"Eric Takabayashi" <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
news:4090E9FF.8EC2A7F5@yahoo.co.jp...
> "mr.sumo.snr" wrote:
>
> > My closest friend in the city here had a similar sounding accident about
> > three and half years ago.  His fault and four other cars plus a house
genkan
> > were damaged/destroyed.
>
> Wow. How?
>
It's quite simply really.  As Mike states - Japanese people drive SO
carefully along narrow roads. So during morning rush hour traffic they are
considerate enough to drive no further than 3 meters behind the car in front
of them doing around 50km/h  Then a car in the opposite lane is clipped from
behind by an emerging vehicle and crosses the center line ploughing into
three cars as if they we all one short piece of curbside crash barrier.  The
offending vehicle continues its odyssey until it is abruptly halted by a
house!  Or to be precise the concrete and entrance hall of a house.

As for insurance - I'd said going with just the 'included with the shaken'
policy is short-sighted.  Fully comprehensive insurance is de rigueur in the
UK due to the number of car thefts and supermarket car park bump and runs.
Something in-between is fine for Japan - just make sure it covers personal
injury to the other party, not just damage to his car.

--
jonathan