What's it like to be in a "proper" crash?
Discussion
Apologies if you're offended by the topic but it's a question I hope I can get some answers to.
I'm lucky enough to have never been in and hopefully never WILL be in a serious crash. I've only had a couple of very very minor bumps so I was wondering what would go through my mind as it makes that transition from "this doesn't look good" to "this is gonna get REAL f
king messy".
Anyone care to share?
ETA actually I just remembered I was in more serious accident. I came off my GSXR600 at about 30-40mph and I did the "gonna save it....no I'm not" bit but as soon as the accident was happening the one overriding thought going through my mind was literally the sentence "I can't believe I'm having an accident all on my own and I'm actually going to come off the bike". How I had the time to think of that I have no idea.
I'm lucky enough to have never been in and hopefully never WILL be in a serious crash. I've only had a couple of very very minor bumps so I was wondering what would go through my mind as it makes that transition from "this doesn't look good" to "this is gonna get REAL f
king messy".Anyone care to share?
ETA actually I just remembered I was in more serious accident. I came off my GSXR600 at about 30-40mph and I did the "gonna save it....no I'm not" bit but as soon as the accident was happening the one overriding thought going through my mind was literally the sentence "I can't believe I'm having an accident all on my own and I'm actually going to come off the bike". How I had the time to think of that I have no idea.
Edited by Centurion07 on Saturday 25th May 18:44
My claim to fame is being No 1 spot on 'Sally Traffic'
'Apparently' i had gridlocked the M3, A322 (both ways) and A30 for a 5mile radius around Bagshot
I was coming of the M3 along the A322 and got to the bit where the road to Ac#sot brnches off. There are the odd lunatics who keep in the rh lane and do a 'twitch' to carry on up the A322. Hving seen a few overcook it and drift across into the nearside lane, i kept well over to the left but clipped the kerb and run up i onto the grass. Saw a roadsign headin my way and got back pronto onto the carriageway, then 2/3 almighty fishtails and at one point was oging sidways aying hope it soesnt roll, and i saw a guy go past me in my rear view mirror, only he was going left to right across my rear, suddenly all tyres grips and the old volvo took off still at 90 degrees to raod onto the grass and across a ditch with the front embeded in the hedge. I jumped out not knowing there was a ditch and the first thing my wife saw was my head looking like it was on the drivers seat.as i was about ft below the sill. Brigade arrived and i have never seen so many blokes look like they had won the lottery when the paras said, 'she says she has back pain' Christ the roof was off in milliseconds, so i now have an open top estate!!
When i rang the ins i was describing what happened and she was asking all the questions whose property , damage etc. As it was Crown Estate land i was on/in i was trying to explain how i ended up when this phrase just came out
'I finished up with my nose in the Queens bush'
As i was saying it i knew i couldn't stop and re explain
Three hours later after leaving my wife in Frimley park, was listening to R2 when the report came on. Said to my DiL 'thats another one there today'. Couldnt believe it was me. Road closed etc etc
Still see every bloody millisecond even 4 years on
Briade said i it hadnt been a Volvo they may have been looking at serious injuries to both of us
'Apparently' i had gridlocked the M3, A322 (both ways) and A30 for a 5mile radius around Bagshot
I was coming of the M3 along the A322 and got to the bit where the road to Ac#sot brnches off. There are the odd lunatics who keep in the rh lane and do a 'twitch' to carry on up the A322. Hving seen a few overcook it and drift across into the nearside lane, i kept well over to the left but clipped the kerb and run up i onto the grass. Saw a roadsign headin my way and got back pronto onto the carriageway, then 2/3 almighty fishtails and at one point was oging sidways aying hope it soesnt roll, and i saw a guy go past me in my rear view mirror, only he was going left to right across my rear, suddenly all tyres grips and the old volvo took off still at 90 degrees to raod onto the grass and across a ditch with the front embeded in the hedge. I jumped out not knowing there was a ditch and the first thing my wife saw was my head looking like it was on the drivers seat.as i was about ft below the sill. Brigade arrived and i have never seen so many blokes look like they had won the lottery when the paras said, 'she says she has back pain' Christ the roof was off in milliseconds, so i now have an open top estate!!
When i rang the ins i was describing what happened and she was asking all the questions whose property , damage etc. As it was Crown Estate land i was on/in i was trying to explain how i ended up when this phrase just came out
'I finished up with my nose in the Queens bush'
As i was saying it i knew i couldn't stop and re explain
Three hours later after leaving my wife in Frimley park, was listening to R2 when the report came on. Said to my DiL 'thats another one there today'. Couldnt believe it was me. Road closed etc etc
Still see every bloody millisecond even 4 years on
Briade said i it hadnt been a Volvo they may have been looking at serious injuries to both of us
Only had two good wallops, the first was in a brand new Astramax van, I was heading along the A30 at NSL and a dozy woman in an X reg Escort pulled out of a side junction without looking or pausing. I hit her car hard in the drivers side just behind the door because I had swerved and tried to go behind but there was not enough space. The impact burst her rear tyre and ruptured the fuel tank. She had no injuries at all, not a scratch or even a hint of an ache. I broke three ribs and got a chest infection for my troubles.
The second accident was in the same astramax van (yep, it was repaired because it was so new) It was about a year later and I was driving along the A30 again and came to a set of temporary traffic lights, I stopped and was waiting. The guy in the Nissan behind did not even try to stop and pushed me into the van in front. He was unscathed and the guy in the transit in front was ok, I on the other hand had a fair old back ache and 20 years on I am sure it was this accident that started all my back pain.
Never claimed a penny in compensation. Still wouldn't. An accident is an accident in my book.
The Astramax was repaired again and is still owned by us now, no rust, if you didn't know about the two crashes you would have no clue as to the two new front ends and the new rear end it had when it was under two years old.
Both accidents were in slow motion for me and I can recall every nano-second. first was a weird feeling of powerlessness, the second was "oh no, not this again".
The second accident was in the same astramax van (yep, it was repaired because it was so new) It was about a year later and I was driving along the A30 again and came to a set of temporary traffic lights, I stopped and was waiting. The guy in the Nissan behind did not even try to stop and pushed me into the van in front. He was unscathed and the guy in the transit in front was ok, I on the other hand had a fair old back ache and 20 years on I am sure it was this accident that started all my back pain.
Never claimed a penny in compensation. Still wouldn't. An accident is an accident in my book.
The Astramax was repaired again and is still owned by us now, no rust, if you didn't know about the two crashes you would have no clue as to the two new front ends and the new rear end it had when it was under two years old.
Both accidents were in slow motion for me and I can recall every nano-second. first was a weird feeling of powerlessness, the second was "oh no, not this again".
I've had quite a few high speed gets offs. This was whilst racing motorcycles so Im cheating. Two crashes that spring to mind were whilst racing at Donnington and the other at Cadwell Park because of the sheer speed of the crash.
The first thing that always came from my mouth was a muted 'OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT'. You know it's going to happen, you try to save your ass but at times it comes to a point where you know there is nothing you can do about it.
There is one major difference with crashing on track opposed to the street. On track you are in the hands of the gods so to speak. You might get away with bruising but the alternative isn't worth thinking about. You hope you crash in a wide open space as hitting an immovable object is obviously the killer.
So there you are, out of control and hurtling through the air at a high velocity. Boooo Hoooo, I'm no longer in control or holding onto my bike. It's unnatural as you are no longer facing forwards but looking back at those lucky buggers still riding on their bikes. You are travelling at 90mph+ but all of a sudden everything turns slow motion, It feels like something out of 'The Matrix'. Sparks are coming off your bike, a brake lever is floating slowly through the air like there is no gravity.
Everything is dead quiet at first, well all until you hit the floor. Your leathers get hot from the abrasive tarmac and you usually slam your hands down on the ground, hard. No real pain yet, I guess the adrenalin is coursing through your veins and blocking this out. Now you hit grass and pray you have a smooth ride. Tumbling is what causes broken bones so you try to keep your body flat and slide.
There comes a point where you want control again. The biggest mistake is attempting to get to your feet too early. Well, you have just been travelling at 90mph so 30mph feels like a snails pace. Good luck trying to run at 30mph unless you are Usaine Bolt. This sort of crash is ok, you know you are fine because all you can think of is getting back on your bike, if its in one piece and ride again. But there are times where you are not so lucky, usually when you have hit your head or are badly battered up. There have been times where I cannot remember my name or where I live for a few moments. There are others when you know you need an ambulance and lie in wait of assistance.
Yes, you have guessed it, I was pretty st and crashed a lot. I'd either be on lap record pace or being scooped off the ground. But it's a hell of a ride and beats any rollercoaster when you get away with it. If a company could catapault you at speed in a safety suit without harm, it would sell like hot cakes.
The first thing that always came from my mouth was a muted 'OH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT'. You know it's going to happen, you try to save your ass but at times it comes to a point where you know there is nothing you can do about it.
There is one major difference with crashing on track opposed to the street. On track you are in the hands of the gods so to speak. You might get away with bruising but the alternative isn't worth thinking about. You hope you crash in a wide open space as hitting an immovable object is obviously the killer.
So there you are, out of control and hurtling through the air at a high velocity. Boooo Hoooo, I'm no longer in control or holding onto my bike. It's unnatural as you are no longer facing forwards but looking back at those lucky buggers still riding on their bikes. You are travelling at 90mph+ but all of a sudden everything turns slow motion, It feels like something out of 'The Matrix'. Sparks are coming off your bike, a brake lever is floating slowly through the air like there is no gravity.
Everything is dead quiet at first, well all until you hit the floor. Your leathers get hot from the abrasive tarmac and you usually slam your hands down on the ground, hard. No real pain yet, I guess the adrenalin is coursing through your veins and blocking this out. Now you hit grass and pray you have a smooth ride. Tumbling is what causes broken bones so you try to keep your body flat and slide.
There comes a point where you want control again. The biggest mistake is attempting to get to your feet too early. Well, you have just been travelling at 90mph so 30mph feels like a snails pace. Good luck trying to run at 30mph unless you are Usaine Bolt. This sort of crash is ok, you know you are fine because all you can think of is getting back on your bike, if its in one piece and ride again. But there are times where you are not so lucky, usually when you have hit your head or are badly battered up. There have been times where I cannot remember my name or where I live for a few moments. There are others when you know you need an ambulance and lie in wait of assistance.
Yes, you have guessed it, I was pretty s
t and crashed a lot. I'd either be on lap record pace or being scooped off the ground. But it's a hell of a ride and beats any rollercoaster when you get away with it. If a company could catapault you at speed in a safety suit without harm, it would sell like hot cakes.No idea, I got rear ended with a closing speed of around 60mph. Didnt see it coming, wouldnt say I got knocked unconscious but there were a few seconds I wasnt with it. The bang and the smell of the other cars airbags is what sticks with me the most it was that loud I assumed mine had gone of and only found out afterwards it wasnt mine. Needed to pee constantly straight after not sure if due to seat belts tensioning or just nervousness.
Then the aches and pains started about a day later. Crash was before Christmas still get a twinge if in same position for too long.
Then the aches and pains started about a day later. Crash was before Christmas still get a twinge if in same position for too long.
Unpleasant:
Thankfully I have only been in one crash (but I was the passenger) - and also was the only car involved. To put give you a picture of the scene it's a late night in February (11pm ish) we're traveling home in the 944 having met some friends - It's incredibly cold and ice is starting to settle on the road (we hit ice earlier at walking speed - wary of this we had been driving home very slowly)
We're nearly home and just exiting a roundabout onto a duel carriageway (again at a very slow pace considering the conditions)- the car lost traction and I felt the back slip a bit - this always made my heart skip a beat (the back end was somewhat twitchy in rainy/icy conditions in the 944) - I had thought Dad caught the back end but I felt us going more sideways and going into a spin. Last thing I remember seeing was the blur of overhead lights then a massive bang and thump (we had mounted a rather high kerb and hit a tree). We bounced off said tree were back in the road spinning again (basically a reverse 360 I think) and remounted the kerb and settled. We were then at a standstill and what had happened had sunk in - steam was billowing off the bonnet and the engine was bouncing off the rev limiter (Dad's foot must have gone down when we hit the kerb).
Frankly it was terrifying, but if there was any testament to how solidly built that old car was, it was that we both escaped relatively unscathed
Thankfully I have only been in one crash (but I was the passenger) - and also was the only car involved. To put give you a picture of the scene it's a late night in February (11pm ish) we're traveling home in the 944 having met some friends - It's incredibly cold and ice is starting to settle on the road (we hit ice earlier at walking speed - wary of this we had been driving home very slowly)
We're nearly home and just exiting a roundabout onto a duel carriageway (again at a very slow pace considering the conditions)- the car lost traction and I felt the back slip a bit - this always made my heart skip a beat (the back end was somewhat twitchy in rainy/icy conditions in the 944) - I had thought Dad caught the back end but I felt us going more sideways and going into a spin. Last thing I remember seeing was the blur of overhead lights then a massive bang and thump (we had mounted a rather high kerb and hit a tree). We bounced off said tree were back in the road spinning again (basically a reverse 360 I think) and remounted the kerb and settled. We were then at a standstill and what had happened had sunk in - steam was billowing off the bonnet and the engine was bouncing off the rev limiter (Dad's foot must have gone down when we hit the kerb).
Frankly it was terrifying, but if there was any testament to how solidly built that old car was, it was that we both escaped relatively unscathed
I have the slow motion replay of 70ish to 0 in 2m as a passenger permanently ingrained in my memory. The thoughts go:
st
st
Awe st
<point of impact>
That wasn't too bad
Yes it was
I can't breath
Ow
Why can't I breath
Ow
Thank fk I can breath
Ow
st that hurt
Where is the other car
st
Get out of the car you fking idiot
st.
Would have recovered quicker if me and the driver hadn't then had to jump down the bank to find the car that had even thrown off the road.
He pulled out in front of us at the A30 Hartley Whitney cross roads because he was arguing with his wife on his hands free.
Driver of my car was fine
I dislocated both shoulders, damaged a knee, hurt my neck and the seatbelt broke my breastbone, severely bruised both kidneys and all this put a stop to my application to join the army permanently.
The driver of the other car was in a wheelchair for 6-8months but made a full recovery, his 4yo daughter (asleep in a booster seat) was fine. Kids are fking hardcore.
Oh and the first person to stop was an off duty Paramedic, second was BiB on his way home and the car behind was a nurse. When you need the this countries emergency services are nearly instant.
s
ts
tAwe s
t<point of impact>
That wasn't too bad
Yes it was
I can't breath
Ow
Why can't I breath
Ow
Thank f
k I can breathOw
s
t that hurtWhere is the other car
s
tGet out of the car you f
king idiots
t. Would have recovered quicker if me and the driver hadn't then had to jump down the bank to find the car that had even thrown off the road.
He pulled out in front of us at the A30 Hartley Whitney cross roads because he was arguing with his wife on his hands free.
Driver of my car was fine
I dislocated both shoulders, damaged a knee, hurt my neck and the seatbelt broke my breastbone, severely bruised both kidneys and all this put a stop to my application to join the army permanently.
The driver of the other car was in a wheelchair for 6-8months but made a full recovery, his 4yo daughter (asleep in a booster seat) was fine. Kids are f
king hardcore. Oh and the first person to stop was an off duty Paramedic, second was BiB on his way home and the car behind was a nurse. When you need the this countries emergency services are nearly instant.
It hurts....
Apart from being badly injured in a road accident a few years ago - not my fault as I got knocked off my bike by some unknown car driver who left me in the middle of the road with the bottom half of my left leg pointing in the wrong direction..... - I once crashed a race car at Silverstone during its first run out after a very expensive rebuild.
Heading into the old Woodcote chicane in a Rover SD1 Group A touring car i ran out of talent long before I ran out of road!!
In those days they had catch fencing installed which shielded very substantial walls of railway sleepers & solid earth banks.
Which, as I found out, are not much use.
Anyway I turned into the chicane & realised I was going far too fast, hit the chicane, spun off & went flying through the catch fencing at a very high speed before I hit the wall.
Backwards. Hard.
It hurt as race car safety in those days wasn't too good. No Hans devices for a start.
My back hurt, my neck hurt, my head hurt. I hurt all over.
& then I had to call the boss to tell him I had wrecked his newly rebuilt race car.
He wasn't happy.
Also had a shunt at the Silverstone Motor 100 event in, I think, 1985.
I was demonstrating an Austin Allegro 1300 rally car - yes, really - when the brakes failed. I rolled the car & destroyed it. Had to trailer the wreck back to base & explain that little shunt as well.......
It didn't go well for me! Got fired a few weeks later..
Happy days though so really cannot complain. Too much.
Apart from being badly injured in a road accident a few years ago - not my fault as I got knocked off my bike by some unknown car driver who left me in the middle of the road with the bottom half of my left leg pointing in the wrong direction..... - I once crashed a race car at Silverstone during its first run out after a very expensive rebuild.
Heading into the old Woodcote chicane in a Rover SD1 Group A touring car i ran out of talent long before I ran out of road!!
In those days they had catch fencing installed which shielded very substantial walls of railway sleepers & solid earth banks.
Which, as I found out, are not much use.
Anyway I turned into the chicane & realised I was going far too fast, hit the chicane, spun off & went flying through the catch fencing at a very high speed before I hit the wall.
Backwards. Hard.
It hurt as race car safety in those days wasn't too good. No Hans devices for a start.
My back hurt, my neck hurt, my head hurt. I hurt all over.
& then I had to call the boss to tell him I had wrecked his newly rebuilt race car.
He wasn't happy.
Also had a shunt at the Silverstone Motor 100 event in, I think, 1985.
I was demonstrating an Austin Allegro 1300 rally car - yes, really - when the brakes failed. I rolled the car & destroyed it. Had to trailer the wreck back to base & explain that little shunt as well.......
It didn't go well for me! Got fired a few weeks later..
Happy days though so really cannot complain. Too much.
Well that's a coincidence, I had a similar conversation with 2 mates down the pub last week.
I've haven't had as much as a scratch in 30+ years driving so asked if they had.
First chap is from Argentina and said he once fell asleep at the wheel after a long shift and veered off the road and down an embankment. First he knew about it, his car was nose down in 4 metres of water
He said somehow he got out of the back window of the car which only had a manual mechanism so had seemingly managed to hold his breath for what must have been ages. When he got to the surface there was a 6 foot wall over which the car must have dropped so he had to swim along the bank for some distance to get out. Kin 'ell.
Second bloke said when he was younger he was a passenger in a car with 3 other lads. He started to get that uneasy feeling that the driver was going too fast then next thing he knew the driver's misjudged a corner and the car was going sideways at great speed down the road (said he remembered looking out of the window at this point thinking SH*T) before rolling and flipping several times then ending the right way up. Amazingly all occupants walked away only shocked and bruised, just had to explain to "dad" that his car was a write off. There have been a couple of similar crashes round here where all the occupants have been killed.
So that was a revelation, two of my good mates have survived mega crashes that could quite easily have been fatal.
I've haven't had as much as a scratch in 30+ years driving so asked if they had.
First chap is from Argentina and said he once fell asleep at the wheel after a long shift and veered off the road and down an embankment. First he knew about it, his car was nose down in 4 metres of water
He said somehow he got out of the back window of the car which only had a manual mechanism so had seemingly managed to hold his breath for what must have been ages. When he got to the surface there was a 6 foot wall over which the car must have dropped so he had to swim along the bank for some distance to get out. Kin 'ell.Second bloke said when he was younger he was a passenger in a car with 3 other lads. He started to get that uneasy feeling that the driver was going too fast then next thing he knew the driver's misjudged a corner and the car was going sideways at great speed down the road (said he remembered looking out of the window at this point thinking SH*T) before rolling and flipping several times then ending the right way up. Amazingly all occupants walked away only shocked and bruised, just had to explain to "dad" that his car was a write off. There have been a couple of similar crashes round here where all the occupants have been killed.
So that was a revelation, two of my good mates have survived mega crashes that could quite easily have been fatal.
Totalled my TVR Griffith 500 on a French motorway on the way to Classic Le Mans in 2008, it was pretty big news on here at the time.
We hit spilled diesel at about 70mph in the rain & the car did a 720 hitting the central barrier several times. Every body panel was stoved in, front, back & drivers door gone, radiator never seen again, driver & lovely wife sent to hospital but released after a few hours with nasty cuts & bruises.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion, back end went & I ran out of opposite lock, we hit the barrier the first time head on & I remember seeing the bonnet fly over our heads, then it was like being strapped in a tumble drier as we span.
Finally stopped across both lanes of the motorway, looked to my left to see wifey covered in blood which was a bit scary, got out of the car, fell to the floor & had to crawl around it on my hands & knees to try to help her. Thankfully she was ok & they superglued a nasty cut back together. We were part of a large group & our friends were amazing, but we both cried as we sat in the ambulance & watched what was left of my lifes dream being dragged onto a car transporter to be taken to a scrap yard. We loved that car & there is no doubt I drive the new one very differently in the rain nowadays.
The one thing that amazed us both was how well we were held in place by the compact interior of the Griff, & how well the chassis held up to a serious smash.
The car was replaced a few months later with a newer model & all is good in the world.
Nick
We hit spilled diesel at about 70mph in the rain & the car did a 720 hitting the central barrier several times. Every body panel was stoved in, front, back & drivers door gone, radiator never seen again, driver & lovely wife sent to hospital but released after a few hours with nasty cuts & bruises.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion, back end went & I ran out of opposite lock, we hit the barrier the first time head on & I remember seeing the bonnet fly over our heads, then it was like being strapped in a tumble drier as we span.
Finally stopped across both lanes of the motorway, looked to my left to see wifey covered in blood which was a bit scary, got out of the car, fell to the floor & had to crawl around it on my hands & knees to try to help her. Thankfully she was ok & they superglued a nasty cut back together. We were part of a large group & our friends were amazing, but we both cried as we sat in the ambulance & watched what was left of my lifes dream being dragged onto a car transporter to be taken to a scrap yard. We loved that car & there is no doubt I drive the new one very differently in the rain nowadays.
The one thing that amazed us both was how well we were held in place by the compact interior of the Griff, & how well the chassis held up to a serious smash.
The car was replaced a few months later with a newer model & all is good in the world.
Nick
Edited by ncs on Saturday 25th May 21:44
Only ever had one serious crash, wrote off my dads fiesta years ago with 4 friends in the car. Young, stupid, fully believing I was a great driver down a single lane road at about 80. Sickening feeling as you realise you've lost it.
Couple of fishtails, bounced off the verge on one side, through the hedge on the other and rolled a couple of times down the field. Really thought I was going to die when the car went over, seemed unreal looking through the remains of the screen at some grass and a surprised cow. Miracle that we all walked away, I remember going down the next day with my Dad and there was a large tree about 20 yards down the road from my exit. Felt sick just looking at the wrecked car and what could have happened.
Couple of fishtails, bounced off the verge on one side, through the hedge on the other and rolled a couple of times down the field. Really thought I was going to die when the car went over, seemed unreal looking through the remains of the screen at some grass and a surprised cow. Miracle that we all walked away, I remember going down the next day with my Dad and there was a large tree about 20 yards down the road from my exit. Felt sick just looking at the wrecked car and what could have happened.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff