One example, only upheld by the shear numbers of witnesses I suspect and now a very old example:
offset cross roads, right of way east/west off set north /south road 30 mph limit on that stretch as it is part of a village. (probably about as clear as mud right?)

Travelling east, below speed limit of 30mph as it is primary school kicking out time and the hazard / warning lights are flashing, crossing person is clearly visible. loads of parents / children on the pavements. As car is level with LH turn offset, car waiting to turn east / continue across crossroads from this road pulls into east bound road directly in front, brake HARD and hit car mostly from behind, slightly off centre having tried to swerve to RIGHT to avoid ending up on pavement with children/parents on it.

Driver of car gets out, claims "I didn't see you" and " you were signalling left" etc where upon 3 parents and the crossing patrol come over and all state "rubbish" police miraculously turned up about 2 minutes later. Also transpires said driver had had a drink at lunch time. Accident was deemed not the fault of the driver who technically ran into the back of the person who pulled out ..... miracles never cease. It did take all witness statements and police statements and the admittance of liability from the other driver to get the insurance company to believe this though!

I was a passenger in the car that was doing the hitting from behind. I think the combination of the 4 witnesses, not including me, and the drink issue of the other driver may have been serious contributing factors here to the outcome, but it was a rear end shunt declared not the fault of the rear-ender (to borrow your eloquent phrase!). Would you get the same result today? I doubt it (cynical hat on)

 

I'm happy to concede that may not have been as clear as it needed to be

But I'll reiterate, that's how I drive most of the time outside of town, when getting on with it, not a style I adopt when tailgated

It must be clear now!

If you want me to admit that I might consider brake testing someone, I will, even though I haven't, and don't

But if you follow me too close and I HAVE to brake, I would suggest you are brake testing yourself

In town, I couldn't really give a 4x about being tailgated, although it sometimes means you have to be extra careful to get a parking space

I find you now have to indicate, stop level with the space, then when the car behind has stopped, move forward slowly to check that they are going to give you the space to reverse in

Too many drivers with brains in neutral out there

 

Yes, for sure. There is also so much more going on in general that even those of us savvy enough make mistakes.
I certainly do as so many other things now demand attention where they didnt a few years ago.

 

Yes, nearly got caught a couple of times like this by 'Van Man' in the urbane areas.
Maybe its time to run a video cam fulltime in the car.
Actually a serious proposition now, those trackday bullet cams may as well be put to some use the other 360 days!