expression, godan verb (-mu)
repeat someone's mistake; make the same mistake as one's predecessor
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to step in the previous cart's rut'. Used when someone repeats a failure or error that has already been made by others, often with a cautionary tone.
See also: 轍を踏む
I carefully devised a plan so as not to repeat my senior's mistake.
過去の失敗を研究し、前轍を踏むことなくプロジェクトを進めたい。
I want to study past failures and move the project forward without repeating the same mistakes.