Agreed, it is 100% the fault of the guy who rear-ends you. It's 100% the fault of the guy who runs a stop sign and hits you as well, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't ride prepared for that. Like I said, it's a lesson we should all remember.
I recall a day a long time ago. I'd taken my father Christmas shopping (for a gift for my mom), and on the way back home, we'd stopped at a traffic light. We were in my '79 Trans Am with its huge brake lights. I checked my rear view mirror and saw the guy sliding toward us (it was a cold, drizzly evening and the roads were slick). I knew there wasn't any cross traffic in the first few lanes (because I'd been watching), so hit the gas (gingerly—wet roads, light-in-the-ass Trans Am), then came to a stop just past the crosswalk. My dad looked at me quite puzzled until I pointed behind us. The guy was stopped squarely in the crosswalk.
At the next light, the guy pulled up next to us, apologized, and thanked me profusely. He said, "I just misjudged how slick the road was. Thank you so much! All I could see were flashing lights and insurance information swaps!"
People screw up. Stay alert, and 99/100 you can get out of the way.
Prayers for all who will be so aware of Pete's absence.
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