Please be careful on the roads.

SV

Yeah so, I know you hear it all the time and it's on the radio, the papers, the news.
However, It doesn't hurt to remind you again and to show the result of not being careful enough on the roads.

Earlier on this evening I was driving back from my girlfriends, an ordinary drive back.
Quite cold out, -10 the car temp gauge!
Whatever though, roads seemed fine enough.
The car wasn't skidding or slipping anywhere..the winter tires I had on were definitely doing their job!

So I'm coming onto a back road, I bring it down to about 70km/h and take it handy.
I reach a long enough right hander and I don't slow down. The tires are doing their job well enough, I usually take this corner at much faster speeds in the dry! The roads aren't THAT bad...

As I found out as the car slowly lost control and went sideways into a wall at 70km/h, the roads were bad enough.

http://img401.imageshack.us/i/crash1q.jpg/
http://img824.imageshack.us/i/crash2l.jpg/
http://img146.imageshack.us/i/crash3y.jpg/
http://img820.imageshack.us/i/crash4r.jpg/
http://img267.imageshack.us/i/crash5.jpg/ <-strut brace that stopped the entire rear end caving in on itself


That's the result lads.
I sit here now with cracked and bruised ribs. Given a few km/h faster and different angle I could be lying in a body bag.
All of my family have been ringing to check up on me, they could be ringing my mother to organise a funeral.




I'll be having my Christmas dinner tomorrow, probably in a lot of pain. At least I'll be having it.
Merry Christmas

copacetic

Looks nasty enough, glad you are ok and not too badly hurt..

chelseavera

Glad you're OK SV - the roads are just that bad, that these things cant be helped. Regardless of how careful you are, I feel my car sliding to-and-fro. Just a matter of you being as careful as possible - and hope for the best. At least if you're driving at an appropriate speed the damage should be minimised. Enjoy Christmas - the insurance will look after the rest.
Careful out there everyone.

cabrwab

**** sv sorry to see the damage glad your only bruised. Enjoy the Christmas.

The roads are shocking out there. I came across a good few patches of ice today on roads that seemed completely clear. I passed 2 bad spin outs on the m7. But was told these roads were ok for 120.

Sad to see the clio so damaged. It's only a car. You'll be annoyed sure but its a material item.

Fluffybums

Glad to hear you survived the experience.

Thank you for sharing, if even one person takes heed..........

Enjoy your Christmas.

Sorry to see this thread, glad you're ok.

As an aside on ungritted roads you can't go too slow despite what some folks reckon on here.

johndaman66

Sorry to hear about your accident SV. As you mention yourself it could have being worse and you live to tell the tale. Bended metal can be replaced. Hopefully you have comprehensive cover and your insurance covers that side of things

psycho-hope

Glad you werent too badly injured SV

Happy christmas, hope they gave you lots of lovely painkillers:D

delly

Wow, tough break SV, glad your here to tell us the story. Do you mind me asking did you have the Winters on all four or only the front tyres?

I Was VB

Sorry for your troubles SV.

muckwarrior

I ended up (inadvertently) drifting around a bend tonight at about 20 - 30kph. Then did a 180 while turning at a junction at about 10kph. Car is now staying put until weather improves!

bigroad

50 k would be hard enough . but yor ok thats the main thing.

johnos1984

Sad to see it happen and glad your ok.

I know that sinking feeling you get when it lets go and you realise your just a passenger, lucky for me I just needed a new wing.

Anyway, as your ok it seems Santas bringing you a new car this year weather you wanted it or not

It beats socks I suppose

Stheno

Glad you're ok, sorry to hear about your accident.

ottostreet

SV, you already know what I said, but I'll say it again.

You've had that car ages, and I know you had your ups and downs with it, but its only a car. As you said yourself, it could have been so much worse, and just spend some time with the family over Christmas and you'll be over the shock of it quickly.

Anyway, about time you moved on from hot hatches! If I can get over my FTO and move on to a Mondeo estate, then you can live with anything!

homer90

****€ ...:eek:

Glad your ok SV.

Basq

SV,

Really sorry to hear about the accident. Was in a crash two months back.. but like yourself, I lived to tell the tale and that's what important.

A lot (actually.. the majority) of roads in Co. Sligo have not been gritted for a week... last Friday to be precise.

You really can't be too careful. It's actually quite depressing.. I was looking forward to Christmas holidays partially because I could avoid a treacherous drive to work each day.

Take it handy kids.. and despite everything, I hope you enjoy the Christmas SV!

Mint Sauce

Glad to hear your okay OP. Your fine, thats the important thing.

unkel

Thanks for sharing and I really hope you'll still enjoy Christmas!

Be careful folks!!!

SV

Thanks for the well wishes lads

@delly, Winter tires on all 4 yep.

You never can be too careful on those roads.
My Christmas will be just as good. I think I have a new outlook on life

EPM

SV, sorry to see that's happened. Main thing is you're not badly hurt. It's a car and replaceable. I know you're probably gutted beyond belief. What a sh1t time for it to happen too.

.Longshanks.

The car is replaceable and the ribs will heal.
Glad your otherwise ok

GTE

Genuinely sorry to see those pictures are read about your experience.

Highlights that even with the right equipment its so easy for something like this to happen.

Very glad you are alright and in a way its a good time for it to happen if it had to happen. At this time of year, surrounded by family, friends and a combination of the two. . . Us boardsies !

Merry Christmas to you! Enjoy a well deserved slab of ham!!!

Alanstrainor

Glad you're okay sv! I'm sure that was scary as fuck.

Be careful out there people.

Eric Cartman

glad your ok man , glad i got a spin in her before this , speedy machine , enjoy your christmas and sort yourself out with something nice man, glad your ok

Builderfromhell

I drive a 4 x4 Hilux pick up with all terrain tyres and was feeling very confident driving around the place as I had great grip and traction. However I discovered I was not invinciple a few times and could have ended up like you.

Thanks for sharing.

opinion guy

SV
Glad you are ok.
Can I ask - whats the idea of the strut bar you show int he last picture ? Is that something you've installed yourself for extra protection ??

Gary ITR

Jaysis SV...... Glad you're ok dude

Vertakill

Glad you're ok and thanks for sharing.
I'm sure there's a few people on here that've had fender benders but have not said anything for fear of ridicule... so I'm glad you've shown the rest of us on here that we're not all exempt from these kinds of incidents.

Take it handy out there guys!

opinion guy wrote: »

Can I ask - whats the idea of the strut bar you show int he last picture ? Is that something you've installed yourself for extra protection ??

I'm assuming it's to increase the rigidity of the car - to make it stiffer and handle better.

Tallon

Sorry to hear it man, glad your ok though

sneem-man

I Was VB wrote: »

Sorry for your troubles SV.

+ 1:(

Slogger Jogger

A big thanks for sharing this. Glad you're okay. I'll be heading off with the family shortly to the inlaws. I'll have your warning in the back of my head.

feelites

70km/h on back roads..
much to fast

good that u're fine!

SV

Thanks everyone.
Glad to share if it gives another little reminder before you all head out on to the roads.




Something to bear in mind, the rear left window smashed. If there had have been someone sitting there they'd most likely be either dead or seriously maimed.
Also the side passenger airbag had to be deployed(gives you an idea of the impact) and I'm not sure if they would have survived either.

I'm very lucky in that I was travelling my own I guess.

johnos1984

SV wrote: »

Something to bear in mind, the rear left window smashed. If there had have been someone sitting there they'd most likely be either dead or seriously maimed.
Also the side passenger airbag had to be deployed(gives you an idea of the impact) and I'm not sure if they would have survived either.
.

Put those thoughts out of your mind. Lots of things didn't happen that could of.

Get back behind the wheel as soon as you can and learn from the experience.

You could of chosen to walk home, slipped on ice and suffer a serious head injury or worse.

Many things COULD have happened but as they didn't don't beat yourself up about them

Tallon

SV wrote: »

I'm very lucky in that I was travelling my own I guess.

Just kidding, glad your ok. have a good Christmas man

SV

johnos1984 wrote: »

Put those thoughts out of your mind. Lots of things didn't happen that could of.

Get back behind the wheel as soon as you can and learn from the experience.

You could of chosen to walk home, slipped on ice and suffer a serious head injury or worse.

Many things COULD have happened but as they didn't don't beat yourself up about them

Cheers, I guess you're right


also, shut up Tallon

enda1

From the pictures, I doubt anyone inside the cabin would have been seriously injured, never mind killed, assuming they were properly restrained of course.

The damage is in fact really not that bad. Surprisingly little for 70kph, I'd hazard at more like 50 to be honest. Though the ice could'a helped to ameliorate the damage, by allowing the car to spin away from the impact.

Thank fuck you're ok though. enjoy the rest of the holidays knowing you are one of the privileged.