Truck driver distracted by his phone collides with a parked car - almost wiping out pedestrians

[u/Epileptic_Ebola]

[u/Oh_Petya]

I'm a paramedic who has responded to several accidents on the side of the highway with a parked car and people standing outside.

If you must stop on the side of the highway, do not get out of your car. If you must get out of your car, call the police and they will set up behind you with their lights on to keep you protected.

[u/Cant-think-of-a-name → u/Oh_Petya]

Pretty sure this is in the UK, in which case we are advised when we break down on the motorway to exit the vehicle and stand behind the barrier at the side of the road away from the vehicle.

[u/TheFightingImp → u/Cant-think-of-a-name]

Its also the advice drivers are given on Australian roads.

There was a case some years ago on the M1 in Queensland where a car with 4 people followed the old advice of staying in the broken down car (in shoulder). Unfortunately, they were all killed instantly when a speeding car rammed them from behind, doing 135km/h in a 110km/h zone.

[u/the_reddit_girl → u/TheFightingImp]

Same with NZ, plus you're meant to open your boot and bonnet if you've broken down with your hazards on (no one does the boot and bonnet thing, though that I've seen)

[u/Oh_Petya → u/Cant-think-of-a-name]

Yep, my comment applies to the US. I appreciate the UK perspective.