Man of Honour
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I read at least one autopsy report every other day so do appreciate the hard work they put in.
RIP Paul Walker
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I read at least one autopsy report every other day so do appreciate the hard work they put in.
Couldn't agree more, Facebook and all the news outlets at the time was just unbelievable.
Unless you've driven / been a passenger in a very powerful car, you can't imagine what it's like. You can get to 100MPH from a standstill in a CGT in around 7 seconds, and if you're already doing 30MPH and put your foot down for a few seconds, that's all it'll take.
I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of people on this forum would do exactly the same at some point if they could afford a car like that, in fact, I'll bet a lot of us have done similar things in considerably less capable cars, and were just lucky to get away with it.
It seems like the driver was experienced, and Paul probably trusted him to do those speeds, but that day he happened to make a mistake which resulted in their deaths. Nothing more to it than that I reckon.
Bet you they wouldn't do it on a 30mph limit residential street. There are far more suitable places if you want to hoon it.
Not habitually, no. But if you had a friend in the car you might put your foot down for a few seconds coming away from some lights, and in a car like that, that's all it takes. You see quite a few people doing 50/60MPH in our (much narrower) residential streets in standard cars, which takes a lot more effort than 100MPH in a CGT.
Soldato
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To be fair it looked like it was on some industrial estate rather than a residential street.
He was a professional racing driver so no doubt Paul probably did trust him.
However, saying that the vast majority of the this forum would do 100mph in a 30mph zone is ridiculous. I wouldn't dream of doing that speed in a built up 30mph speed limit area.
Of course you wouldn't normally. However, on a sunny day, with your friend next to you, at the wheel of a supercar, I'm not so sure. Also, the 30 zone in the pictures is hardly comparable to most 30 zones in the UK.
I've driven fast cars, not as fast as a CGT, but fast by everyday standards, and I've had moments when I've glanced at the speedo and been shocked by how quickly I was going relative to the limit of the road. It really is a lot easier than people think, and I personally can't criticise the driver or indeed Paul for what was clearly a terrible mistake.
Soldato
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Its comparable in that there is immovable poles by the side of the road and ultimately the conclusion is the same.
I can understand this was their speed prior to the crash but it should be much less on actual impact so I wonder what prevented any decent amount of braking, its a level road I presume
I can understand this was their speed prior to the crash but it should be much less on actual impact so I wonder what prevented any decent amount of braking, its a level road I presume
we dont know for sure the details but its his responsibility and if he had survived he'd be on charges for it
I did wonder that as well - guess we'll never know. I'm not denying that he would (rightly) be held responsible in the eyes if the law, I'm simply saying I couldn't personally blame him as I may well have done the same thing in his position.
Soldato
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Why? Do you look at a 30 sign, then look around and make a calculated choice whether to obey or not?
I normally do. That's like asking whether you check a pedestrian crossing before just driving off when the light turns amber.
Soldato
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Nope. I dont play dice with murder. Do it on the track or dont do it, and grow up.
Soldato
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Yes it is, if the pedestrian is an otherworldly being.
Without wanting to quote the highway code, I presume I don't need to remind you the 30mph limit is just that - a limit, not a recommendation?
This tbh, I actually fell out with a lad who thought it was hilarious to try and get his car sideways round roundabouts on a night and do daft speeds, told him he's all well and good to choose to do that on his own but if I'm in the car he can pack it in. Ends up calling me boring, scared to die etc etc so I just lost it with him. Haven't spoken to him since but found out he's had 1 or 2 car accidents with 1 car being a write off.
.Yeah, pretty much. It works both ways - in some situations I'll do less than 30 because 30 is too fast for the conditions.
So you're regularly behind the wheel of a supercar with your friend on a sunny day in LA? Or are you just talking about driving your hatchback to morrisons? In which case no, I don't do those speeds either. I'm just saying that in a situation like they were in, you might well make a similar mistake to Rodas, and criticising two dead people really doesn't get us anywhere.
How built up was the area? For example this road has a 25mph speedlimit:
As in the first image right in front of the car, you don't really need to slow down for those things (some of them further down the road are lethal and I will slow down to around 20). But the most used part of the road people will normally go 40mph down it, 15mph above the limit. But I've been in cars and gone 60/70/80 down the road. It's a business park so it's rare there is somebody on foot and only see another car occasionally. If you had the right car, you could achieve 100 mph down it - as a whole I would say it's fairly safe.
So what if they were on this road, doing 80mph for argument sake (x3 over limit) and had an accident, would everybody still be calling them the names they are? I find it hard to believe that anyone would stick to the limit on the above road.
As in the first image right in front of the car, you don't really need to slow down for those things (some of them further down the road are lethal and I will slow down to around 20). But the most used part of the road people will normally go 40mph down it, 15mph above the limit. But I've been in cars and gone 60/70/80 down the road. It's a business park so it's rare there is somebody on foot and only see another car occasionally. If you had the right car, you could achieve 100 mph down it - as a whole I would say it's fairly safe.
So what if they were on this road, doing 80mph for argument sake (x3 over limit) and had an accident, would everybody still be calling them the names they are? I find it hard to believe that anyone would stick to the limit on the above road.