expression, godan verb (-mu)
repeat someone's mistake; make the same mistake as one's predecessor
Idiomatic expression; literally 'to step in the ruts of the preceding cart'. Used when someone fails to learn from another's failure and repeats the same error.
See also: 轍を踏む
Adopting the same strategy without thoroughly examining the previous president's failure is exactly a case of repeating the same mistake.
彼は前車の轍を踏まないように、慎重に計画を立てた。
He planned carefully so as not to repeat his predecessor's mistake.