Unbelievable!

[flakeypaul]

My wifes parents, her sister & husband and their three year old son were travelling down the A1079 from York yesterday when they stopped behind a car that was turning right. Unfortunately a Land Rover Defender was coming up behind them at 60mph and the driver was not looking. He hit them from behind at 60mph whilst his foot was still on the accelerator. They were pushed into the car in front (an old Seat Ibiza) and came to a stop a few feet down the road.

Amazingly not a single person suffered anything more than cuts and bruises. Their car (a Lexus RX400h) is a complete write off as are the other two cars. The police said that without a doubt the family in the Seat would have been killed had their car not acted as a 'cushion'.

The driver of the defender admitted he wasn't looking and still had his foot on the accelerator when he hit them which was with enough force to split my nephews car seat in two. The shocking part isn't the fact that nobody was killed, let alone even injured though, it's the fact that the police believe that the guy will probably be just sent on a driver awareness course as he admitted his guilt immediately at the scene!

He openly admitted that he wasn't looking where he was going, and had come round a blind sweeping left hander too fast (i.e. had no chance of stopping in the distance he could see). It was also the polices opinion that this would have been a fatal accident if my in-laws hadn't been there to slow him down first. Surely in this instance a dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention charge is applicable?

[Willy Nilly]

All's well that ends well, lets hope that it was a wake call for the driver. I am sure it will be on his mind for a good few years

[flakeypaul]

Absolutely lucky! The forces involved in an impact with a 4x4 must be enormous. I'm amazed the guy in the defender didn't come off a lot worse to be honest! 60-0 in 10 feet can't be a comfy experience in anything let alone a proper old style off roader!

[The Moose]

Thank goodness your family were ok - I am shocked that the other driver will get off without any further punishment.

Maybe the people who hate SUVs should have a quick look at this thread - I know exactly what I would rather be in (hatchback or SUV/SoftRoader/4x4).

Cheers

The Moose

[Willy Nilly]

The Moose said:

Thank goodness your family were ok - I am shocked that the other driver will get off without any further punishment.

Maybe the people who hate SUVs should have a quick look at this thread - I know exactly what I would rather be in (hatchback or SUV/SoftRoader/4x4).

Cheers

The Moose

I'd rather be in the one with the awake driver. What if the dozy driver was in an artic? Should we then all drive artics? Then you buy a bigger artic than the next guy, so he buys a mining truck. And so it goes on.

[The Moose]

Willy Nilly said:

The Moose said:

Thank goodness your family were ok - I am shocked that the other driver will get off without any further punishment.

Maybe the people who hate SUVs should have a quick look at this thread - I know exactly what I would rather be in (hatchback or SUV/SoftRoader/4x4).

Cheers

The Moose

I'd rather be in the one with the awake driver. What if the dozy driver was in an artic? Should we then all drive artics? Then you buy a bigger artic than the next guy, so he buys a mining truck. And so it goes on.

It does go on and on. But there are levels of extremes and each one gets more and more extreme.

You also can't control what state the other drivers on the road are going to be (drunk/drugged/asleep/dozy/looking elsewhere/etc) so do everything you can to minimise injury.

Cheers

The Moose

[flakeypaul]

I have no problem with 4x4's/SUV's etc (indeed one saved my wifes family from death/horrific injury!) but it's frustrating when people use them as a 'safety feature' to protect them from their own bad driving at the expense of other people (like my wife's 'friend' who bought a 4x4 because she keeps having crashes that are her fault and she doesn't want to hurt herself and bks to everyone else cos 4x4's are miles safer, innit).

Top marks to Lexus for the strength and build quality of the RX though!

[Willy Nilly]

The Moose said:

It does go on and on. But there are levels of extremes and each one gets more and more extreme.

You also can't control what state the other drivers on the road are going to be (drunk/drugged/asleep/dozy/looking elsewhere/etc) so do everything you can to minimise injury.

Cheers

The Moose

a member of another forum I frequent was killed when a RR, not sure which flavour, was overtaking another vehicle and hit her head on. The RR drive has 6 years to sit and think about this overtaking procedure...

No matter which vehicle you drive, open your eyes and drive responsibly. On this occasion someone wasn't paying attention and the occupants of 3 vehicles have been extremely lucky

[The Moose]

Willy Nilly said:

The Moose said:

It does go on and on. But there are levels of extremes and each one gets more and more extreme.

You also can't control what state the other drivers on the road are going to be (drunk/drugged/asleep/dozy/looking elsewhere/etc) so do everything you can to minimise injury.

Cheers

The Moose

a member of another forum I frequent was killed when a RR, not sure which flavour, was overtaking another vehicle and hit her head on. The RR drive has 6 years to sit and think about this overtaking procedure...

No matter which vehicle you drive, open your eyes and drive responsibly. On this occasion someone wasn't paying attention and the occupants of 3 vehicles have been extremely lucky

Totally agree in every way. Hope they bought lottery tickets that day!

I just know that when I've got a family, I'll be running them around in a SUV/4x4 rather than a small hatchback.

Cheers

The Moose

[flakeypaul]

rossyIIa said:

Good to see Defenders are doing their duty and ridding the roads of bloody hybrids!

No not really my friend. They liked the car so much that they are going to go out and buy exactly the same car again. So a Defender has only succeeded in having another load of Nickel and Lead and Acid and Arsenic and Kryptonite mixed together to create another RX (but a 450h this time).

[Jw Vw]

Glad everyones ok OP. The guy should get a harsher punishment than a driver awareness course though surely?

[The Moose]

flakeypaul said:

rossyIIa said:

Good to see Defenders are doing their duty and ridding the roads of bloody hybrids!

No not really my friend. They liked the car so much that they are going to go out and buy exactly the same car again. So a Defender has only succeeded in having another load of Nickel and Lead and Acid and Arsenic and Kryptonite mixed together to create another RX (but a 450h this time).

Obviously not quite recovered from the shock of the accident then



Cheers

The Moose

[davepoth]

flakeypaul said:

He openly admitted that he wasn't looking where he was going, and had come round a blind sweeping left hander too fast (i.e. had no chance of stopping in the distance he could see). It was also the polices opinion that this would have been a fatal accident if my in-laws hadn't been there to slow him down first. Surely in this instance a dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention charge is applicable?

The police don't have the decision in this situation - it's down to the CPS. However the accident investigator will make a statement as to his opinion of the driving in his report. So it may still be dangerous driving.

[mrmr96]

What I continue to find staggering is that the police seem to punish 'pre crimes' more than 'actual crimes'.

For example, this guy HAD AN ACTUAL CRASH and will most likely get very little penalty.
Whereas people who speed excessively, for example, but DON'T CRASH will most likely get a heavy penalty.

I genuinely can't understand why people who actually have CRASHED are not punished more than people who look like they MIGHT crash. I don't get it.

[GeraldSmith]

Are they feeling OK today? When I had a similar accident I was fine on the day but 24 hours or so later I wasn't, whiplash (the genuine kind) takes a while before you feel it and it would be amazing if nobody does with an accident like that at those speeds. Five years later I still have problems from mine.

[flakeypaul]

rossyIIa said:

If I were a true troll I would comment on how the Defender should have done the job properly and killed your family stopping them buying a new one, but that's just to far, I'm actually glad no one was hurt. But couldn't persuade them that an RX450h is a stupid car they aren't even that economical.

I must admit it's not my cup of tea but she has a bad back and it's a good height for her to get into. Also she uses it for work and they don't do a diesel version. They only went for a hybrid as he already owns a Lexus GS450h which is a very good car. Not the best for handling but you can't sniff at 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and 40mpg round town.

[slippery]

rossyIIa said:

If I were a true troll I would comment on how the Defender should have done the job properly and killed your family stopping them buying a new one, but that's just to far, I'm actually glad no one was hurt. But couldn't persuade them that an RX450h is a stupid car they aren't even that economical.

I bet you're just crazy at dinner parties! Prat.

[flakeypaul]

mrmr96 said:

What I continue to find staggering is that the police seem to punish 'pre crimes' more than 'actual crimes'.

For example, this guy HAD AN ACTUAL CRASH and will most likely get very little penalty.
Whereas people who speed excessively, for example, but DON'T CRASH will most likely get a heavy penalty.

I genuinely can't understand why people who actually have CRASHED are not punished more than people who look like they MIGHT crash. I don't get it.

Ah but he wasn't speeding. So he's not a naughty boy. He just wasn;t looking out of the big glass thing in front of him. But he wasn't speeding. Speeding is the root of all evil right?

[mrmr96]

flakeypaul said:

mrmr96 said:

What I continue to find staggering is that the police seem to punish 'pre crimes' more than 'actual crimes'.

For example, this guy HAD AN ACTUAL CRASH and will most likely get very little penalty.
Whereas people who speed excessively, for example, but DON'T CRASH will most likely get a heavy penalty.

I genuinely can't understand why people who actually have CRASHED are not punished more than people who look like they MIGHT crash. I don't get it.

Ah but he wasn't speeding. So he's not a naughty boy. He just wasn;t looking out of the big glass thing in front of him. But he wasn't speeding. Speeding is the root of all evil right?

Well, exactly!

Answers on a postcard!!

[iphonedyou]

rossyIIa said:

If I were a true troll I would comment on how the Defender should have done the job properly and killed your family stopping them buying a new one, but that's just to far, I'm actually glad no one was hurt. But couldn't persuade them that an RX450h is a stupid car they aren't even that economical.

Even your statement above is too far.

tt.