expression
learn from others' mistakes; the toppling of the cart in front serves as a warning for the cart behind
Proverb of Chinese origin (from the Book of Han). Used to advise learning from the failures of others rather than repeating them.
前車の覆るは後車の戒めというから、先輩の失敗から学ぼう。
As the saying goes, 'the toppling of the cart in front serves as a warning for the cart behind,' so let's learn from our seniors' mistakes.
Both mean learning from others' mistakes. 他山の石 is more general (a stone from another mountain can polish one's own jade), while 前車の覆るは後車の戒め specifically uses the cart metaphor and emphasizes direct warning from a preceding failure.
From the Chinese historical text 'Book of Han' (漢書). The literal image is of a cart overturning ahead, serving as a warning to the cart behind.