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Syd Harling Posts: 636 Joined: 21st Apr 2011 Location: South Africa | quotePosted at 18:12 on 8th November 2011 Hello all you POEsters. We were horified to read about the terrible crash on the M5 last Friday. Our thoughts and prayers to all the bereaved and injured. It is certainly something England won't forget for a long time. Cheers all. |
James Prescott Posts: 25952 Joined: 11th Jan 2010 Location: UK | quotePosted at 18:17 on 8th November 2011 i missed it by an hour syd --we were southbound there was another one on our way home as well on the m56 where the driver lost his life --a vehicle like this one.  Picture by Martin Wall Edited by: james prescott at:8th November 2011 18:22 |
Posts: Joined: 1st Jan 1970 | Tragic indeed. Was it just a couple of weeks or so ago that many of here wanted an increased speed limit to 80mph ? Where were all the modern cars on the M5 that you claim can stop in an instant, perhaps it was 37 old bangers involved ? Now fool yourselfs and say a higher limit would have made no difference. I have heart felt sorry for those who suffered. I have amazement that a tragic event gets a mention on the "I am a clever driver at 80mph web site". A touch of selective memory perhaps. |
Paul Hilton  Posts: 2605 Joined: 21st Nov 2004 Location: UK | quotePosted at 20:20 on 8th November 2011 I don't think it's a case of selective memory nor did I read on that thread modern cars can stop in an instant stated by anyone, nor do we know what speeds the vehicles were traveling at. It's been reported it might take weeks for the police report on the incident and looking at the possibility of smoke, if not fog, on the carriageway which at night is unlikely to been seen until you're right on top of it, especially with dipped headlights, and what is a driver then likely to do when suddenly their vision ahead is obliterated? Clearly, they are going to brake, possibly swerve to avoid vehicles they find in front of them, and be sitting ducks for cars coming up behind, and the chain reaction starts. So, 7 people lost their lives sad to say, many more injured in whatever way, and if it had been 37 years ago ( and traffic levels similar) I think this tragedy would have been even more worse than it already is. I assume the police report will make the news when it's done and what their conclusions are. |
| Syd Harling Posts: 636 Joined: 21st Apr 2011 Location: South Africa | quotePosted at 05:07 on 9th November 2011 Well said Paul! Chances are the vehicles in question were travelling at below 70 MPH anyway. Speed limits are only a guide and sensible people must adjust speed to conditions. I once drove into a thick blanket of smoke which was around a corner and couldn't be seen until one came out of the corner. It was broad daylight but visibility suddenly became zero. The sudden total disorientation was startling not to mention the apprehension, no fear, that some thouightless person behind wouldn't slow down until he hit my rear bumper. Fortunately all the traffic was moving at around 50 MPH at that point and the smoke cloud was short so no one collided with anyone. Those poor folks on the M5 were subjected to wet and dark conditions to start with and to be suddenly be faced with the smoke (or fog) must have been horrendous. The natural instinct would be to apply brakes. The rest is history. As for the HGVs, I believe that they should be banned from the "fast" lane. Here in SA they very often occupy all 3 lanes as they try to overtake one another at speeds which vary by a few MPH. It also happens that an HGV will suddenly pull out into the right hand lane when a car travelling at 70 MPH is within a couple of hundred yards. That causes a problem as the car driver has to suddenly apply brakes and hope the car behind is also equipped with ABS etc. Once again, condolences to the bereaved. Edited by: Syd Harling at:9th November 2011 05:11 |
Jason T Posts: 7421 Joined: 14th Apr 2004 Location: UK | quotePosted at 11:20 on 9th November 2011 Very nasty the M5 crash was! not something i'd have wanted to be first on scene for!! People do tend to drive to close to fast, its a fact, see it all the time. Who knows if this was the case here! its just another lesson learned ...and maybe it'll make people a little more vigilant on the roads for a few weeks, until the memory of it fades!
Saying that, there was loads of quite nasty RTC's the following day!! so maybe not!! |
Dave John Posts: 22335 Joined: 27th Feb 2011 Location: England | quotePosted at 12:35 on 9th November 2011 I think your'e right on both counts there Jason. A lot will back off a bit but gradually get back to normal and a reckless few will carry on on the assupmtion ' it won't happen to me i know what i'm doing'. May know what they are doing but certainly not the potential idiot in front and nutcase behind is capable of..... But either way a very nasty affair whether involved or not |
Sue H Posts: 8172 Joined: 29th Jun 2007 Location: USA | quotePosted at 13:46 on 9th November 2011 I'm sure you've seen your fair share of very nasty road accidents, Jason. We all do appreciate the hard work you and all paramedics do for others. It must leave you with nightmares sometimes. |
Patrick Van Calck Posts: 297 Joined: 28th Jun 2007 Location: Belgium | quotePosted at 14:38 on 9th November 2011 I've read that someone lit fireworks by the side of the road what caused the accident |
| Paul Hilton Posts: 2605 Joined: 21st Nov 2004 Location: UK | quotePosted at 19:02 on 9th November 2011 HGV's ( large trucks) aren't allowed in the outside lane of a motorway, nor vehicles towing trailers,Syd. While discussions about road safety invariably ends up abour car drivers, I think the goverment should take a look at how some of the HGV's are being driven, especially tailgating each other just the same as too many cars do, and why do so many of them in the inside lane keep wandering onto the hard shoulder, then back onto the carriageway until they do it again a bit further along? Certainly for me, if I broke down on a motorway and stopped on the hard shoulder, the first thing I'd do would be to get everyone out of the car ( via nearside doors) and well away from the car on the grass banks usually found. At least then some HGV could happen along, demolish the car, but at least people wouldn't be in it at the time. One witness mentioned being overtaken by a car doing 60-70mph and watched them drive right into one of the stationary trucks at the scene. This driver looks not to have perceived any danger ahead though it was very close in front of them. |
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