A cautionary tale...

[Robertb]

This evening, on my way back from work in the Targa (after an irritating 1/2 hr delay on the M40 at oxford) I was accelerating gently through a bend on a road I know well. As I rounded the corner, I met a nitwit in a Polo overtaking a car into the bend on the wrong side of the road.

I was braking v hard and I was frankly bracing for impact as there was nowhere else to go. However, she just squeezed through the tiny gap and there was no harm done save for a rapidly beating heart!

3 morals;

1. A 911 is a safe car as not only has it great brakes, but it stayed absolutely steady throughout.

2. Don't assume that you won't meet someone on the wrong side of the road.

3. Always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

I don't mean to lecture, but it made me think and its easy to forget when the sun is out etc that unexpected things happen on the roads.

Stay safe!

Robert.


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[Used Porsche]

Agreed with all of that.

85 quid for an Institute of Advanced Motorists course is eye opening.

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[Fingers]

Glad you were OK Robert - I know what you mean with the heart pounding - I have had a few of those recently. Yesterday I was cruising along at a nice 150 KM/H when for no apparent reason a Toyota people carrier - not sure what they are called but I am sure you know what I mean - swerved left then right braking hard and SMASHED into the central barriers! You can imagine the tyre smoke from all the cars NOT keeping a safe distance. Moral - you can never be too careful - I guess you have to keep your senses at all times, stay focused on the road and be sure to leave your self plenty of space to stop in emergencies and stupidity.

However, IDIOTS overtaking around bends on the wrong side of the road - GAS CHAMBERS for 'em thats what I say!


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[Westyman]

Quote: Originally posted by Robert Bill on 14 July 2005

3 morals;

1. A 911 is a safe car as not only has it great brakes, but it stayed absolutely steady throughout.

2. Don't assume that you won't meet someone on the wrong side of the road.

3. Always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

How true are all these points. Police Roadcraft say that one of te most important points if not THE most important point is the Limit Point, ie being able to stop in the distance you can see ahead which is clear.

John


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[Maxy M]

Dead right, fellas. As an alternative to the IAM, consider the RoSPA Association of Advanced Drivers (RoADA). Their training is based on Roadcraft. You need a retest every ?3 years to maintain your 'certificate'.

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[Evil Jack]

Could have been very nasty Robert...glad to hear you escaped OK. You just can't guess what other drivers are going to do - one of the reasons you'll never get me on a motorbike....

P.S. Reading between the lines, two words jumped out:

NITWIT and SHE...

Are we talking women drivers here? :twisted: :wink:




(JOKE!!!!!!!!)



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[Ray Kelly]

Glad you were ok.

I find by keeping a SAFE distance is the key as you can still drive and enjoy the roads but as long as you remember that most people are totally unpredictable with their driving manners.



Had a 2 day course with Paul Ripley about 12 years ago and my gosh was it the best money I spent.

To be shown these cars driven at their max was and is a real thrill!!!!!!!!!






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[Attiq Qureshi]

Cautionary tale – Part II




This week whilst driving up the motorway (M1) in the middle of the day, I found myself stuck behind a people carrier (safe distance – I thought) The driver obviously as bored as I was about the situation decided to have a little snooze, resulting in him straying off the outside lane and into the rough gravel part of the central reservation.




All I saw was about 30 marble to golf ball sized pieces of rock flying towards my car as a result of being kicked up from his tyres. About a third hit my car !




Fortunately the driver recovered control (perhaps it was luck !) and managed to get his car back on the black stuff, I pulled up along side him – to kill him ??




As I got along side, I saw his car was full of children, a wheelchair and a very angry wife, that was waving and shouting furiously at him. I thought better of pulling him over and giving him grief, after all what would it look like – bloke in 70K car shouting at family man in his MPV. I was also somewhat relived that I was not in a situation where I was fist on the scene of what could have been a MPV full of children sliding down the motorway on it roof, probably after smashing into the central reservation.




I pulled away and then turned into the next service station to examine the damage – Two cracks in the screen (need new screen) 3 very small paint chips (one high on the bonnet, wing and roof) Overall the car fared very well – largely down to an early investment in a full armour fend application when the car was new – this definitely paid for itself!




Lesson learnt!


Always use protection (armour fend)




Accept that by driving a Porsche you will never be able to take the moral high ground in an accident.




A broken screen is better than a broken child.

Why shout at a poor (quality) driver when his wife will be do it much better for you .

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[Robertb]

Quote: Originally posted by Evil Jack on 15 July 2005

P.S. Reading between the lines, two words jumped out:

NITWIT and SHE...

Are we talking women drivers here? :twisted: :wink:




(JOKE!!!!!!!!)

I was trying hard not to be discriminatory, just stating facts... but yes, my would-be assassin was a young lady (and on reflection, quite a pretty one!)

And if I'm honest, I've seen many more incidents of loopy driving involving young blokes.

I've done a few driving courses and I always learn new things not to mention have loads of fun on the way. They should be mandatory as the current driving test is a joke.


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[Waz2]

Re MPV's and kids,

I recall a similar situation a few years ago, when an MPV passed me at well over 100mph full of kids, pets and luggage only to pass it again a few miles up the motorway on the hard shoulder after wiping out a large stretch of the central reservation. There was a police car parked up on the opposite carriageway carrying out speed checks so i assume the driver had spotted him and hammered on the anchors. It looked like the family and the other road users nearby had a very lucky escape, and i hope the family man re-assessed his driving style as a result!

Bring in advanced driving courses for eveyone i think - shock therapy style!

Waz


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[Greg]

I am appalled every time I see one of these pieces of sh*te, I mean people carriers driving at around 100 mph. They may be able to go that fast but they sure could not handle even a minor mishap or change of direction at that speed.

We were being driven in one when the driver exclaimed with glee "Wow! I'm doing the ton" whereupon my work mate calmly said "Very good but we don't really want an accident in this at 100 mph".

Don't get me wrong, I use them myself, but I am very aware of their inherent instability at speed and the fact that they will offer little protection if the worse happens, especially for the poor sods in the back row where the crumple zone exists.

Sorry rant over.


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[Bonno]

As the roads become busier and peoples lives more demanding its surprising there are not more major accidents on our roads


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[David Rose]

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Well why is the middle lane reserved for

"people" (see no gender/ethnic points made) :wink:

who drive at 60-70MPH oblivious to whats going on around them.

Then as you undertake them they wake up after a time and occasionally pull in!!

oh the joys of driving!




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[mitch]

Quote: Originally posted by Robert Bill on 14 July 2005

As I rounded the corner, I met a nitwit in a Polo overtaking a car into the bend on the wrong side of the road.

I was braking v hard and I was frankly bracing for impact as there was nowhere else to go. However, she just squeezed through the tiny gap and there was no harm done save for a rapidly beating heart!

Try that in an old SC and you'd become part of the scenery!

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