Three dead in four-car pileup on Ibaraki highway

No doubt impatience played a apart.

DON'T GO ON THE HIGHWAY WITH LIGHT VEHICLES!!!!!

Those small cars are death traps in case of accident...

Always trucks involved! Let's see; cell phone check, tobacco & coffee check, CB radio check, head set on check, TV on check, grow intensely impatient with these small vehicles on my road check, check, check...

Franz75, I would agree with you, but in this case, it wasn't the light passenger vehicle, which had the casualties, it was the van. I noticed because usually you can’t have 6 passengers on light vehicles.

You should see the picture they had on some other news source. The trucks were huge! It's a surprise 3 actually lived.

The truck drivers I see on the highways here in Japan are the worst I have seen in a 1st world country. I often see them attempting to intimidate car drivers by tailgating in the fast lane. This is extremely common behavior and I find it difficult to believe the highway police do not take any corrective action.

It is not only the truckies. Two days ago I was nearly killed by a crazy tailgater on the Kanetsu. And I was not a slow driver. Lucky I got off earliier than planned else he would have killed me. Where are the highway police in this country?

do what I do. slow down to a crawl if your getting tail gated. they soon catch the meaning.

This guy was mean. Had I slowed down he would have ranmmed me. I did let him overtake me as soon as I had the chance only to find he suddenly slowed down provoking me to hit him. Ofcourse I had the sense to get off at the nearest exit which luckily was near. He continued on his merry way to harrass the next driver. Near the tollgate, ther was a police car stationed. They would be better on the expressway picking up these hoon tailgaters.

Joetheplumber, I trust that you are a fellow woman. If not, time to step up, my friend. As bobafett says, next time someone tailgates you, slow to a crawl. If they touch you, the insurance and police will judge the incident as 95% their fault. This is why when he went in front, he braked in a manner that almost resulted in you rear ending him - as he knew that despite it being a result of his action, you would be judged at fault. Whilst you have slowed to a crawl, put your arm out of the window - show your weapons. If the tailgating coniues, pull over and gesture like a tattoo'd "yankee" that you would like to beat him to a pulp. They rarely get out of their cars once they know that doing so will result in physical harm. If the tailgater is stupid enough to get out of his car, show him what we do to bullies back home... ;-) Might equals right in Japan - but don't let that stop you dishing up some good old fashioned home cookin' if an idiot crosses your path. You have a backbone. Use it. This is what my husband does, and what any red blooded man should.

Nice advice auntplum. I have done what you say in the past and it has worked. But the recent situation was different. I enetered a ramp on a forked part of the Kanetsu an dhe was right up my rear trying to squeeze on my right. I kept my cool and steered my way down safely. He then overtook me went to the middle lane and I followed behind him. He seemed angry that I had the nerve to follow him. So he slowed to a crawl provoking me. I took the left exit at that point and lucky there were witnesses behind me. The coward took off mighty fast after that. I certainly was not stupid to ram him and played it cool and calmly. In the past I have done what you said, slowed down and usually it works. The cowards often turn off and clear out. Trucks are also big tailgaters and the cause of many fatalities.

I drive with 2 feet...one on the gas and the other on the brake, and tap that break and drive them crazy. My other trick against tailgaters is this: Pray that they are drinking something and when they lift it up to their mouth, hit your breaks pretty hard. Watch what happens to their drinks...especially hot coffee or tea.

I have experienced road rage in my home country, where the police are usually visible on the roads and do chase these hoons. Our police adise us not to engage these lunatics and avoid conflict. Best to steer awya and save yourself from possible death. If there are no witnesses these guys get awy with murder. I often see the Japanese police picking up cyclists for no light at night, whilst the killer drivers are onthe expressway killing people. What is happeninhg here?

Excuse the typing errors in my posts. I press submit before preview.

These truckers are so-o-o dangerous. I think alot of them must be hopped on something because they drive like they are possessed, especially late at night. A few months ago I was caught in some road construction (along with several hundred others) late at night. My lane was merging over, I signaled and very carefully slotted in between two trucks at less than 5 kph - just like you are supposed to do. The trucker I merged in front of got enraged, nailed his brake and his accelerator at the same time, smoking his tires and making his front end jump around like he was going to pop the brake and hit me. When we were finally able to clear the construction he followed me for like 10km. People like that shouldn't be on the road.

You really do not want to anger a truckie. They will intimidate you and frighten the hell out of you. They stop where they like, use mobiles freely and rarely obey any traffic rules. When they are running out of time they will endanger your life.

Joetheplumber, if you come from a road rage locality I can understand why you may have been reluctant to engage and did what you did. You seem like a reasonable chap. We have lived in a few countries and generally get to know the local customs and conventions. You are in very little danger in Japan if you stand up to the bullies - the like to intimidate and shout, but quieten down once you show them who is boss. Conversely, you are in more danger if you don't stand up to them, as their tantrums only escalte if you don't nip them in the bud.

My husband and I sometimes take the motorcycle out at weekends. We were once in the countryside when a yankee Celsior driver swerved into our path for no reason at all - with a big smile on his face. My husband U-turned and followed the driver to the next traffic lights, when the tattoo'd hoodlum got out of his car to confront us. My husband parked the bike in a safe place off the road and told me to stay put. He played rugby as a younger man, and doesn't suffer fools gladly. I can only say that the young man won't be swerving into motorcyclists again anytime soon.

There have also been times when truck drivers have driven appallingly behind us, like Pawatan describes. My husband generally waits until the next set of traffic lights, stops the car, and then invites the driver to step out of his cab for a discussion. They very rarely do, and behave considerably better after the interaction. Take a picture of their number plate with your cell phone - unlike back home, the police do follow up here on reports of 'dangerous driving'. The trucker risks losing their livelihood, whereas you only risk losing a bit of space on your memory card. ;-)

Thanks for the advice auntplum. I have on occassions confronted these hoons especially the tailgaters( there are so many of them). And yes the photo take with cell phones has been practiced. I am not easly frightened, but on an expressway you risk death. Not all drivers are physically strong enough to take on some of these hoons. You are lucky to have a strong guy as your husband and who is willing to teach these guys a lesson.