Indeed. This is why you can't drive around just looking at the back of the car in front of you, you need to look way down the road. The distance to the car in front of you needs to be large enough that you can react if that driver steps on the brake, but will never be enough should they impact a stationary object. You need to see stuff like that much earlier, and if you can't, you're driving too fast.
I'm constantly baffled that these pileups happen, since it's obvious these people were driving much, much faster than is justifiable under the conditions. They should all lose their licenses.
They're so rare that most drivers can't even imagine it happening to them. Combined with the fact that most drivers don't even understand what it is they should look for.
Really? The need to look far down the road is literally the first thing that comes up if you google "where should I look when driving":
* In order to avoid last minute moves and spot possible traffic hazards, you should always look down the road ahead of your vehicle.
* Your attention should be focused on the road ahead, following your intended path of travel. It would be best if you allowed a visual lead-time of at least 20-30 seconds.
* Scanning the road ahead while you’re driving is one of the best safety tips you can employ when you’re behind the wheel! Generally speaking, you should look ahead 15 to 20 seconds or an eighth of a mile when driving in the city and 20 to 30 seconds or about a quarter of a mile on the highway.
When a person first gets their licence they may google the content you describe. Then they drive to work and home - down the freeway - every day for years.
They quickly learn that leaving too much space in front means people keep jamming in front of them. And the vehicle in front is the one you react most to - when it slows down or speeds up a little. So they pay attention to the car in front rather than down the road. Why look down the road? It hasn't been relevant for XYZ hours of driving so far...
Eventually they confirm to the norms of traffic. And why not? They haven't seen an accident in ages and if they have, they likely drove past it after the fact without knowing how the accident happened and believing it to be a "freak thing". Thus the deviation from what they should do is rationalised and then normalised through daily use.
Then an accident happens and a multi-vehicle pile up occurs because the "norms of traffic" are NOT what people should be doing.
Sadly most people do that. While continuing to believe that their initial conscientiousness (first impressions!) - since slackened/eroded - means they are an above average driver.
And I too am subject to this human behaviour as much as I try to be conscientious about it. I know I will have some bad habits learned in similar fashion. But I don't know what they are because I have rationalised all my actions to myself. I should go do some training again...
I'm constantly baffled that these pileups happen, since it's obvious these people were driving much, much faster than is justifiable under the conditions. They should all lose their licenses.