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Child Item

Ever been in a car crash?

ScummyMan

Driving back to college this evening, narrow enough road between Tipp Town and Limerick with bends everywhere. Got caught behind a Corsa going slow enough, not crazy slow mind you, around 70km/h. Some lunatic stuck behind me decides to overtake both me and the Corsa, coming towards a bend on a solid white line.

Of course just as he was passing me a car comes round the corner towards him. He had nowhere to go it looked like there was a head on at speed coming. I slammed on the brakes and he managed to squeeze in between me and the Corsa and skid into the hard shoulder, but there was literally inches in it.

Not going to lie it shook me up a bit, I'm not driving long and that's the closest I've come to a crash. I can only imagine how terrifying an actual crash is, anyone have any similar stories?

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maximo31

I have been in 5 car crashes and 1 bus crash believe it or not and escaped injury in all of them, also been a good few near misses!!
The first one I barely remember, think I was about 5. Father driving round a bend into a local village when a truck came out of a gate. We went straight under the truck. All managed to walk away unhurt. Car badly damaged though.
Next was coming from Tipp V Offaly League hurling final when I was about 12. Coming down the Dual Carriage way in my uncles van when there was a 7 or 8 car pile up. We all escaped unhurt apart from my cousin who banged his head off the windscreen. Nothing too serious mind. I vaguely remember us having to drive home with only 2 gears(or something like that).
31 August '97 same night Princess Di was killed ,my buddy was dropping some lads home from a disco, when we were flying down this hill when the car hit a dike on the side of the road and flipped over a ditch into a field facing back the way we came from. All only suffered a few bumps and bruises. We all had a good a laugh at one of the lads we were dropping home as he starting running home but as the car was turned back the way we came from ,he started running off in the wrong direction! We put it down to the shock.
Coming down a mountain with an ex girlfriend (not long driving)one frosty winters evening she lost control of the car on the ice and hit a wall on a bend. The car moved the wall and left the car hanging over the side. Not a big drop mind. We both got out unhurt. The car was a write off.
The bus crash wasn’t too bad. Narrow road, hit car. Bit of damage to bus meant it couldn’t drive on so day off school!!

twin_beacon

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Nobody is saying it's right, but it also doesn't make the "boy racers'" actions right either.

im my opinion, both actions are equally wrong!

Graces7

twin_beacon wrote: »

the person did it out of spite, thats not right, as you are slowing down other cars stuck behind the "boy racer"

Not spite! rolflol Maybe if YOU did it it would be spite! Please don't tar me with your brush, It was actually great fun! I chatted to the boy all the while...now then lad just be patient and stop that roaring and ranting! You are not going anywhere until it is safe and I say so..hold your wisht!

Maximus Alexander

The worst I've ever had was a fender bender, thankfully, but I've had some terrifying close shaves.

The fender bender happened when I was 21 and had recently bought an FTO which I was absolutely in love with. Crawling through a car park looking for a space and as I passed a t-junction a girl in a red Hyundai Coupe who was stopped at the yield sign just hit the accelerator and t-boned me - she'd been looking the opposite direction.

It all went through her insurance but I was without my new pride and joy for 3 months while they waited on parts from Japan and the car was never right again afterwards. Tip: never use the garage that the other person's insurance company suggests.

chopperbyrne wrote: »

One, which I was the cause of on the N7 about two and a half years ago.

Coming up to Newlands Cross everything was green lights ahead and I changed from the middle lane to the left lane behind a lorry because I wanted to take the M50 North after the junction.

Lights went orange when I went behind the lorry and I didn't brake in time.

Thankfully I only had some scratches and internal bruising and nobody else was injured. My car was about a foot shorter though.

This reminds me of one night when I was driving through Newland's Cross from Tallaght towards Clondalkin. It was late and I must have been pretty tired without realising it, because as I reached the middle of the intersection I heard a thundering horn and an articulated lorry whipped past me only inches from the front of the bonnet. Turns out I had mistaken the green pedestrian light for mine and had run a red. I was pretty well shaken up after that.

twin_beacon

Graces7 wrote: »

Not spite! rolflol Maybe if YOU did it it would be spite! Please don't tar me with your brush, It was actually great fun! I chatted to the boy all the while...now then lad just be patient and stop that roaring and ranting! You are not going anywhere until it is safe and I say so..hold your wisht!

ok mr/miss troll

Graces7

Goodnight all.. sleep well and drive carefully and be patient with little old ladies so that you will one day be old too.......;)

Ciaran_B

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

This reminds me of one night when I was driving through Newland's Cross from Tallaght towards Clondalkin. It was late and I must have been pretty tired without realising it, because as I reached the middle of the intersection I heard a thundering horn and an articulated lorry whipped past me only inches from the front of the bonnet. Turns out I had mistaken the green pedestrian light for mine and had run a red. I was pretty well shaken up after that.

I did a similar thing once. I was stopped at a red light after a few seconds I saw the light go green and started to drive off. I was very quickly blasted out of it by a car coming from my right through the junction. The green light I saw was not green for me but was at the next junction about 50 metres ahead of me. Something in my brain went 'green light = go' and off I went. Pretty lucky not to cause a crash.

Delirium

passenger in a car that hit the wall on the crest of a bridge. Driver was drunk. No injuries but side of car was badly ripped up.

Also had a near miss for a bad accident. Rear seat passenger with another guy, heading back from indoor soccer match. Driver was having a bit of slagging match with front passenger. Eventually passenger gets the hump.... and reaches over and pulls on the steering wheel at 80kmph!!

Driver struggles to get control and car is bouncing off the ditch on the left. Driver manages to safely stop car. D*ckhead in front gets the boot from the car with a hi-vis vest and torch and told he can walk the 10km home.

Serioulsy thought that was Game Over when that happened.

GLaDOS

twin_beacon wrote: »

ok mr/miss troll

If you have a problem with a post, report it

OldNotWIse

twin_beacon wrote: »

my point was, would you not feel stupid for provoking them?

agreed, and likewise you can't go around provoking people either, and then complain when it comes back to bite you in the ass.
as for "self-control", do you not feel the driver that slowed down showed poor levels of self-control? That action may effect many other road users, not just the car they are keeping behind them. IMO the person that slows down, shows as little self control as the person that does a stupid overtaking maneuver. Like the idiot in a night club, trying to start a fight

I disagree, though you are entitled to your opinion. The law will more than likely favour the one who was the victim of reckless driving or assault under section 3, rather than the driver who was provoked or the puncher who had mean things said to him.

Re "feeling stupid for having provoked someone" - I don't think my feelings about a hypothetical situation are at all relevamt in the context of a discussion about the rights and wrongs of reckless driving, assault and where the line is on provocatioin.

ShowMeTheCash

Two accidents.

First was back in 1999 crashed into a wall managed to put my head through the windscreen on that one.

Next was in 2006 driving very late home I was about a mile from home and I fell a sleep, hit a telegraph pole, which split came through the windscreen pinning the passenger seat back on the back seat.

None since.

OldNotWIse

Graces7 wrote: »

Goodnight all.. sleep well and drive carefully and be patient with little old ladies so that you will one day be old too.......;)

A privilege denied to many who have crossed paths with these idiots

Safe home to you too

jimgoose

If I might make an interjection at this point. You don't hit what's in front of you. You don't deliberately obstruct. You don't ever, EVER, deliberately endanger other road-users. This includes dangerous overtaking and failing to apprehend that there is probably a reason for apparently aberrant behaviour.*

I turned a Corolla K30 upside-down in 1988 because I was going to fast. The reason I was going too fast is I had beer taken! In 1993 I broke my back when an elderly man turned right across me on a main road, without seeing me. The heavy old Kawasaki cut the gearbox off the car's engine and catapulted me out over the whole lot. I was lucky to survive, and I was lucky my injuries weren't much worse.

* Source, for those who are interested in such things: 25 years, half-a-million miles on varying numbers of wheels fron two to twenty-two, registered ADI, RoSPA Gold merchant, and general canny oul' bastard.

Littlekittylou

I have never been in a car crash. I have strangely a fear of driving?? And certain cars. Or fast drivers.

I would like a go on a motorbike but I'm afraid.

Yeah this was worth posting.

jimgoose

Littlekittylou wrote: »

I have never been in a car crash. I have strangely a fear of driving?? And certain cars. Or fast drivers.

I would like a go on a motorbike but I'm afraid.

Yeah this was worth posting.

Do you drive at the moment, Kitty?

Tail Docker

This driving malarky sounds dangerous.

jimgoose

Tail Docker wrote: »

This driving malarky sounds dangerous.

Only for dyed-in-the-wool hooligans like you, TD;)

Littlekittylou

jimgoose wrote: »

Do you drive at the moment, Kitty?

I have a learners and have had a few lessons. But no I would not consider myself a driver. I don't drive at all. I am very nervous about the whole thing.

People think it's very weird. But I wouldn't drive unless I was secure that I was a confident and competent driver.

jimgoose

Littlekittylou wrote: »

I have a learners and have had a few lessons. But no I would not consider myself a driver. I am very nervous about the whole thing.

People think it's very weird. But I wouldn't drive unless I was secure that I was a confident and competent driver.

It'll come. Remember the literal translation of "Kung-Fu".

Fresh Pots

Not a crash crash, but I have had a minor collision with a truck. Was in its blindspot and he tried to come into my lane. Bit of damage to the side of the car but nothing too seruious. Driver was decent and admitted liability on the spot. Makes me a bit more wary of trucks these days.

Littlekittylou

jimgoose wrote: »

It'll come. Remember the literal translation of "Kung-Fu".

I don't but I am googling it as we speak! :-)

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Been a passenger in a few. Travelling with someone who turns cars onto its roof as a hobbie. My boyfriend crashed his in February, but neither of us were hurt.

I got rear ended twice.

I crashed into my brother on a narrow lane on a bend, but it was more a tip than a crash.

I skidded on black ice two winters ago and busted the front of my car.

And I almost crashed into someone head on because I was speeding and some knackbags drove their car out of an estate right in front of me and I had to swerve into the path of an oncoming jeep, who luckily for me could see what was about to happen and mounted the footpath, leaving me enough room to shoot out between them

Galwayguy35

Had 2 crashes, the first was back in 1997 went in through a wall but thankfully I walked away from it.

Second time was during the big freeze a few years ago skidded on ice and spun around the road 3 times until I hit the ditch.

twin_beacon

OldNotWIse wrote: »

I disagree, though you are entitled to your opinion. The law will more than likely favour the one who was the victim of reckless driving or assault under section 3, rather than the driver who was provoked or the puncher who had mean things said to him.

Re "feeling stupid for having provoked someone" - I don't think my feelings about a hypothetical situation are at all relevamt in the context of a discussion about the rights and wrongs of reckless driving, assault and where the line is on provocatioin.

you are right, the law will always rule in favour of the victim. But that isn't my point. What good is having the law on your side, if you are seriously injured, paralyzed or killed in a crash?
Lets say, like in the situation I originally quoted, a boy racer speeds up behind me, very eager to overtake. I slow down in spite of them, as a result they obviously get frustrated and even eager to overtake, and try to overtake when they shouldn't, causing a crash. In the eyes of the law, the person overtaking is 100% in the wrong, me slowing down in front added to their frustration.

There are LOTS of idiots on the road, and you don't have to just worry about your own driving. Why make a dangerous situation even worse? How will slowing down, actually improve the situation?

ShowMeTheCash

twin_beacon wrote: »

you are right, the law will always rule in favour of the victim. But that isn't my point. What good is having the law on your side, if you are seriously injured, paralyzed or killed in a crash?
Lets say, like in the situation I originally quoted, a boy racer speeds up behind me, very eager to overtake. I slow down in spite of them, as a result they obviously get frustrated and even eager to overtake, and try to overtake when they shouldn't, causing a crash. In the eyes of the law, the person overtaking is 100% in the wrong, me slowing down in front added to their frustration.

There are LOTS of idiots on the road, and you don't have to just worry about your own driving. Why make a dangerous situation even worse? How will slowing down, actually improve the situation?

Well not that I agree with anything that OldNotWise says as he comes across as a liability on the road and somewhat sick to take some kind of satisfaction or pleasure in people he deems to "deserve it" getting killed or injured on the roads.
But slowing down can only reduce the chances of an accident happening, you may argue that it increases the chances of the boy racer to over take or get angry...But in reality most accidents happen when people are travelling at speed... It is not to say an accident can't happen it simply makes it less likely.

chupacabra

Was driving with a friend down a very narrow road in a deep valley on the Dingle peninsula a few years ago. We were going way too fast and came over the crest of a hill to find a car coming straight at us. Veered off the road and into a ditch, came within inches of a thick tree branch piercing my head. Locals pulled us out but that day I came pretty close to death. Hasnt changed my life in any way :pac:

Cupcake_Crisis

Once as a passenger on the way to Galway. Qe got lost and ended up on a back road, fairly dark and a little boy racer comes speeding up towards us. She swerved to avoid a head on collision, but the car toppled 2 or 3 times and ended up upside down on the side of the road. Little boy racer politely kept driving. She totally wrote off her car, but she probably saved all our lives. No major injuries, just a few bumps and bruises.

twin_beacon

ShowMeTheCash wrote: »

But slowing down can only reduce the chances of an accident happening, you may argue that it increases the chances of the boy racer to over take or get angry...But in reality most accidents happen when people are travelling at speed... It is not to say an accident can't happen it simply makes it less likely.

Driving, and maintaining the same low speed definitely reduces crashes. However, showing down in spite of a driver behind you, to the point where its obvious the driver behind knows what you are doing is not a good idea, as it just pisses off the driver behind. Once they are pissed off, their emotions run high, and their desire to overtake greatly increases, to the point where they may engage in an overtaking maneuver that they normally wouldn't attempt.

From my experiences, if I'm driving at 100kph, and I'm behind a car maintaining 80kph, I will want to overtake when I can, but in a normal and safe manner. Likewise if I'm behind a car doing 50kph, (you do actually meet a lot of people like this in the west), I'll overtake in a normal and safe manner. However, if I'm behind a car, that was travelling at 80kph, then drops to 50kph and I know its in spite of me, it would piss me off. I must say, in all honesty, I don't think it has ever actually happened me though.

People that do "slow down" usually do it if they are being tailgated, which is such a stupid thing to do if you want to over take, as you cant accelerate to overtake until you are on the other side of the road.

As bad a slowing down in the instances I mentioned, its not as bad as the idiots that "speed up" when being overtaken.

OldNotWIse

twin_beacon wrote: »

you are right, the law will always rule in favour of the victim. But that isn't my point. What good is having the law on your side, if you are seriously injured, paralyzed or killed in a crash?
Lets say, like in the situation I originally quoted, a boy racer speeds up behind me, very eager to overtake. I slow down in spite of them, as a result they obviously get frustrated and even eager to overtake, and try to overtake when they shouldn't, causing a crash. In the eyes of the law, the person overtaking is 100% in the wrong, me slowing down in front added to their frustration.

There are LOTS of idiots on the road, and you don't have to just worry about your own driving. Why make a dangerous situation even worse? How will slowing down, actually improve the situation?

Of course! I am not condoning such behavior! I just don't agree with your assertion that it's a justifiable provocation for other people to act the a.sshole. On both occasions I mentioned above when such idiots nearly wound up being hosed down off the road, I was driving at an appropriate speed given that we were on winding country roads which were narrow and had plenty of blind spots etc. I didn't slow down intentionally to inflame anyone, but nonetheless they were irate because in their heads I was going to slow. Was there an onus on me to speed up to try to calm them down and avoid a dangerous situation?

OldNotWIse

ShowMeTheCash wrote: »

Well not that I agree with anything that OldNotWise says as he comes across as a liability on the road and somewhat sick to take some kind of satisfaction or pleasure in people he deems to "deserve it" getting killed or injured on the roads.
But slowing down can only reduce the chances of an accident happening, you may argue that it increases the chances of the boy racer to over take or get angry...But in reality most accidents happen when people are travelling at speed... It is not to say an accident can't happen it simply makes it less likely.

How exactly am I a liability? Because I don't speed up for joyriders? By the way, I was nearly orphaned by joyriders. My Mum had to be cut out of her car and spent months in hospital. The inebriates who crashed into them (in a stolen car) attacked and immobilised my Dad with an iron bar so that he couldn't call for help. I don't care if they do themselves in. No loss. You will not move me on this point, nor do I care what you think.