pass vehicles?

Do you normally exceed the speed limit when you are driving? If so, why ?

In case anyone's curious.

I always drive as much as possible in the far left lane, but will venture into a middle lane occasionally if there are more than 4 lanes. If it is unavoidable that I have to pass another car then I will wait until is safe to do so even if this means stopping. I always try to drive at whatever the posted speed limit is. (I say try simply because sometimes road/weather conditions may dictate something slower). I always try to maintain a proper interval between my car and the car in front of me; I even pay attention to the "Shakan" signs on the highway and use them as guides. I don't feel the need to speed regardless of how empty the road is in front of me. I don't care how empty the road is ahead of me. I will arrive at my destination when I arrive. I always try to give myself enough time to arrive on time. It doesn't always work out that way but better late and alive than be involved in an accident. I very rarely venture into the far right lane ("overtaking lane") simply because there is almost never the need or desire for me to do so, but I don't consider it to be a "playground" for those who wanna speed simply because they can speed. I feel the rules of the road apply equally to us all and therefore we are all obliged to abide by them all. If that makes me a "selfish" and "dangerous" driver then so be it. :D

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Are these guys to be charged? The police can easily tell the speed they were going and whatnot based on the crash damage. 150 in an 80 zone? Take away their right to drive. They are lucky they didn't kill someone!

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@Speed

You're right about the outside lane being used for passing slower cars.

But the problem is, is that these "super speeders" don't give you enough time to pass other cars without first riding dangerously on your back bumper.

Often it takes me 5-20 seconds to pass a slower car if I'm going about 5-10 kilos/hr. faster than the car I'm overtaking.

If these a-holes would just give you a few seconds to safely pass other cars many of these accidents wouldn't happen.

Once again, they not only put themselves in danger but other people and their families in danger due to their impatience and lack of common sense.

Suppose one of these "super speeders" came up behind up you regardless of the lane of traffic you were in. You're moving along pretty fast (probably well and truly above the legal speed limit) but still nowhere near as fast as they are going (which is why they just have to pass you). You're trying to get out of their way but just cannot safely do so at the moment. Unable to wait any longer, the super speeder tries to change lanes but they lose control of their vehicle and what follows is a terrible accident.

Would you consider yourself to be even partially responsible for this accident? Would you consider yourself to be "selfish"? Some might argue that if you had been quicker to move and less of an inconvenience to the super speeder then they wouldn't have had try to zig zag to get by you and therefore there wouldn't have been an accident.

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0 ( +0 / -0 )

Speed - agreed.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Would driving very fast, well and truly over the speed limit be considered dangerous driving in the UK?

No, in that situation it would have been called speeding. Which is what it was. And I would have been given 3 points on my licence and been fined. Had there been an accident in this situation in the UK and I had somehow survived and had their been witnesses to what happened the other driver would most certainly have been prosecuted for dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention. Under British law speeding is bad, but causing an accident is far worse. And moving on to the outside lane of an expressway for no reason and then causing another car to plough into the back of you is exceptionally dangerous driving.

And you missed the point. It wasn't possible for me to flash my lights. Or beep my horn. I had to react instantly because otherwise I'd have been dead. No excuse for me driving above the speed limit, if the police had stopped me I would have begrudgingly accepted the fine for speeding. But I find it hard to understand how anyone can not see that just because you're driving under the speed limit (and at a guess I'd say they were at 40 km an hour in the outside lane) that it can't be regarded as dangerous driving.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Stay on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Or racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. No speed limit on there either

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think those drivers were playing at being on the autobahn cause I believe some stretches of it have no speed limit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dang.... curious about how the insurance here would cover it... anyone with a youtube clip of it?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A few years ago I was driving on the Tomei. I was driving fast, very fast, well and truly over the speed limit. We approached Hon Atsugi and so I moved in to the outside lane to allow any traffic to filter on. A car came on to the empty expressway and moved into the outside lane where I was travelling. I was the only car on the road and I had no choice to move into the middle lane. If I'd tried to have breaked I would have gone through that car. It would have killed me and would have ruined his day.

Would driving very fast, well and truly over the speed limit be considered dangerous driving in the UK?

Suppose this occurred in the UK and as you were moving into the other lane the other driver lost control of their vehicle as they were trying to pass you and ended causing a serious accident. Could you be prosecuted in the UK for careless driving or driving without due care and attention?

What should somebody do when they are driving fast, very fast well and truly over the speed limit and come upon a slower-moving vehicle that is in their way? Should they ride up close to the other car, flash their lights and/or sound their horn trying to force their way past the other driver? Should they perhaps slow down until they can safely pass and then go back to driving above the legal speed limit? Again not referring to any particular lane of traffic.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Regarding tailgaters in Japan - I very often see them following within 4 meters of my car... At speeds of 100km/h or more...

THe remedy : use my fog light. A VERY strong, blinding red light in the back... .This increases the distance in notime...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@kurumazaka Yagura, Heda is correct. I was taught not to impede traffic in the fast lane in driving school here in Japan. Going too slow in the fast lane causes faster drivers to attempt potentially risky maneuvers to get past.

Were you taught to drive the speed limit as driving school?

Are there different speed limits for different lanes of traffic?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Heda_Madness wrote: ... In the UK the outside lane is called the overtaking lane for a reason and you should spend as little amount of time in there as possible.

You're right about the outside lane being used for passing slower cars.

But the problem is, is that these "super speeders" don't give you enough time to pass other cars without first riding dangerously on your back bumper.

Often it takes me 5-20 seconds to pass a slower car if I'm going about 5-10 kilos/hr. faster than the car I'm overtaking.

If these a-holes would just give you a few seconds to safely pass other cars many of these accidents wouldn't happen.

Once again, they not only put themselves in danger but other people and their families in danger due to their impatience and lack of common sense.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What, no Bugattis? Japan must really be in a recession...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

One would be prosecuted for dangerous driving, the other could be prosecuted for careless driving or driving without due care and attention.

In my scenario, I purposely didn't mention anything at all about which lane of traffic the cars were traveling in. In the UK would that make a difference? Would both drivers still be considered to be legally at fault?

In the UK the police will often drive above the speed limit to ensure that traffic moves freely. But it is THEIR job and THEIR responsibility to decide that. Not yours.

Is OK to drive above the legal speed limit in the UK ? Suppose you're in a really big hurry. Does that make it OK? Couldn't that also be considered "selfish" because the driver who is speeding is not driving the road and is dangerously unaware as to what is going on around them?

Just curious.

Are you in favor of speed limits or do you think people should be able to drive as fast as they choose?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

As mentioned in my previous post, the lead car was driven by a 60 year old man on wet roads, at (estimated by an eye witness) around 150 km/hr. That shouldn't be a problem for a Ferrari (in fact, that speed on a wet road shouldn't be a problem for many modern cars). The problem is not his/her age either. The problem is this particular driver. (By the way, how accurate can an eyewitness be with fast speeds?)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

GW, I don't disagree with that. However it's interesting to see one trying to defend why they have such tunnel vision.

A few years ago I was driving on the Tomei. I was driving fast, very fast, well and truly over the speed limit. We approached Hon Atsugi and so I moved in to the outside lane to allow any traffic to filter on. A car came on to the empty expressway and moved into the outside lane where I was travelling. I was the only car on the road and I had no choice to move into the middle lane. If I'd tried to have breaked I would have gone through that car. It would have killed me and would have ruined his day.

Some will rightly say that I was at fault for driving too fast. It's somewhat surprising that at least one other would argue that that driver had the right to move to the outside lane as he wasn't breaking the law.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

One would be prosecuted for dangerous driving, the other could be prosecuted for careless driving or driving without due care and attention.

In the UK the police will often drive above the speed limit to ensure that traffic moves freely. But it is THEIR job and THEIR responsibility to decide that. Not yours.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Is OK to ignore the legal speed limit when it is convenient to do so? Is obeying the law being "selfish"?

Is speeding considered OK in the UK just because other people are doing it? Would a judge accept that as a legitimate excuse for speeding?

You are a police officer called to the scene of an accident. It involves multiple vehicles. One of the vehicles involved was traveling well in excess of the maximum speed limit. As it was trying to pass another vehicle that was traveling at a slower speed (but still at the legal speed limit), the driver loses control of their car and slides into another car which in turn hits another car and so and so on. Who do you consider legally responsible for causing this accident?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Heda & everyone else,

Most J-drivers cannot master the simple task of properly using left/right turn signals, so hoping they could comprehend the concept of passing lanes on a multilane highway is clearly asking WAY to much for most drivers here & my experience bears this out every day I drive.

A real joy is coming to a 4-way stop, friggin chaos in this country!

Throw in the overuse of video games & driving anywhere here can be a quirky, dangerous proppsition!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

People speed. Aren't you aware of that?

And it's safer for all of us if those people are speeding in the outside lane as opposed to having to zig zag between lanes because selfish drivers like you are saying. I am driving at the speed limit. I am safe to be here. It is my right. etc

Which, in my opinion, makes you an extremely dangerous driver. Because you're not driving the road conditions. And are dangerously unaware as to what goes on around you.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Why should any car that is driving in the outside lane at the legal speed limit need to "undercut" another car that is also driving in the outside lane at the same legal speed limit?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Maybe confusing city / urban roads with highways.

And viceversa!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So by sitting in the outside lane when there is nothing inside of you then you are in breach of the law. Whatever speed you are travelling at.

Exactly. Many drivers in this country seem to be set in their conviction that they are free to choose the lane they drive in at a speed of their choosing. Maybe confusing city / urban roads with highways.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If you're sitting in the outside lane with noithing inside of you then you would be in breach of the law. Because as I mentioned before,

You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.

So by sitting in the outside lane when there is nothing inside of you then you are in breach of the law. Whatever speed you are travelling at.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The speed limits are set by the police and it is the police's responsibility to enforce them. If you're travelling at 80 km/h in the outside lane and the middle lane is empty and someone has to undercut you to get past then you are far more of a danger then they are. It's not your responsibility to enforce the speed limit but is your responsibility to ensure that your actions cause no danger to other drivers and careless driving (as this would be classified in a British court) is exceptionally dangerous.

How is driving at the legal speed limit a danger to other drivers? Would driving at the legal speed limit be classified as careless by a British court?

Why should any car that is driving at the legal speed limit have to "undercut" another car that is also driving at the same legal speed limit?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Utrack writes:

But the German autobahn is the place for all these sports cars.

I'd say the race track is the place for these cars.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

British Motorway police will often travel above the speed limit to ensure that traffic moves freely.

And it doesn't matter what the speed limit is. In your example, if the three cars are travelling within the speed limit you are happy for them to travel at that speed. Whether the limit is 60 km/h or 80 km/h they are not breaking the law.

The speed limits are set by the police and it is the police's responsibility to enforce them. If you're travelling at 80 km/h in the outside lane and the middle lane is empty and someone has to undercut you to get past then you are far more of a danger then they are. It's not your responsibility to enforce the speed limit but is your responsibility to ensure that your actions cause no danger to other drivers and careless driving (as this would be classified in a British court) is exceptionally dangerous.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@Heda_Madness

So I presume you would be happy to sit behind a car in the outside lane travelling at 60 km an hour with an empty road in front of you because they are travelling at the speed limit?

Is the legal speed limit of the road you are referring to 60 km?

If it is then I don't see what is wrong with driving at the legal speed limit regardless of how "empty" the road is in front of you or how many cars are behind you.

If it isn't then as long as the slower-moving vehicle is driving above the minimum for that stretch of road then I still don't believe they are doing anything wrong. However, they should if it is all possible and most importantly safe to do so allow the faster moving vehicles to pass.

I always brought up to drive that your driving should never affect the way that other drivers need to drive. Don't hold them up if you can avoid it. Don't pull out in front of them unless you can get on your way without impeding them etc. I guess you were told just think about your self and don't worry about any other road users. They'll stop or move over for you.

I'm not British so I am not familiar with the rules of the road there.

Is it OK to go over the legal speed limit in the U.K. just because there's an empty road before you?

Is it OK to pass a car that is traveling at the legal speed limit just because there's is an empty road ahead of them and they are "in your way" because you are "in a hurry"?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Racer X was behind this! And LOL @ Oyaji Drift! I would watch that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hahaha morons... Insurance company is going to love this :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

1) Yes 2) No 3) Of course you are. 4) No 5) No 6) Good question. So I presume you would be happy to sit behind a car in the outside lane travelling at 60 km an hour with an empty road in front of you because they are travelling at the speed limit?

I always brought up to drive that your driving should never affect the way that other drivers need to drive. Don't hold them up if you can avoid it. Don't pull out in front of them unless you can get on your way without impeding them etc. I guess you were told just think about your self and don't worry about any other road users. They'll stop or move over for you.

UK laws state: You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past.

Given that this law is either not enforced, or doesn't exist then perhaps it would go someway to explain why there are so many fatalities on Japanese roads.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

The overtaking lane should stay clear as much as possible because if there is an accident like the one we are reading about the Police and emergency vehicles need to get to the accident as quickly as possible and they use the overtaking lane. Well, they do in the US.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I guess they didn't find the DeLorean....hmmmm.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A few questions for Heda_Madness:

Isn't the speed limit the same regardless of which lane you are driving in?

Is speed limit higher in the "overtaking" lane?

Are you supposed to merge back into one of the inside lanes from the "overtaking" lane once you have finished "overtaking" a slower traveling vehicle?

Is it OK to continue to drive in the "overtaking" lane even after it is no longer necessary to do so?

Is it OK to speed in the "overtaking" lane, even when it is not necessary to do so?

Why should any car that is driving at the legal speed limit have to "overtake" another one that is also driving at the legal speed limit, even if that second car is driving in the "overtaking" lane?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"20 vehicle convoy"

Safety in numbers. Maybe they were calling in too many "smoky bear" alerts on their CB radios.

There is a sweet picture of crumpled "supercars" all over the expressway in the Asahi Shinbun today. What really makes the picture is the one Toyota Prius that somehow survived unscratched parked in the middle of the chaos.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

mottainai!! hope the people are ok.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

lol saw this on NHK this morning before work.. at first i thought they might be filming for "Transformer 3" or "Speed Fury 2"

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Just thinking that there has got to be a race track that they could rent for the weekend to race eachother and party on and they could go as fast as they wanted to without endangering anyone but those willing to race. I know if I had it like that I would definitely be renting race tracks to drive my dream bugatti's. I'm cryin just thinking about it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Zipping around between the lanes is wrong and I'd never try and defend anyone who does that. I absolutely HATE having to undertake and will only do it if there is no other option. However the vast majority of Japanese drivers will sit in either the middle or outside lane when there is nothing inside of them and this is what creates the problems. In the UK the outside lane is called the overtaking lane for a reason and you should spend as little amount of time in there as possible.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Looks to me like a scene in the cars2 animation, recently shown in the cinema.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

heda

these a-hole drivers zip around all lanes indiscriminantly so yr advice dont mean squat, me I stick to the left as much as possible just in the hopes of avoiding these crappy drivers, can be hard to do in this country as many of these nutjobs cant distinguish between video games & reality, and, its not just on highways!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

my paper this morning said 10 were taken to hospital & one benz was oncoming, ie not part of this stupid convoy

Anyone who drives here has seen groups driving, harleys, bikes in general, various old classic cars etc etc, anytime you have that the pressure to KEEP UP can & does lead to dangerous situations, sport cars groups are clearly the worst & most dangerous.

This past July my brother & son visited, on the highway in the oppposite direction about 20-25 sports cars, colours of the rainbow went ripping by & not a cheap porche in the bunch, I had to put old newspapapers under those two as they are car nuts & had just recd a massive overdose LOL!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So you think you can drive in any lane you want to and sod those others behind you? Pick a lane. Drive at whatever speed you want to and sit there?

Maybe it's just a British thing but if you tried that in the UK you'd be in a bit of bother.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Oyaji Drift? That's funny. Just boys and their toys. I can't help but wonder how they all feel about this accident.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Oyaji Drift?

Love it. I see a series like Tsuribaka Nisshi or the Tora-san series.

Plus the accident was in Shimonoseki. This means, if they were going from Kyushu to Hiroshima, they barely made it off Kyushu. Good driving, eh?

I vote with the following-too-closely as the cause of the accident.

And that's what causes people to undertake which causes accidents.

Actually, what causes accidents are inattentive drivers thinking everything is great when it is raining, they're following too closely, they're speeding, or they change lanes without looking in any of the three mirrors. It's not which lane they're in.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What was it? A convoy of super cars?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

You drive on the inside lane. Unless you're overtaking and then you move into the middle lane. Unless you're over taking and then you move to the outside lane.

The times I see drivers meandering along the express way is because people are sitting in the middle or outside lane and the inside or middle lane is free. And that's dangerous. And that's what causes people to undertake which causes accidents.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Heda_Madness

What? You're making no sense.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I vote for Karma too. Too many spoiled rich yuppies flaunting their money by buying silly mid life crisis toys. At least they didn't harm anyone but themselves. Probably universal payback for the hands and feet they crushed making enough money to buy those cars.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

ratpack:

" Having one of these sports cars in Japan (with a 100km/h max speed limit) is like owning a greyhound dog and keeping it locked up in your 1LDK apartment. "

Well, not quite. I think they serve as useful girl catchers in Roppongi. So, there is a utility aspect. These idiots just should not try to actually race them, and on public roads to boot.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

^o^ the fast and the furious~ tokyo drift!!!

i hope no one died @_@

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Having one of these sports cars in Japan (with a 100km/h max speed limit) is like owning a greyhound dog and keeping it locked up in your 1LDK apartment.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

One nervous driver deciding to shift lanes to get out of their way would have been all it would have taken to cause a pileup like this one, but worse.

So if the nervous driver hadn't been sitting in the wrong lane they'd have been able to bomb down the outside lane to their hearts content? It's the nervous driver I have contempt for. And anyone else who sits in the middle/outside lane when there is nothing in the inside.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Everytime I saw a Ferrari in Tokyo, the driver is always an oji or oba...I guess the head driver must be some rich oji with nothing to do but taking that 'leisure' ride..to pass the time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I encountered a group of drivers like this last year on the Tomei near Fuji. I was cruising along doing 130kph when out of nowhere 10-15 Ferraris, Lambos, high-end Porsches, and a few other miscellaneous supercars blew past me like I was standing still. I estimate that they were all going upwards of 200kph. They weaved between and around the other cars on the road like we were stationary objects sometimes passing us on the shoulder. They were driving literally like they were racing in a video game. One nervous driver deciding to shift lanes to get out of their way would have been all it would have taken to cause a pileup like this one, but worse. Judging by the light injuries and the lack of fatalities or catastrophic damage to the cars, these idiots weren't going nearly as fast as the ones I encountered, but it's still highly irresponsible of them. It makes you wonder why these owners are stupid enough to believe that their driving skills are as exceptional as their cars' capabilties. I really hope their insurace companies take into account the wreckless nature of their driving and penalize them on their policy rates and issue vastly reduced payouts. I doubt they will, but I hope the police nail them with suspensions as well.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Daijoboots isn't making that speed up, it was on the news last night.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is that 2 Mercedes or 22 Mercedes ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You don't have to touch the brakes to get a tailgater to back off just flick your lights on and off. Usually does the trick. Any talk of charges? Must be a few stained leather seats!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Damn...If I saw that aftermath, I would have lifted a few emblems before the keystones got there.

With the owners there? Yeah right.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Damn...If I saw that aftermath, I would have lifted a few emblems before the keystones got there.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Feh. No Maserati ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Although I don't know the facts, my bet is they were following each other too closely. One of my biggest gripes about driving in Japan is the large number of serial tailgaters. I often touch my brakes just enough to turn the brake lights on, not to slow down but to scare the shit of @$$hole who is 1 meter off my back bumper. Any driver needs at least 2 seconds to react to something happening in front of them, thus the faster a car is going, the more distance needed between that car and the car in front of it. My second biggest gripe is seeing little kids unsecured in the front seat with their faces pasted to the winshield.

11 ( +8 / -1 )

For those without TV, you can see them here http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews/ann?a=20111204-00000017-ann-soci

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Tsk tsk tsk. I can just see them, and the insurance companies, crying.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The Fast and the Furious,Oyaji Drift?

12 ( +11 / -0 )

RIP beautiful cars. All these drivers deserve jail time for not respecting beauty. Those cars really only deserve Autobahn, they are wasted here. Stop cruelty to cars!

10 ( +11 / -2 )

Tragic.

Thankfully no Maseratti was involved.

(Love all the envy comments here!!)

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The problem isn't that these type of guys have "too much money", but the combination of "too much money" and small reproductive organs is what sealed their fate.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

DaijobootsDEC. 05, 2011 - 09:19AM JST Does anyone know if they were speeding?

As mentioned in my previous post, the lead car was driven by a 60 year old man on wet roads, at (estimated by an eye witness) around 150 km/hr.

Sorry, Diaijoboots! I thought you were just making that up! I suspected they were speeding. I hate seeing these kind of morons when I'm driving on the expressways. Absolutely dangerous and selfish. Rich spoiled show-offs.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

These rich idiots are lucky nobody else was hurt or killed!

So true

2 ( +3 / -1 )

And yes, if Japan had an AUTOBHAN?? Like the Germans it would make sense, but max 100 kph here on the J islands?? What a freakin waste of good $$$$ and beautiful cars!

8 ( +10 / -2 )

1 ( +1 / -0 )

These rich idiots are lucky nobody else was hurt or killed!

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Funny

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Does anyone know if they were speeding?

As mentioned in my previous post, the lead car was driven by a 60 year old man on wet roads, at (estimated by an eye witness) around 150 km/hr.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Does anyone know if they were speeding? They didn't seem to mention that important aspect on the TV news.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow, looks like they watched Cannon Ball Run a few too many times.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

To own a Ferrari in a country with a 100 km/h maximum speed limit is the height of illogical self indulgence.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

There is a lot of people with too much money in this country.. How much you have to have in the bank to afford a Ferrari? That group of people will probably find the accident funny, and talk about it with laughs in the bonenkai this year.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

It is the driver not the car. they were probably racing.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I saw one in aichi highway, flying at 180+. In sure they were easily cruzn the 200 mark

1 ( +1 / -0 )

being driven by a group of sports car aficionados...

Obviously had not learned enough about driving to understand road conditions and distance from the car in front...

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What a line-up! Sounds like a bunch of too-rich-for-their-own-good trying some illegal road racing.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

That's gotta hurt.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Racing on public roads. Failure to keep proper distance from the vehicle in front, driving at high speeds... In any civilised country the drivers would do jail time for this...

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

Now here is a story to make everyone smile.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

Gurukun said it. that's one heck of a payout. Umm but no bugatti's in the crowd? Love to get a Bugatti. WoW. But the German autobahn is the place for all these sports cars.

6 ( +5 / -0 )

the Ferrari at the head of the group

driven by a 60 year old man on wet roads at around 150 km/hr.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Whenever I read such stories, I come to think that certain types of cars have more horsepower then the driver's brains. At least, they didn't hurt anyone else.

5 ( +9 / -5 )

There are some insurance companies crying right now....

24 ( +23 / -0 )

Those cars are not for Japanese road. People who has that much money then use it for helping the needy in Japan and other parts of the world. That will give them more exitement and happines in the end...

-28 ( +6 / -30 )

Karma?

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

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