What can happen when it all goes wrong

Dup · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:36

Lashout_UK said:
So effectively, if you swerve to avoid something else (be it a vehicle, obstacle, whatever) or loose control in severly icy conditions and someone ploughs into you, you could be jailed?

Surely it's part blame on the other party for not being prepared for the worst around the corner? I mean, I know in some respects it's impossible to judge from the story but if you can't see what's round the corner, generally you don't go hooning around it?

That seems a bit OTT!

Either way, shocking story

They had taken advantage of circumstance and made an example of him I expect. Groups of owners clubs, cars/bikes enjoying a drive in the country. The risk multiplies and I bet the law sees that in a more serious light than we (as motor enthusiasts) would.

volospian · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:36

[TW]Fox;10337287 said:
Is there anyone on this forum who can honestly put their hand on their heart and say they've never had a single 'oh crap' moment when out driving? Ever? The sort of thing where pure luck and circumstances were the only thing that either kept you on the road or, if you left it, didn't leave you in the situation this bloke was in?

I know I've had a moment or two like that. Luckily the first time grip kicked in and I missed the other car by an inch or so (brand spanking new tyres on a wet day... not conducive to road holding!)

The second time I lost the Stag (again in the wet with poor tyres. I went straight to the tyre shop and had them replaced. All these arguments about Yangtong tyres and so on. Get the best you can. You'll be thankful for it one day) but there was nobody else on the road at the time. It was lucky too as I went straight across the road. I would have hit anything coming.

L0rdMike · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:36

[TW]Fox;10337287 said:
Is there anyone on this forum who can honestly put their hand on their heart and say they've never had a single 'oh crap' moment when out driving? Ever? The sort of thing where pure luck and circumstances were the only thing that either kept you on the road or, if you left it, didn't leave you in the situation this bloke was in?

Yep was driving along and all of a sudden the road turnt into a T junction which appeared out of nowhere. My only option was to take a right because the angle it was at. Thank god the road was empty.

BigglesPiP · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:37

It scares the **** out of me thinking about the possible consequences of a milisecond's lapse of concentration, or a simple accident.

A lot of people complain that the sentence for things like death by dangerous driving is too short, arguing that these people are murderers, but they simply aren't.

Furthermore, other road users have already accepted the fact that they could be killed by someone else's driving. Otherwise they wouldn't drive.

Lashout_UK · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:37

I've certainly had a 'brown trouser' moment but I like to think it was more skill that kept me out of harms way than luck - and I was not pushing on or anything like that, just a fluke incident!

That's the only time in 3/4 years driving that springs to mind!

[TW]Fox · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:38

AtreuS said:
I can say that. Been driving 8 years now and so far *touch wood* ive never had a brown trouser moment like that. I did bump into the back of someone at a junction though due to me assuming he was making his turn when he wasnt

So you have had such a moment then - infact, you've crashed into something. It was only luck that, lets say, his car had its breaks on and was not pushed forward into a cyclist or similar..

randal · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:38

Despite the subject matter, those 3 accounts posted by 10 Pence Short have been the most interesting and engrossing things I've read on any forum all year. So emotive, involving and openly honest about a subject that could be taken in anger and resent.

Top OP Simon.

SoliD · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:39

a truly thought provoking story, makes you realise, that you are in control of a dangerous piece of machinery. Although he does seem to have been made an example of, we do only know the basics.

A friend from work got banned for 3 months iirc for spinning his mr2 on a roundabout, at about 10mph, unfortunately a police car was just passing by for him.

volospian · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:41

BigglesPiP said:
A lot of people complain that the sentence for things like death by dangerous driving is too short, arguing that these people are murderers, but they simply aren't.

Furthermore, other road users have already accepted the fact that they could be killed by someone else's driving. Otherwise they wouldn't drive.

Horses for courses, really. Some people deserve it. No license, no tax, no MOT, no insurance, no care or regard for the safety of themselves or others, drunk, high and so on. They deserve everything they get and often considerably more.

However, a moments lack of discipline in a powerful motor can put you inside. Not a nice thought and probably not deserved in the scheme of things.

I also think that last paragraph is crap. You seem to be suggesting that as I drive on the road, it is ok if someone else kills me as I have "accpeted the fact". Crap. Every road user should treat the road with respect. You shouldn't have to think that someone else may kill you. You should be able to assume that every driver on the road is capable and careful. This is not the case, but that doesn't make it acceptable.

Vita · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:43

That's some deep stuff right there. Really bad.

AtreuS · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:44

[TW]Fox;10337322 said:
So you have had such a moment then - infact, you've crashed into something. It was only luck that, lets say, his car had its breaks on and was not pushed forward into a cyclist or similar..

No i said bump and i meant bump. The kind of thing you were refering to is more like losing control due to excessive speed, bad road conditions or not slowing down on blind bends, that kind of thing.

Maybe ive been lucky as i do a fair amount of motorway driving due to my job. Ive learned to be extra cautious and leave plenty of room and always assume the pleb is gonna pull out on me. Sooner or later im sure ill have brown touser moment but *touch wood* i hope it never happens.

BigglesPiP · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:48

volospian said:
I also think that last paragraph is crap. You seem to be suggesting that as I drive on the road, it is ok if someone else kills me as I have "accpeted the fact". Crap. Every road user should treat the road with respect. You shouldn't have to think that someone else may kill you. You should be able to assume that every driver on the road is capable and careful. This is not the case, but that doesn't make it acceptable.

In a perfect world yes. I treat driving with a certain level of respect, and it would be great if everyone did. But, there are idiots out there, and I know I could be killed by one tomorrow, yet I'm still happy to chance it and drive.

Also, a moments lack of discipline in a Reliant Robin could put you inside. They're all potentially lethal (And if anyone calls a car a weapon I'll run them down, it's not a weapon, it's a potentially dangerous tool).

Phil W · 23 Oct 2007 at 18:51

Very sobering stuff.

My brother went through a similar incident which involved a pedestrian, no prison sentence though.

DreXeL · 23 Oct 2007 at 19:06

[TW]Fox;10337287 said:
Is there anyone on this forum who can honestly put their hand on their heart and say they've never had a single 'oh crap' moment when out driving? Ever? The sort of thing where pure luck and circumstances were the only thing that either kept you on the road or, if you left it, didn't leave you in the situation this bloke was in?

On more than one occasion if I'm perfectly honest

neil-ste · 23 Oct 2007 at 19:06

Dup said:
Half a dozen of us followed Dan onto the A686 road during a break on the Lakes run March 2006.

I thought I recognised the road name, it's Hartside pass. I can well imagine the judge wanting to make an example of him due to the sheer amount of accidents that happen on this road.

It's one of my regular "play" roads, i'm sure this thread will be looming in my mind next time i'm over there.

gambitt · 23 Oct 2007 at 19:18

who wants to bet that if it was a woman driving a Ford Ka instead of a young bloke in an "enthusiasts" car, she would've got off scott free.

therealnerd2 · 23 Oct 2007 at 19:42

gambitt said:
who wants to bet that if it was a woman driving a Ford Ka instead of a young bloke in an "enthusiasts" car, she would've got off scott free.

There may be a reason for that .........

[TW]Fox · 23 Oct 2007 at 20:23

therealnerd2 said:
There may be a reason for that .........

Go on then, lets imagine it all happened the same, inexperienced lady overcooks it on a bend, lift off oversteer in her Ka, she's blocking the road...bang, a biker hits her.

Whats the reason for it being treated differently?

g0th2000 · 23 Oct 2007 at 20:32

Yep, it's a sobering tale. There's more in this thread.

Lot's of lessons to be learned.

lordrobs · 23 Oct 2007 at 20:43

[TW]Fox;10337140 said:
Jesus. What a story.

What I don't understand is why he was jailed. Sure, he lost control of his car, which is bad. But 12 months in prison? The biker hit his stationary car. The car should not have been straddled across the road but surely the biker should be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

It seems odd that theives and vilans get away with far less when this bloke was sentance to 12 months in jail?

He could have been any one of us on here...

Indeed

I managed to spin my car on a blind bend literally weeks after passing my test. Completely my own fault, a case of young driver + slippy winter roads + too much speed. To think that the difference between that being steep learning curve, something I can look back on and think "idiot" and a 12 month custodial sentence is simply a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time sends a chill down my spine.

What can happen when it all goes wrong

Man of Honour