4-car pile up at Kotturpuram road, Chennai.

supremeBaleno · 10th June 2008, 10:39

On my way to work today morning, I came across an unusual traffic jam on Kotturpuram road, just before Birla Planetarium. This road is usually pretty free, till you merge onto Sardar Patel Road, so I was surprised.

On getting close, saw that there was a 4-car pile up and the traffic jam was due to motorists stopping to have a look at something that you don't get to see daily - 4 cars in an accident, and looking like they are all glued together.

I got there after the pile up happened, so not sure why the lead car braked. But since this happened at the place where you take a right turn to get into the Madras University (Guindy campus), I guess some car would have slowed down or braked to take the right turn.

The CR-V (old type) would have braked in time, but the 3 cars behind it would not have been able to brake in time. So, a private Indica (pretty new) rams into the CR-V's bumper, an Indicab rams into the Indica and finally a Santro rams into the Indicab.

The private Indica seems to have the most damage - its bonnet is badly bent due to hitting the CR-V's bumper and I am sure there is extensive damage inside - radiator, etc. And it also got a nasty hit from behind. The CR-V does not look too bad, but you would know only after the Indica is removed from its rear. The Indicab and Santro look like they have only minor damage.

Just wondering how the blame would be apportioned. And who would pay whom. Or will they all just claim insurance and go their way ?

diabloo · 10th June 2008, 10:44

Since this happened in India, its CRV's fault - because he braked hard

and what can the Indicas & Santros do

ajmat · 10th June 2008, 10:55

Aborad, the insurers would discuss and get ot an agreement, over here they do not, so individual are forced to claim on their own or recover using goonda giri

supremeBaleno · 10th June 2008, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloo

Since this happened in India, its CRV's fault - because he braked hard and what can the Indicas & Santros do

I got rear-ended by a woman driving an M800 a year or so ago. Even though me and the 2 cars in front of me could brake in time, she could not (because she was actually talking to her friend in the passenger seat, instead of looking at the road).
And when I asked her why she did not brake in time, she asked "Why did the guy in front have to brake suddenly?"

spadival · 10th June 2008, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

Aborad, the insurers would discuss and get ot an agreement, over here they do not, so individual are forced to claim on their own or recover using goonda giri

Knowing Indian mentality, I would bet the other car owners would have ganged up and claimed its CR-V's fault and tried to extort some money from him !! After all, he has the money to afford a CR-V

sjcherian · 10th June 2008, 17:51

That stretch is bad because people who need to turn right into Anna U stop without any indication or intent of doing so at the last minute. If you are unfamiliar with this you have to brake suddenly to avoid hitting the vehicle (usually two wheeler) that has stopped suddenly to turn right. What time was this ? I must have crossed the stretch at 8.45 AM or so.

snaronikar · 10th June 2008, 18:05

I had been there last friday. Stayed in Adyar and had to cross Kottupuram. There are couple of blind spots near Kottupuram. Hope this might have caused the accident.

hrag · 10th June 2008, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjcherian

That stretch is bad because people who need to turn right into Anna U stop without any indication or intent of doing so at the last minute.

This is a Chennai trait - indicators at the very last moment and only if somebody honks from behind.

I got rear ended by an Ikon in broad daylight while waiting to make a U-turn on ECR. The Ikon's front was totally gone and the guy had the gall to say we'll split his repair bill 75/25 because the Indica's brake light design is bad and he couldn't see the brake lights lit. I asked him how he missed seeing the car itself. I had to threaten to go to the police if he demanded any money. My Indica? Built like a truck

(this sounds good when compared with Built Like a Tank)

ibm_jennifer · 10th June 2008, 22:20

I still believe, its not CRV's mistake. Others must follow by 10m, isnt it?

SirAlec · 10th June 2008, 22:46

i guess crv's braking is preety good with disc all around.
thats why we should keep safe distance than driving bumper to bumper. I guess in foreign its an offence and its called tailgating.

kuttapan · 11th June 2008, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibm_jennifer

I still believe, its not CRV's mistake. Others must follow by 10m, isnt it?

Oh no. Are you sure you are not joking?

There is no 10m, there is no 100m either.

The operative words are "SAFE DISTANCE". Please say that thrice, so that it remains in your head. This distance can vary according to speed, terrain, weather conditions, vehicle condition etc. Safe distance means you should be able to bring to your car to a stop, no matter what the other guy does. The onus is always on the guy behind, to take evasive option or to stop. One just cannot expect the guy in front to to take into consideration, the guy coming from behind, especially when doing an emergency maneuver.

Surprise · 11th June 2008, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibm_jennifer

I still believe, its not CRV's mistake. Others must follow by 10m, isnt it?

I remember seeing this on the reverse side of State Transports. (FOLLOW WITH A DISTANCE OF 10 M)

esteem_lover · 11th June 2008, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

I asked him how he missed seeing the car itself.

Guess he was busy analyzing the Indica's tail lamp assembly.

I was rammed by an Auto rickshaw 5 seconds after i had stopped & he was just plain honest & said 'sorry saar, no brakes'.

Lukeskywalker · 11th June 2008, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Guess he was busy analyzing the Indica's tail lamp assembly.

I was rammed by an Auto rickshaw 5 seconds after i had stopped & he was just plain honest & said 'sorry saar, no brakes'.

Haha, good excuse that! I guess he would look for a vehicle ahead whenever he wants to stop his rick.

Mission_Safari · 11th June 2008, 19:20

The entire stretch of Kotturpuram right after the bridge until you reach SP road has lots of blindspots. Adding to that the new speedbreakers on the road has poor paint quality leading to 2-wheelers missing it in the night and falling over. The median construction work is also going on without proper warning boards making the life of people driving at night even more difficult/dangerous.

10th June 2008, 10:39	#1
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,698 Times View My Garage	4-car pile up at Kotturpuram road, Chennai. On my way to work today morning, I came across an unusual traffic jam on Kotturpuram road, just before Birla Planetarium. This road is usually pretty free, till you merge onto Sardar Patel Road, so I was surprised. On getting close, saw that there was a 4-car pile up and the traffic jam was due to motorists stopping to have a look at something that you don't get to see daily - 4 cars in an accident, and looking like they are all glued together. I got there after the pile up happened, so not sure why the lead car braked. But since this happened at the place where you take a right turn to get into the Madras University (Guindy campus), I guess some car would have slowed down or braked to take the right turn. The CR-V (old type) would have braked in time, but the 3 cars behind it would not have been able to brake in time. So, a private Indica (pretty new) rams into the CR-V's bumper, an Indicab rams into the Indica and finally a Santro rams into the Indicab. The private Indica seems to have the most damage - its bonnet is badly bent due to hitting the CR-V's bumper and I am sure there is extensive damage inside - radiator, etc. And it also got a nasty hit from behind. The CR-V does not look too bad, but you would know only after the Indica is removed from its rear. The Indicab and Santro look like they have only minor damage. Just wondering how the blame would be apportioned. And who would pay whom. Or will they all just claim insurance and go their way ?
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 10:44	#2
diabloo BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 1,480 Thanked: 17 Times	Since this happened in India, its CRV's fault - because he braked hard and what can the Indicas & Santros do
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 10:55	#3
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,864 Thanked: 27,975 Times View My Garage	Aborad, the insurers would discuss and get ot an agreement, over here they do not, so individual are forced to claim on their own or recover using goonda giri
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 17:51	#6
sjcherian BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 493 Thanked: 585 Times	That stretch is bad because people who need to turn right into Anna U stop without any indication or intent of doing so at the last minute. If you are unfamiliar with this you have to brake suddenly to avoid hitting the vehicle (usually two wheeler) that has stopped suddenly to turn right. What time was this ? I must have crossed the stretch at 8.45 AM or so.
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 18:05	#7
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	I had been there last friday. Stayed in Adyar and had to cross Kottupuram. There are couple of blind spots near Kottupuram. Hope this might have caused the accident.
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 22:20	#9
ibm_jennifer BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 529 Thanked: 7 Times	I still believe, its not CRV's mistake. Others must follow by 10m, isnt it?
	() Thanks

10th June 2008, 22:46	#10
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 726 Times	i guess crv's braking is preety good with disc all around. thats why we should keep safe distance than driving bumper to bumper. I guess in foreign its an offence and its called tailgating.
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 19:20	#15
Mission_Safari BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 449 Thanked: 6 Times	The entire stretch of Kotturpuram right after the bridge until you reach SP road has lots of blindspots. Adding to that the new speedbreakers on the road has poor paint quality leading to 2-wheelers missing it in the night and falling over. The median construction work is also going on without proper warning boards making the life of people driving at night even more difficult/dangerous.
	() Thanks