Most frightening experience on the road?
Discussion
I had mine earlier this week, followed an articulated lorry onto a dual carriageway, tried to pass it once onto the DC but had a flatbed lorry approaching in lane 2 so I stayed put.
The artic in front indicates right and moves in to lane 2, just as my vision clears I see what he is overtaking, a large van stopped half on the embankment and half in lane 1.
"b
ks" was my initial reaction as I still had this flatbed along side me. I had no choice but to stop.
This next part was what scared me, a genuine slow motion event, started braking quite firmly, managed to fumble for the hazard light switch, just as I was coming to a stop I saw the most terrifying sight ever.
A lorry this size approaching at speed directly behind me and the owner of the broken down van looking at me with a look of pure shock on his face!
I'd come to a stop by the time I'd reacted, but god knows how as I usually have the reactions of a Sloth, I'd managed to selct first and ram my van up onto the embankment with now only a foot or two to spare between the broken down van and mine!
Have no idea how close it was to hitting me, could have been feet or inches, he must have still been doing 20-25 MPH as he passed me. It scared the st out of me.
I rejoined traffic after what seemed like forever and phoned 999 immediately.
Anyone had a similar experience where you have felt completely helpless and terrified?
Also what would my chances have been had I been jammed between this lorry and a large Transit with me being in a small Transit?
The artic in front indicates right and moves in to lane 2, just as my vision clears I see what he is overtaking, a large van stopped half on the embankment and half in lane 1.
"b
ks" was my initial reaction as I still had this flatbed along side me. I had no choice but to stop. This next part was what scared me, a genuine slow motion event, started braking quite firmly, managed to fumble for the hazard light switch, just as I was coming to a stop I saw the most terrifying sight ever.
A lorry this size approaching at speed directly behind me and the owner of the broken down van looking at me with a look of pure shock on his face!
I'd come to a stop by the time I'd reacted, but god knows how as I usually have the reactions of a Sloth, I'd managed to selct first and ram my van up onto the embankment with now only a foot or two to spare between the broken down van and mine!
Have no idea how close it was to hitting me, could have been feet or inches, he must have still been doing 20-25 MPH as he passed me. It scared the s
t out of me.I rejoined traffic after what seemed like forever and phoned 999 immediately.
Anyone had a similar experience where you have felt completely helpless and terrified?
Also what would my chances have been had I been jammed between this lorry and a large Transit with me being in a small Transit?
Brake failure at Anglesey. No, it didn't happen on the road, which is probably fortunate as I wouldn't be here talking about it if it had.
Right ruined my wheel:
Just come out of the pits maybe doing 60-70mph, went for the brake and everything exploded. Pedal to the floor, steering wheel going mental in my hands, and lots of handbrake abuse pulled it up on the grass.
Very fortunate. I st it at the time.
Right ruined my wheel:
Just come out of the pits maybe doing 60-70mph, went for the brake and everything exploded. Pedal to the floor, steering wheel going mental in my hands, and lots of handbrake abuse pulled it up on the grass.
Very fortunate. I s
t it at the time.Edited by zeppelin101 on Thursday 14th October 18:53
Driving up the M1 earlier this week, the steering wheel started to vibrate for a second or so, and then all of a sudden my front left wheel flew off hit the curb and bounced past me at windscreen hight. The car started to spin and somehow found its own way to the hard-shoulder.
Easily the most dangerous moment of my motoring life so far.
Easily the most dangerous moment of my motoring life so far.
A few weeks ago I was crawling at the back of queue at a roundabout. I was at the back of the queue in the left lane about to merge into the center lane approximately here Google maps example When I hear a deep horn sounding behind me. Now rapidly approaching at about 50-60mph is a large truck. I have nowhere to go other than on the grass. I could see the guy approaching and the traffic was moving very slowly. I moved as far forward and over to the right as I could leaving him just enough room to skim through. He mounted the curb at about 30-40mph and went left up the a-road. It all happened so fast. I have no idea what the guy was thinking!
Fuel surge mid-bend in an Impreza at 90mph. (Lol, all scoobynet users will instantly know who I am).
This was back when I had my first Impreza in about 2002-3. I was pressing on across a glorious section of road which is usually mobbed. However, it was during the working week and it was quiet so I could have some fun. The road was slightly patchy and damp and I had just done a quick right, then left, and I was settling into a long sweeping right-hander.
Mid-way round I lost all power causing violent engine breaking and a lift-off oversteer effect. I was instantly a passenger and with no power had no means of regaining control. It quickly became a "mash brakes, hold steering wheel and close eyes" moment. I crossed the oncoming lane - going backwards - and came to a stop in a verge with no damage to me or the car. I would hate to think what would have happened if someone was coming the other way!
The diffs in that car were never quite the same...I doubt they liked going backwards at 60mph while the car was still in a fwd gear
This was back when I had my first Impreza in about 2002-3. I was pressing on across a glorious section of road which is usually mobbed. However, it was during the working week and it was quiet so I could have some fun. The road was slightly patchy and damp and I had just done a quick right, then left, and I was settling into a long sweeping right-hander.
Mid-way round I lost all power causing violent engine breaking and a lift-off oversteer effect. I was instantly a passenger and with no power had no means of regaining control. It quickly became a "mash brakes, hold steering wheel and close eyes" moment. I crossed the oncoming lane - going backwards - and came to a stop in a verge with no damage to me or the car. I would hate to think what would have happened if someone was coming the other way!
The diffs in that car were never quite the same...I doubt they liked going backwards at 60mph while the car was still in a fwd gear
Middle lane of the M25 just heading in to Kent when the car (was either the Corsa or the Fiesta, can't remember which was which) in L3 tried pulling in ahead of the car ahead of me whilst said Corsa tried pulling into L3... Lucky I was keeping my distance as both cars entered a huge spin locked into each other.
Having seen what was about to happen I'd checked the mirrors, nowt behind me for a while but cars either side, as they collided I stamped on the middle pedal, swerved right to miss wing mirrors, hard left to avoid a wheel trim some arch liner and half a bumper then hard right again to miss the back of one of the cars...
Shat myself.
Having seen what was about to happen I'd checked the mirrors, nowt behind me for a while but cars either side, as they collided I stamped on the middle pedal, swerved right to miss wing mirrors, hard left to avoid a wheel trim some arch liner and half a bumper then hard right again to miss the back of one of the cars...
Shat myself.
Jonathan27 said:
Driving up the M1 earlier this week, the steering wheel started to vibrate for a second or so, and then all of a sudden my front left wheel flew off hit the curb and bounced past me at windscreen hight. The car started to spin and somehow found its own way to the hard-shoulder.
Easily the most dangerous moment of my motoring life so far.
What?Easily the most dangerous moment of my motoring life so far.
Your front wheel just fell off?
Blasting along a fairly fast moving autobahn but with quite a bit of traffic on it at about 130mph and suddenly hundreds of brakelights came on in front of me. A truck had pulled out into the middle lane to overtake. At the bottom of a hill, so everyone was cramming into the outside lane where I was. Threw the anchors out and slowed down in time, as did everyone else...I was 20 at the time and had only been driving a year. Taught me a few lessons about leaving lots of space, I'll tell you that!
1989 when still a teenager I was late for my second day at my new job so I had the hammer down.
I was doing 100 along a duel carrage way when, at a shaded part, I found black ice. I had a couple of seconds to realize I had no control over the car before I left the road and off a 20ft embankment. I resigned myself to being dead and relaxed as the car lauched itself through some trees, then it was like being rolled in a metal barrel which is being beaten with baseball bats.
The car finished up standing on it's boot proped against a tree looking like a destroyed banger racer.
I got out without a scratch. VERY lucky boy.
I was doing 100 along a duel carrage way when, at a shaded part, I found black ice. I had a couple of seconds to realize I had no control over the car before I left the road and off a 20ft embankment. I resigned myself to being dead and relaxed as the car lauched itself through some trees, then it was like being rolled in a metal barrel which is being beaten with baseball bats.
The car finished up standing on it's boot proped against a tree looking like a destroyed banger racer.
I got out without a scratch. VERY lucky boy.
ajp70 said:
1989 when still a teenager I was late for my second day at my new job so I had the hammer down.
I was doing 100 along a duel carrage way when, at a shaded part, I found black ice. I had a couple of seconds to realize I had no control over the car before I left the road and off a 20ft embankment. I resigned myself to being dead and relaxed as the car lauched itself through some trees, then it was like being rolled in a metal barrel which is being beaten with baseball bats.
The car finished up standing on it's boot proped against a tree looking like a destroyed banger racer.
I got out without a scratch. VERY lucky boy.
Did your boss forgive your for being late I was doing 100 along a duel carrage way when, at a shaded part, I found black ice. I had a couple of seconds to realize I had no control over the car before I left the road and off a 20ft embankment. I resigned myself to being dead and relaxed as the car lauched itself through some trees, then it was like being rolled in a metal barrel which is being beaten with baseball bats.
The car finished up standing on it's boot proped against a tree looking like a destroyed banger racer.
I got out without a scratch. VERY lucky boy.
Joing the M2 out of Belfast at evening rush hour, accelerating as quickly as the 1.9D Clio company car could. Builder's tipper truck in front lost it's 3 section aluminium extension ladder, which flew in to the air, bounced 6' in front of me, and thankfully bounced left, over the fence and on to the railway tracks.
For me it's between the time I went overtake a 3 series who was doing less than 45mph in a 60, I went for the overtake as there was nothing in sight coming the other way. I get as far as my rear wheels passing him and he starts accelerating and becomes level with me and looks at me as if to say are you kidding me. Then I can see a coach coming the other way, guy still blocking me. I had to rag the poor Jazz to finally overtake as the car behind me got too close to the BMW for me to drop back. I had only been driving for a year, shook me up a bit. Very rarely overtake now.
Driving down to Hampshire back in 2002, I'd just taken delivery of a brand new 172 Cup (only new car I've ever bought) and was settled on the M40 at about 70mph. It was about 10pm so quite dark.
Seeing a couple of HGVs in lane 1, I indicated then moved into lane 2 to get past them.
As I was inline with the front of the lead HGV, a car passed me in lane 3. All normal so far.
Anyway just as the car in lane 3 (a Talbot Solara I st you not) had passed me, he suffered what appeared to be a NSF puncture and swerved violently to his left, missing both myself and the truck by inches. I could actually see the panick on the old guys face, lit up by mine and the HGVs headlights, as he wrestled with the steering wheel.
After narrowly missing us, his car flew up the embankment, through the wooden fence, and after careering down the other side ended up on its (near)side in a farmer's field.
To this day I still think about what would have happened if that car had had that puncture just 5-10 seconds earlier.
The old boy was fine BTW, and that was the last ever Solara I saw on the roads
For the younger members of PH, prepare to hide your eyes!
Seeing a couple of HGVs in lane 1, I indicated then moved into lane 2 to get past them.
As I was inline with the front of the lead HGV, a car passed me in lane 3. All normal so far.
Anyway just as the car in lane 3 (a Talbot Solara I s
t you not) had passed me, he suffered what appeared to be a NSF puncture and swerved violently to his left, missing both myself and the truck by inches. I could actually see the panick on the old guys face, lit up by mine and the HGVs headlights, as he wrestled with the steering wheel.After narrowly missing us, his car flew up the embankment, through the wooden fence, and after careering down the other side ended up on its (near)side in a farmer's field.
To this day I still think about what would have happened if that car had had that puncture just 5-10 seconds earlier.
The old boy was fine BTW, and that was the last ever Solara I saw on the roads
For the younger members of PH, prepare to hide your eyes!
Z06George said:
For me it's between the time I went overtake a 3 series who was doing less than 45mph in a 60, I went for the overtake as there was nothing in sight coming the other way. I get as far as my rear wheels passing him and he starts accelerating and becomes level with me and looks at me as if to say are you kidding me. Then I can see a coach coming the other way, guy still blocking me. I had to rag the poor Jazz to finally overtake as the car behind me got too close to the BMW for me to drop back. I had only been driving for a year, shook me up a bit. Very rarely overtake now.
this has happened to me before. however unlike you, i didn't take it so easily. unluckily for him I took that as attempting to kill me.Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff