D-Day truck in motorway crash

[austink6]

sorry to here about crash hope both are o,k

[Swill1952xs]

Its easy for me to make the comments,as i have had experiance from a previous job where a tragedy did happen.

 

A driver for our company had stopped on the hard shoulder to aid a group of four people broken down in a Metro. The metro had pulled as far off the shoulder as possible and was part way on the embankment. Logic tells you,that in a situation like that. That all occupants leave the car and stand on the embankment.

 

But two people remained in the rear of the car,while the cars driver and passenger were talking with our driver on what the problem was. In a split second a pasiing artic side swiped our lorry,twisting it around and catapaulting it in to the back of the metro killing the two rear occupants instantly.

 

The police report said that if the Lorry had not been behind the car,then there was a high probability that no deaths would have occured. The artic driver was charged,and recieved a prison sentance. Our driver had to live with what happened for the rest of his life.

 

The problem with accidents on the hard shoulder seem to occur as most people assume it will be free of traffic and just pull out of a line of vehicles without looking first to see if it's clear. By the time they have pulled off the carriageway and are confronted with a parked vehicle; it's nearly always too late to avoid it. I nearly had an accident this year in similar circumstances when pulling off into a layby. I was following a truck fairly closely and waiting to pull off into the layby. I peeled off from the truck I was following, only to find that someone had pulled up on the beginning of the slip road for it. I nearly rear ended him and started to jacknife towards it. Luckily I let go of the brakes and managed to steer round it.

There was a similar accident on the M4 a couple of weeks ago. It looked as though someone had pulled out of the left hand lane at a fair speed and into the centre one, only to be confronted with a line of stationary traffic. I don't think the occupants of the car survived the impact.

The lesson to be learned from all of this, is never follow too closely, never change lanes without a clear view of what is happening in the next, and never pull off on to the hard shoulder without checking that it's clear to do so.

Maybe it isn't a good idea to take slow moving vehicles, ie under 30 mph on a motorway at all. Vehicles travelling behind them at the legal limit will be approaching them at 40 mph + and often have too little time to safely avoid them or change lanes, if the motorway is busy.

Eventually when my Albion is finished, I will probably only stick to local shows, will be having beacons fitted for any journeys, and travel when the traffic is light. Hopefully that way I may avoid any of the sadness such accidents cause. :-(

[antarmike]

I take the Antar and two trailers on the Motorway when I go to GDSF, but it is only one junction to the next, then of on the A34 at Oxford. Joining the traffic is a nightmare, and I am well below 30 MPH, but there is no logical alternative. Its great fun joining the motorway, to find only two lanes open, and the seeing signs telling me that "Wide Loads straddle both Carraigeways" You can guess how poular that is with the stream of traffic stuck behind me for five miles at 20 MPH. as I block both lanes.

 

They let me know what they though of me as I came out of the cones and they started to overtake....happy days...

 

By law I am limited to 20 MPH, both as an STGO vehicle, and as a Heavy Locomotive towing multiple trailers....Its ok saying dont take slow vehicles on the motorway, but when Thames Valley Police ammend your planned notified route, to take you onto the Motorway, and when your lawful max speed is 20 MPH, and the Police know your width, and the presence of the narrow lanes, but they still insist you follow their route, what do you do. The Police just don't seem to think about all the implications of what they tell you to do sometimes....

Edited June 11, 2009 by antarmike

[Stefano]

In Italy it's illegal to take any vehicle that has a top speed below 50mph on to a Motorway. The only time you can breach the regulations is if you've got an escort and are driving a wide/long load, and you have a mountain of permits. Seems sensible to me, as I can't see the fun in having Artics blasting past you all the time. In Normandy we drove the Stuart from Bayeux to Isigny via the most God forsaken roads we could find. Over the last few miles it played merry hell with it's fuel system, but we managed to be of as little inconvenience as possible.

[hippo]

I was also involved in a Crash, but on the way to Normandy. at 10.15 pm on the A3 southbound on the 28th May, a Vw polo driver decided to do a close and personal inspection of our LeyLand Hippo, Thankfully he wasn't killed as he hit us at over 70 mph and we we going 28mph. We did have a flashing beacon. We knew what hit us as his tax disc was embedded in glass in our rear pintle hook.

Its the first time we have ever had any problems and I always use the motorways, as its the quickest way to get any where.

[Tony B]

Unfortunatley you cannot legislate for idiots. Hippo I'm willing to bet a quid, Where did the VW' driver's mobile phone end up?

[hippo]

no idea, he was about 26 yrs old on his way home from work listening to loud music, and in his own word was no concentraiting, he said he was doing 'about 70 mph', he phoned me when i was on the ferry to appologise! doesn't help my back or the pains of my passengers tho!

[abn deuce]

One way to avoid surprises is to tray and maintain a 2 second gap between you and the vehicle in front , simply pick a landmarkon the road side and as the vehicle in front of you passes it start to count one onethousand two onethousand and repeat until you have a gap of two seconds at what ever speed your traveling , it will give you enough time to react to what the vehicle in front of you does . And if you assume the other fellow waiting to enter the traffic stream does not see you say at intersections or roundabouts you will be prepared to stop rather than having to either lock things up or meeting someone by accident .

 

I recall reading a story of a accident that happened on this side of the pond it went something like this , One car driver on a two lane road < one lane in each direction > is following another car , the driver in front puts on their right hand turn signal , the driver behind thinks quite logically the first driver is signaling a right turn for an up coming driveway or street of which there a several on both sides of the road by the way , the oncoming lane if clear and it is a passing zone so the second driver proceeds to pass the first driver on the left at which point the first driver suddenly turns left and rams the passing car . The first car drivers excuse was they had signaled which side it was safe for the second car to pass them on !!!!!! not signaling a turn . So you see it takes all kinds.

Edited June 12, 2009 by abn deuce

[hippo]

but there is no way of avoiding an idiot raming u in the rear other than a bloody great flashing neon sign saying 'slow moving brick wall ahead do not hit'!

[Scammell4199]

We travelled to France in convoy with the MW in question, and have since heard most of the details of their crash from a third party, and I hope they don't mind me putting the record straight

They hadn't stopped to help the girl, they had stopped with problems drawing up fuel and she broke down in front of them. She came to them seeking help, when they gave a high vis vest.

Upon pulling back out onto the motorway they didn't have the distance between themselves and the broken down car to reach top speed, and looking back down the carriageway it looked clear but by the time they got out onto the carriageway a lorry had come steaming up the hill and straight into the back of them, pushing the MW into the back of a GMC and the GMC into the girls car, writing off the MW and the car.

They are some injuries but everyone is ok.

[Jack]

sorry to here about crash hope both are o,k

 

Well said.

[Tony B]

One way to avoid surprises is to tray and maintain a 2 second gap between you and the vehicle in front , simply pick a landmarkon the road side and as the vehicle in front of you passes it start to count one onethousand two onethousand and repeat until you have a gap of two seconds at what ever speed your traveling , it will give you enough time to react to what the vehicle in front of you does . And if you assume the other fellow waiting to enter the traffic stream does not see you say at intersections or roundabouts you will be prepared to stop rather than having to either lock things up or meeting someone by accident .

 

I recall reading a story of a accident that happened on this side of the pond it went something like this , One car driver on a two lane road < one lane in each direction > is following another car , the driver in front puts on their right hand turn signal , the driver behind thinks quite logically the first driver is signaling a right turn for an up coming driveway or street of which there a several on both sides of the road by the way , the oncoming lane if clear and it is a passing zone so the second driver proceeds to pass the first driver on the left at which point the first driver suddenly turns left and rams the passing car . The first car drivers excuse was they had signaled which side it was safe for the second car to pass them on !!!!!! not signaling a turn . So you see it takes all kinds.

 

Only a fool breacks the two second rule. However with large vehicles and in the wet, especilly if said vehicle has a 65 year braking system. A bigger fool breacks the four second rule!

[gritineye]

We travelled to France in convoy with the MW in question, and have since heard most of the details of their crash from a third party, and I hope they don't mind me putting the record straight

They hadn't stopped to help the girl, they had stopped with problems drawing up fuel and she broke down in front of them. She came to them seeking help, when they gave a high vis vest.

Upon pulling back out onto the motorway they didn't have the distance between themselves and the broken down car to reach top speed, and looking back down the carriageway it looked clear but by the time they got out onto the carriageway a lorry had come steaming up the hill and straight into the back of them, pushing the MW into the back of a GMC and the GMC into the girls car, writing off the MW and the car.

They are some injuries but everyone is ok.

 

Thanks for that, I should think they would be very happy with you putting the record straight as it makes more sense now, but it does point out the very reasons I will always try to avoid motorways , lack of acceleration, low cruising speed and unreliability due to the age of the vehicle.

 

A horrible end to a wonderful trip and I wish them a speedy recovery.

[LoggyDriver]

I would consider helping someone out in difficulty where ever they are ! The people who perhaps need to hone their driving skills are the ones who plough into slow or stationary vehicles ! :nono:

 

 

 

Don't forget the front tyre blowout. I've also seen a super single come off a trailer and bomb over the central reservation bouncing at over 50mph (it overtook the truck it came off) onto the opposing carriageways hard shoulder. Always expect the unexpected.

[LoggyDriver]

Thanks for that Scammell. That makes much more sense.

 

To be honest there is a lot people can do to help themselves. For a start DO NOT drive very slow (old) vehicles late at night. The reason behind this is that most people would have been up since morning and will be getting tired. They might be heading home after a long day at work and aren't hanging about. Driving vehicles that can't even reach 30mph at night on a major road with antiquated lighting systems is just asking for trouble.

 

The best time would be around 4am onwards as the roads are at their quietest, the light is getting better all the time and most people you see at that time of the morning have had a decent nights sleep.

 

Use A roads not motorways if you can help it, travel early in the morning or during the day or early evening when it's still light. Don't assume that because you have an amber warning beacon (also note there these are controlled by the Lighting regulations) that you are going to be seen. Pull over regularly to let bunched traffic overtake. Stressed out drivers stuck behind slow vehicles will do suicidal manouvours to overtake. Keep looking in your mirrors so that you know what is happening behind just as much as the front. Always have an escape plan if something decides to go wrong. Read the road ahead as far as can be seen. Think for other drivers and expect them to make unexpected manouvours. Keep a camera phone or camera on the vehicle in case of an accident (you will need those photo's). I could go on, but I wont bore you to death.:rofl:

[abn deuce]

All the suggestions have been good ones and We all do the best we can every time we take our HMV's out of the drive or garage with all their deficiencies in visibility , brakes,steering,mirrors and speed . WE know all their quirks taking great pains to plan accordingly but ,Its not how GOOD a driver you are , Its how BAD a driver they are !

[LoggyDriver]

All the suggestions have been good ones and We all do the best we can every time we take our HMV's out of the drive or garage with all their deficiencies in visibility , brakes,steering,mirrors and speed . WE know all their quirks taking great pains to plan accordingly but ,Its not how GOOD a driver you are , Its how BAD a driver they are !

 

 

 

How VERY true that statement is!!

[Radek]

I have found this Ariel on the BSA forum. Picture is from Normandy.

[LeeEnfield]

:shocked: OUCH............:sweat:

 

 

Re using motorways,.........whilst I'd rather not use them, in Bedford, if I'm going any distance, (dorset, next year springs to mind,) and a stretch is involved, I'll use it;

With fuel the price it is, and the (normally)direct line routing of said roads, I'm willing to take the risk; (will have flashing beacon and 'slow vehicle', signs displayed) At end of day, our vehicles ARE road legal, and as such are allowed to travel these routes.

 

(I'd NOT use these after dark, though......thinking about it, I'd rather not use ANY road after dark, with Bedford.)

 

Hope ALL drivers/rider and passengers are OK.

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

I have found this Ariel on the BSA forum. Picture is from Normandy.

[abn deuce]

OUCH! Hope the Rider is in better shape than his ride? Shame about the damage seems to have been lovingly restored , someone will have to start over .

[Marmite!!]

I have found this Ariel on the BSA forum. Picture is from Normandy.

 

See post #4

[abn deuce]

Thank you Safariswing , I had skipped that link earlier in the thread .

[rbrtcrowther]

I'm sure someone told me that to take a vehicle on a motor way it must be able to maintain a minnimum of 30mph or was i dreaming....:confused:

[Marmite!!]

I'm sure someone told me that to take a vehicle on a motor way it must be able to maintain a minnimum of 30mph or was i dreaming....:confused:

 

There is a minimum 30mph on some motorways but not all... that's what this sign means... http://www.dft.gov.uk/trafficsignsimages/imagelist.php?CATID=6

[Swill1952xs]

There is a minimum 30mph on some motorways but not all... that's what this sign means... http://www.dft.gov.uk/trafficsignsimages/imagelist.php?CATID=6

 

The scariest thing of all would be getting hit from behind with an agricultural tractor. Not long ago I followed a JCB Fastrac downhill towing a trailer at 58 mph. I was just waiting to see if he could hit sixty. He was doing 50 on the flat. :shocked:

 

I recently asked some Albion experts about reversing the reduction box gearing on my Albion; to increase the top speed. They reckoned it wouldn't work as there was a ratio change of about 3:1. Now let's see........27mph flat out x 3 =.........er.........um...... 'bout 81mph flat out. Would I need radial tyres if I did that............. or maybe aircraft tyres? :-D

 

To be honest, I'd rather stick to fairly local shows, although I don't think the ratio change is that much. It would be useless off road with that sort of gearing.