Curious

aaabbbb

Nothing happened in the end thankfully but;

Today I was driving home on the M50 heading towards the M1 northbound (left hand slip road in picture) when the car on front of me realised at the very last second (aprox where the third cone in is in the picture )that it was in fact going the wrong direction and needed to be taking the slip road that lead to the M1 southbound/city centre (slip road on right of picture ).

This lead to the car on front dangerously stopping in the middle of the lane it was in and attempting to merge across the island into the other slip road (RHS of picture)

Luckily for me I wasn't doing the speed limit so I was a bit further behind this car than usual , was paying attention and have a good set of breaks. Otherwise I would have been straight into the back of it as there wasn't any option for me to overtake / swerve 'cos the adjacent lanes were full with other cars it being the begining of rush hour and everything

https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.410691,-6.231453,3a,90y,113.38h,82.88t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sZdi2R5i-mFzVecyyvZdjNQ!2e0

Anyway it has sparked a curiosity if I had for instance in this situation being driving a normal distance behind this car and it did the same thing , which would for certain have meant me crashing into the back of it who's fault/liability would it be ?

djimi

You would be at fault. Youre supposed to be at a speed/distance that allows you stop if the car in front of you jams on or does something like that.

slimjimmc

I would think he would have been held mainly responsible because he drove in a careless or possibly dangerous manner, however "normal distance" is often inadequate distance to stop safely you may have to share a good chunk of the blame because you couldn't stop within the distance you left in front.

R.O.R

What's been described in the OP is pretty much a daily occurance at that junction, but it is usually the other way around, with Hire cars shooting over from middle/right lanes, to the M1 North/Airport Lanes.

Steady speed, plenty of distance to the vehicle in front, and ready to jam on the brakes at any moment, is the only way to drive that section (from Ballymun off ramp really).

cruizer101

Just to clarify the picture isn't great the left slipway is now two lanes. I'm assuming you meant you were in the right lane of the left slipway. I think some blame has to go to the driver in front however not sure how insurance would see it.

I'd something similar happen recently except in my case I was in right hand lane of left slipway and a truck was on my left he then started to pull into my lane to go right across to the far slipway. As it happened I put the boot down and managed to pull in front of him and stay on my slipway but was bit of change boxers kinda moment.