Peter,

The truck driver got the blame for the fatallity, but I can't say I agree fully with this.
The fact that there were 15m braking marks means that he was riding at least 20m behing the other car. There is a shared responsebility

Speaking out of experience.
You can try to keep your distance and correct speed. And everyone should do so. But the problem is that some get in between you and wathever is in front of you.
Guess you know what the situation is on the French 'nationals' with cars getting inbetween every truck even if there is no place at all.
Was a nightmare crossing France while riding up from Spain to Belgium after our trip in Spain.

Personally it is my main concern, when I riding with 30+ tons behind me, how I can safely stop when a car sqeezes inbetween me and the truck in front off me. Or on some trafficpoints simply how to go with the traffic at least in some way, without getting cut off all the time, and still making sure that I can stop in time.

If a small car hits the brakes flat out doing lets say 50k's per hour the truck, riding 20m behind (wich is almost twice his own length) will barely be able to come to a full stop in time.

By the way: you are (in Belgium) only, and only, allowed to cross an orange light if you can't stop safely. And hitting the brakes in front of a heavy truck for a light tat just turned orange is, in my eyes, not safe nor smart.

If you are in the traffic you are surrounded by others and you have to keep that in mind and act consequently.
I find people who don't quite stupid.