A recent incident near Heathrow Airport has left many debating who was truly at fault after a National Express coach collided with a car on the road near Terminal 5.
The crash, which took place on February 2, has sparked a lot of reactions from online users, with opinions divided about who should be blamed.
What Happened on the Road?
The situation unfolded as a car was driving in the outside lanes heading towards Terminal 5.
As the vehicles approached a bend near the roundabout, the car decided to move up on the inside of a large white National Express coach.
The coach, which was originally in the left lane, signaled to turn left but then unexpectedly drifted into the right lane.
Both vehicles were nearing the roundabout near the Short Stay Car Park entrance when the coach swung into the car after it tried to undercut the coach on the slipway of the M25.
The driver of the car immediately expressed frustration, claiming, “National Express crashed into me.”
However, social media users who saw the footage of the incident on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to share their thoughts, with opinions about who was at fault split right down the middle.
Opinions Split on Who’s Responsible
Some users firmly sided with the coach driver.
One commenter argued that the car driver was at fault, saying: “The car driver is dangerous—take 6 points off their license and give them 12 weeks of community service.”
Another said, “Never become the meat in a sandwich—always give larger vehicles more room to maneuver.”
A third person noted: “She was stupid to try to overtake a coach on a roundabout.
That’s a triple axle coach, 15 meters long.
Just stay back, what’s the rush?” Many added that the Highway Code stresses the importance of giving large vehicles plenty of space at junctions, especially around roundabouts.
A consensus among some was clear: “Don’t mess with coaches, lorries, or buses.
Stay back and let them go; best policy. It’s not worth the hassle, no matter who’s in the wrong.”
Another user put it more bluntly: “Unofficial law of the road—if it’s bigger than you and you’re likely to get hurt, move aside and let them pass.”
Support for the Car Driver’s Side of the Argument
On the other hand, a number of users sided with the car driver.
One person pointed out that the coach had plenty of room on its nearside but still chose to move without checking its mirrors, essentially taking out the car that was trying to stay in its lane.
Another commenter added, “That’s how most drivers take a roundabout. The coach driver should have checked before changing lanes.”
Some drivers who use this route regularly insisted the coach driver was clearly in the wrong, with one person saying: “That coach is at fault.
Plenty of room, didn’t bother checking, or just tried to bully the car.” Another user added: “Pure clown behavior from the coach driver.
Signaled left, then drifted right? The car had no reason to stay away.”
Was It Both Drivers’ Fault?
Others thought both drivers could have been more cautious.
One person stated: “The coach driver made a mistake, but the car driver should have anticipated it.”
A more unsympathetic response said: “No hazard awareness from either driver.”
Another added: “In this situation, either get well ahead of the bus or stay well behind it—poor driving from both vehicles.”
No Injuries Reported, Investigation Underway
Luckily, no one was harmed in the crash.
A spokesperson from National Express confirmed the incident, stating, “We can confirm there was an incident on the Heathrow Terminal 5 roundabout at around 5:10 am on February 2.
The tail end of our coach collided with a third-party vehicle.
There were no reported injuries to anyone in either vehicle, and the matter is being investigated internally.”
National Express has since launched an internal investigation to look into the incident further.
Meanwhile, drivers and online commenters continue to weigh in on what could have been done differently to avoid the collision.