Motorists who failed to adjust their speed because of driving conditions were responsible for Tuesday night’s mayhem on the A92, Police Scotland has said.
A black Fiat Punto and a black Volkswagen Golf were involved in a collision around 4.45pm and this incident then triggered a spate of further collisions.
Eventually, 16 vehicles were involved in collisions and the crash site extended a full-half along westbound carriageway between Arbroath and Dundee.
Amazingly, no one was seriously injured in the incident although four people did require hospital treatment.
One driver claimed the crash may have been caused by some motorists driving too fast, despite the blinding low sun and Police Scotland has now also said that failure to adjust to conditions is responsible for most accidents rather than the conditions themselves.
A spokesman for the Force said: “Weather is often blamed for causing accidents, but the real cause is often inappropriate driving for the conditions that exist.
“Reduced daylight hours and the possibility of inclement weather place additional demands on all road users.
“Low sun can make it difficult to see and a dirty, greasy or damaged windscreen can make this worse.
“Reduce your speed, keep your distance from the vehicle in front and prepare for driving by keeping your vehicle well maintained before you take to the road.”
Drivers were also advised to make sure their brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and wiper blades are kept in good condition and that windscreens, wiper blades and windows are clean.
Cyclists are being reminded they must have white front and rear red lights on at night as well as making sure they wear reflective clothing and a helmet.
Pedestrians should also ensure they wear bright clothing, particularly in rural areas where the street lighting is either non-existent or very limited.