Very lucky escape...

[Cian]

One write-off could charitably be put down to inexperience, two could be called unlucky, three??

The same attitude by a medical 'expert' led to a mother of three kids who died of sudden infant death syndrome spending nearly a decade in prison here... bad luck can happen in sequence to the same person.

(the quote I believe was "one is tragic, two is suspicious, three is murder")

 

[kellys_eye]

I understand the ire felt by my previous comment of "tosser" but you have established a few salient facts for us to determine the relative worthiness of the guy in question.

Whilst I wish no one any harm and am (genuinely) glad he's ok the plain fact that he's been on the receiving end of three accidents and, in your own words, refuses to disclose the speed he was traveling at...... tells a lot.

I don't know ANYONE who's had three accident, unlucky or otherwise and the drivers reluctance to tell you how fast he was going at the time of this latest venture is almost immediate guilt for speeding. 'Unlucky' accidents don't happen. Are you telling me that he was 'unlucky' for crashing because he was 20+ mph over the safe limit for that corner?

People have a tendency to blame everything and everyone else for their own stupid mistakes. It wasn't an accident. It was stupidity - plain and simple and the fewer 'idiots' we have on the road the better. Darwinian selection perhaps?

As a friend I'd expect you to defend his actions to some extent but can't you even admit to the fact that he's a f*****g idiot?

Just a guess but I reckon he took more than one attempt to pass his driving test?

Stop making exuses for him. Next time it could be YOU he runs into.

 

[DraigFlag87]

I understand the ire felt by my previous comment of "tosser" but you have established a few salient facts for us to determine the relative worthiness of the guy in question.

Whilst I wish no one any harm and am (genuinely) glad he's ok the plain fact that he's been on the receiving end of three accidents and, in your own words, refuses to disclose the speed he was traveling at...... tells a lot.

I don't know ANYONE who's had three accident, unlucky or otherwise and the drivers reluctance to tell you how fast he was going at the time of this latest venture is almost immediate guilt for speeding. 'Unlucky' accidents don't happen. Are you telling me that he was 'unlucky' for crashing because he was 20+ mph over the safe limit for that corner?

People have a tendency to blame everything and everyone else for their own stupid mistakes. It wasn't an accident. It was stupidity - plain and simple and the fewer 'idiots' we have on the road the better. Darwinian selection perhaps?

As a friend I'd expect you to defend his actions to some extent but can't you even admit to the fact that he's a f*****g idiot?

Just a guess but I reckon he took more than one attempt to pass his driving test?

Stop making exuses for him. Next time it could be YOU he runs into.

I'm not sure where you're from, but you obviously don't know Wales that well, or the people. The roads have hazards on virtually every corner, there are dodgy bends to catch you out, blind hills/dips, hairpins with no warnings, the list of hazards is endless. On the plus side, people enjoy driving them and local people drive fast. 3 accidents is nothing, he's had 7 or 8 accidents but only 3 write offs, I've had 2 write offs in 4 years. Some of my friends get through a car every 6 to 12 months, one of my friends changes his tires every fortnight, he had 8 complaints of dangerous driving in one day (he has lost his license twice, so has his brother) one of my friends spun out, rolled his car which landed the right way and then just carried on driving! It's just the way people drive round here and there's no way of getting them to stop. You can still drive fast and be safe, the chavs are the bad drivers who insist on showing off to their mates. Lack of speed cameras and enforcement in general is a big problem locally (nearest camera 50 miles away) we just got to hope they grow out of it one day.

 

[johnw]

But I was just pointing out that what you think is unlucky is classed by the police as bad driving. It sucks, because if you have a nasty accident involving more than one person they can and will be all over you trying to get evidence that will get you in court for dangerous driving, or another such offence.

Its not quite like that. The police investigate most accidents and put more effort into the ones which injure somebody or cause a lot of damage. Where it really was unlucky, no action is taken. Where it was due to bad driving, then prosecution can follow but warnings are much more common.

 

[kellys_eye]

I'm currently living in the scottish highlands and there are plenty of single track roads where you can stupid things. I also know Wales quite well.

Your further comments.....

The roads have hazards on virtually every corner, there are dodgy bends to catch you out, blind hills/dips, hairpins with no warnings, the list of hazards is endless.

and

he's had 7 or 8 accidents but only 3 write offs, I've had 2 write offs in 4 years.

really go to show that it's not just your mate that's an idiot! Hazards are not there for you to drive INTO! They are there to be AVOIDED. And if you can't read the road ahead and fall victim to an 'unseen' hazard then you are a very, very poor driver.

Driving is about anticipating the conditions ahead and adjusting your speed etc accordingly. Anyone that fails to do this is heading straight to the scene of the accident and can blame NO-ONE BUT THEMSELVES. Not the conditions, not the fact it was a 'blind corner', no excuses - pure and simply THEMSELVES.

And this is what it all boils down to. For anyone to claim having written off a vehicle TWICE or more is tantamount to the Government having legitimate cause to revoke your licence for ever - and I'd be with them on this.

Lack of speed cameras and enforcement in general is a big problem locally

B*ll*cks - cameras don't do jack **** but catch the unwary. Their locations are all warned of well in advance and anyone who gets caught by a fixed camera is, once again, a carp driver. Cameras can be seen as another 'hazard' to be avoided - assuming you know how to drive?

If you or your mates want to drive with careless abandon then get onto a race course where the only damage you can do is to yourselves and your cars - leave us (the general public) out of it.

Like I said, I'm happy your friend got away with it but sometimes my attitude to hearing about the demise of another idiotic driver gives me (ashamedly) cause for rejoicing at the fact there's one less of the t*ss*rs on the road.

Bragging about the narrow escapes you or your mates have had is typical juvenile bravado and if you were any kind of a 'good' driver you'd acknowledge this fact and be embarrased about being stupid enough to get yourself into a situation like that in the first place.

 

[306maxi]

I'm currently living in the scottish highlands and there are plenty of single track roads where you can stupid things. I also know Wales quite well.

Your further comments.....



and



really go to show that it's not just your mate that's an idiot! Hazards are not there for you to drive INTO! They are there to be AVOIDED. And if you can't read the road ahead and fall victim to an 'unseen' hazard then you are a very, very poor driver.

Driving is about anticipating the conditions ahead and adjusting your speed etc accordingly. Anyone that fails to do this is heading straight to the scene of the accident and can blame NO-ONE BUT THEMSELVES. Not the conditions, not the fact it was a 'blind corner', no excuses - pure and simply THEMSELVES.

And this is what it all boils down to. For anyone to claim having written off a vehicle TWICE or more is tantamount to the Government having legitimate cause to revoke your licence for ever - and I'd be with them on this.



B*ll*cks - cameras don't do jack **** but catch the unwary. Their locations are all warned of well in advance and anyone who gets caught by a fixed camera is, once again, a carp driver. Cameras can be seen as another 'hazard' to be avoided - assuming you know how to drive?

If you or your mates want to drive with careless abandon then get onto a race course where the only damage you can do is to yourselves and your cars - leave us (the general public) out of it.

Like I said, I'm happy your friend got away with it but sometimes my attitude to hearing about the demise of another idiotic driver gives me (ashamedly) cause for rejoicing at the fact there's one less of the t*ss*rs on the road.

Bragging about the narrow escapes you or your mates have had is typical juvenile bravado and if you were any kind of a 'good' driver you'd acknowledge this fact and be embarrased about being stupid enough to get yourself into a situation like that in the first place.

*sigh*

Well if people ever want lessons on being judgemental and dismissive then they know who to ask

Writing off a car is surprisingly easy. I wrote off a Mitsubishi Lancer back in Australia about 5 years ago yet only did minor panel damage to my car as well as breaking one blade off my fan when it hit the radiator. If a car is not worth much it doesn't take much to write it off, plus modern cars like to crumple too.

 

[306maxi]

anyone who gets caught by a fixed camera is, once again, a carp driver.

So because you get caught by a fixed camera you drive a fish?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

B*ll*cks - cameras don't do jack **** but catch the unwary. Their locations are all warned of well in advance and anyone who gets caught by a fixed camera is, once again, a carp driver. Cameras can be seen as another 'hazard' to be avoided - assuming you know how to drive?

I'd tone your posts down if I were you! Otherwise this might become one long thread.

I pick up the above. All very and single minded. Speed camera are normaly on the side of the road, and was no means a hazzard when I was flashed because I was driving on the road, and not verge.

It sounds like you've never had an accident and that you think anyone who does can't drive. How old are you? I'll just say wait your turn

 

[kellys_eye]

*sigh*

Well if people ever want lessons on being judgemental and dismissive then they know who to ask

If you care to read the original post, the initial comment referred to this guy who has, by the OPs own admission, been on the receiving end of MULTIPLE accidents/write-offs.

Now, if you consider my comments thereafter to be judgemental then fair enough but even normal people must see that the person in question is rather more than plain careless or unlucky. And the OP's defense of his actions is less than acceptable. Or should we applaud these people? Sometimes you HAVE to call a spade a spade. Sympathy is just a word between 's h i t' and 'syphallis' in the dictionary.

I've also had an accident too. In 30 years of driving I don't think that's too bad - and I've done rally training at Brands Hatch so can hardly claim inexperience. I ran into someone. Can't blame anyone other than myself. If I was to 'whinge' about it I could claim it was because I'd just finished a 24hr work stint and was driving to ANOTHER. Does that excuse me? Was it bad luck that the person I ran into was 'in the way' perhaps? I don't think so any more than "the corner was tighter than I expected".

Speed camera are normaly on the side of the road, and was no means a hazzard when I was flashed because I was driving on the road, and not verge.

It's irrelevant where a fixed camera is located - are you saying that you need to have one in the middle of the road before you notice it? Can't you see the warning signs beforehand? I too speed. Never been 'flashed' because I'm aware of what I'm doing.

I don't subscribe to the need for speed cameras - I'd rather see more traffic police on the road to catch the aforementioned idiots - something a camera can't do.

If I am unfortunate enough to have an accident I sure as hell won't be on here bragging about it - unless it was as a result of someone elses error

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

It's irrelevant where a fixed camera is located - are you saying that you need to have one in the middle of the road before you notice it? Can't you see the warning signs beforehand? I too speed. Never been 'flashed' because I'm aware of what I'm doing.

I to was very much aware of it, just so happens I said to my passengers, oh look there's a camera, just unfortunate that I misjudged the fact that it cought speeders as well as redlight jumpers at the bottom of a hill

Signs for speed cameras are everywhere, even where there are none. So saying did you not see them dosen't really help, and with most un-nessicary road signs (not that there are many) one becomes complacent to them

 

[Munkul]

It's irrelevant where a fixed camera is located - are you saying that you need to have one in the middle of the road before you notice it? Can't you see the warning signs beforehand? I too speed. Never been 'flashed' because I'm aware of what I'm doing.

you dont half talk some rubbish. Come back when you get caught out by a camera that's conveniently hiding behind a tree or something.

 

[werdna]

I accept your opinion, but he's not claiming on the insurance. My friend suffers from poor hand to eye coordinations as well as a short concentration span etc. He can drive well when he wants to, but he just pushes it too hard sometimes. He was also very tired when the accident happened so another lesson is: DON'T DRIVE WHILST TIRED!

That sort of problem should be declared to the dvla, I am not sure but I would say that he has not declared his condition to the insurers either..

 

[kellys_eye]

you dont half talk some rubbish. Come back when you get caught out by a camera that's conveniently hiding behind a tree or something.

Cameras are, by law, indicated by road signs prior to you coming across one. If you wish to ignore those convenient warnings then suffer the consequences. I use the fact that there IS a warning and keep an even sharper lookout hence I don't get caught.

Comments such as yours only seem to come from people who HAVE been caught and are annoyed by the fact. If you have been 'done' then go back along the road you were caught on and look for the warning sign. It will be there - despite the fact that, careful you, missed it the first time around.

Once again, this illustrates the "it's not my fault" society we live in.

So saying did you not see them dosen't really help, and with most un-nessicary road signs (not that there are many) one becomes complacent to them

Complacency - now, there's a word to conjure with...... it's complacency that gets you into trouble. It's otherwise known as "talking your eye off the ball"...... "driving like a chav"....... "asking for trouble" etc etc.

far from contributors to this thread querying MY age, a more pertinent question may relate to theirs. That's why insurance for 18-25 year olds is so extortionate - complacency, risk taking, chaviness, showing-off....... Insurance companies acknowledge the fact that you wise up as you get older (then, after reaching, say, 60, your driving reverts to chaviness again ).

That sort of problem should be declared to the dvla, I am not sure but I would say that he has not declared his condition to the insurers either..

hear hear. Another point illustrating my 'tirade'.

 

[johnw]

Cameras are, by law, indicated by road signs prior to you coming across one.

Commonly believed but not actually true.

There are guidelines covering the use of fixed cameras which state that they should be highly visible. As they are guidelines not law they have no affect on the legal situation and a camera without advance signs is just as legal as one with no advance signs.


The reason so many cameras have signs is because if they conform with the guidelines about visibility and advance signs it is much easier for the camera partnership to keep any money generated by the camera. A hidden camera with no signs means the money goes to some kind of central government fund.

 

[StevenRB45]

Cameras are, by law, indicated by road signs prior to you coming across one. If you wish to ignore those convenient warnings then suffer the consequences. I use the fact that there IS a warning and keep an even sharper lookout hence I don't get caught.

Comments such as yours only seem to come from people who HAVE been caught and are annoyed by the fact. If you have been 'done' then go back along the road you were caught on and look for the warning sign. It will be there - despite the fact that, careful you, missed it the first time around.

Once again, this illustrates the "it's not my fault" society we live in.

Well I'm sure in the highlands of scotland they have speed camera signs only where there supposed to but 90% of the ones round here are nowhere near a camera....they are more common than 30mph signs. They are used to denote areas where speed camera vans and mobile speed traps may be in use..I.E. everywhere.

Also if your looking at your speedo all the time and for cameras the edge of the road you aren't giving the road ahead your full attention. It's easy to miss a cam van or even a fixed site if you are for example pulling out to overtake a stationary bus, and by the same token you might be looking at your speedo checking you haven't wandered over 30 when a child runs after a ball in front of you. Either way the consequences would be on your head but it could happen.

 

[Munkul]

Cameras are, by law, indicated by road signs prior to you coming across one. If you wish to ignore those convenient warnings then suffer the consequences. I use the fact that there IS a warning and keep an even sharper lookout hence I don't get caught.

Comments such as yours only seem to come from people who HAVE been caught and are annoyed by the fact. If you have been 'done' then go back along the road you were caught on and look for the warning sign. It will be there - despite the fact that, careful you, missed it the first time around.

Actually, i have never been caught speeding (long may it last)

And pretty much every main road ive ever drove on has a speed camera sign. It seems to be one of those things that gets filtered unconsiously though my mind, because they are that common, yet im sure ive seen on along most stretches of road around here.

My point is: in some parts of the country, speed cameras are "hidden" on purpose, set on stretches of road that the limits are unclear. Some letters to Honest John (The Telegraph Motoring) i seem to recall were concerned with the number of such money-spinning cameras set in parts of Wales, and also Yorkshire.

Commonly believed but not actually true.

There are guidelines covering the use of fixed cameras which state that they should be highly visible. As they are guidelines not law they have no affect on the legal situation and a camera without advance signs is just as legal as one with no advance signs.


The reason so many cameras have signs is because if they conform with the guidelines about visibility and advance signs it is much easier for the camera partnership to keep any money generated by the camera. A hidden camera with no signs means the money goes to some kind of central government fund.

Thankyou, your input is appreciated

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

you dont half talk some rubbish. Come back when you get caught out by a camera that's conveniently hiding behind a tree or something.

:yeahthat:

it's complacency that gets you into trouble. It's otherwise known as "driving like a chav

You what

I have you know that I'm am far from a chav (and I don't mean I'm emo)! You seem to be very much taring everyone with the same brush, which, I don't like either!

You probably wouldnt even have been able to guess what type of car I drive if it wasn't for my username, and list of cars to the left of this post, so what makes you think your able to judge me as to my drive type, style, or ability Again, Taring with the same brush

My point is, that life isn't textbook, and neither is driving, as already mentioned, it needs to be done on ones own and through common sence and experience. The thing alot of youngsters lack is basic common sence, and understanding of the basic of physics involved with driving. Again you seem to be suggesting by your posts that your the orical at driving. Very self minded.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Christ almighty.....what have i started? Happy Christmas and all that....
When i get time I'll write back. I can see one poster who's particularly annoyed about this thread, which was actually to shock people into driving safer during the Xmas holidays. Just a couple of days ago, me and my friend (the one who was in the crash) had to report a driver for dangerous driving. We followed him for about 4 miles in his RR sport whilst he swerved over the line, took blind bends on the wrong side of the road, and almost came to a complete stop at a junction when he turned. He was drunk so we called the police. A lot of people drink drive round here too, just to make you all even happier, again lack of enforcement. It's better to drive like an idiot whilst sober if you ask me.

 

[Munkul]

dude, remind me never to travel on your roads, it sounds pretty awful

 

[kellys_eye]

:yeahthat:

You what

I have you know that I'm am far from a chav (and I don't mean I'm emo)! You seem to be very much taring everyone with the same brush, which, I don't like either!

I was, by no means, referring to you with that statement. I was making a generalised statement that "complacency (when driving) gets 'people' into trouble". I don't know you or how you drive and wouldn't presume to make such assumptions. But can you deny what I say isn't true?

I conceed that I was wrong in my assumption about camera warning signs. Heck, I rant and rave about the "revenue generators" that the majority of these things are. I DID state that the money would be better spent keeping cop cars on the road to clamp down on 'chav' drivers.

My point is, that life isn't textbook, and neither is driving, as already mentioned, it needs to be done on ones own and through common sence and experience.

I tried to make that point in my posts too.

The thing alot of youngsters lack is basic common sence, and understanding of the basic of physics involved with driving.

Too true.

Again you seem to be suggesting by your posts that your the orical at driving.

Far from it - I admitted to crashing through my own stupid fault.

Very self minded.

??? Lets get back to the OP shall we.

Whilst I applaud the original intention of DraigFlag87 to illustrate the dangers involved in speeding I cannot agree with the subsequent defense of his mates actions or the way he drives - which is what DraigFlag87 appeared to do. It shouldn't matter whether he's your greatest, bestest, buddiest mate - if he drives like a w*nk*r he should be told so. It may save HIS life as well. It ain't clever.

So, if I've upset anyone with my comments I apologise. I did not intend to set out to do this.

Just a couple of days ago, me and my friend (the one who was in the crash) had to report a driver for dangerous driving.

The word is 'hypocryte' I think. He's happy to report others stupid driving (correctly in this case) but laughs off his own?????? Maybe if DraigFlag87 reported his mates driving?....... nah, can't see that happening somehow.

Anyway, seasons greetings to all, apologies to anyone who's taken offence and have a SAFE driving New Year.