Discussion
Posting for a friend who is due to be interviewed concerning an RTA.
Driving early hours of morning on route home on motorway. Starts to feel very tired, knows a layby is close by so continues to this and pulls over. Rests/sleeps for 15/20 mins. Wakes feeling better but gets out of car for fresh air etc. Has a cig before then deciding it was safe to continue.
Continues for about 4 miles on dual carriageway to his exit and then involved in RTA. Most likely fell asleep at wheel.
NO other car involved but motorway signage seen much better days!
Car total loss, flipped it twice. Car insured TPFT only on finance so already lost significantly by about £4000.00.
Police now wish to interview. Likely outcome?
Driving early hours of morning on route home on motorway. Starts to feel very tired, knows a layby is close by so continues to this and pulls over. Rests/sleeps for 15/20 mins. Wakes feeling better but gets out of car for fresh air etc. Has a cig before then deciding it was safe to continue.
Continues for about 4 miles on dual carriageway to his exit and then involved in RTA. Most likely fell asleep at wheel.
NO other car involved but motorway signage seen much better days!
Car total loss, flipped it twice. Car insured TPFT only on finance so already lost significantly by about £4000.00.
Police now wish to interview. Likely outcome?
deeen said:
He was interviewed at the scene and responded honestly saying that he believes he fell asleep.
So he was in shock / concussed and didnt know what he was saying? Maybe he was even asked leading / loaded questions when he was in no fit state to respond?
especially at that time in the morning, when the body and mind are naturally fatigued and he probably was shaken, thus adding to his stress and clouded judgement
towman said:
Car insured TPFT only on finance
Lesson learnt there then!
Hopefully finance wont want to be paid in full.
Glad no-one hurt though. Hopefully BiB will be sympathetic. Take the three points and be glad to ba alive.
Steve
have to agree - what's to argue - bloke fell asleep - very lucky no one else was involved - and lucky to be alive.
Also have to say - that driving in that state is as bad, if not worse, then DUI, and really should be treated the same. But hey I guess it's easier to fine people who are doing 4mph over the limit
deeen said:
595tus said:
He was interviewed at the scene and responded honestly saying that he believes he fell asleep.
So he was in shock / concussed and didnt know what he was saying? Maybe he was even asked leading / loaded questions when he was in no fit state to respond?
Hmm! I have had to take morning off work - because I was up all night with my wife. Thus was too "tired"
Fortunately, nothing urgent there today...and am going in later this afternoon. She had some worrying twinges - which appear to have settled down not - and I am now on fetch and carry the "Go-Cat" duty until my Ma comes to take over... and I can go back to work for a rest.....
People's body clocks slow down at those times in morning. OK - so he had snooze in lay-by and then carried on his journey.... and possibly fell asleep again....
Moral of story - flask of strong coffee or even good old "Lucozade!" (glucose) or "Red Bull" or similar with caffeine input.
Or better still - decide not to drive at all if you feel you are not up to it! Not that I am biased or anything .....
Nightmare said:
Im quite surprised you'd recommend Red Bull Doc Moggie...? Meant to ask...out of professional interst...whats your spec and which hospital you in? (think Wildcat mentioned you were secondary care)
cheers
Night
Horrid stuff - but pure caffeine.... if you are drop dead tired behind wheel of car - could be enough to keep you going until services..... last resort stuff basically - Prefer flask of strong black coffee myself....
Still not managed to leave Wildy - think it is just twinges - not contractions. Probably too many saucers of milk and Go-Cat.....
But cannot take chances with her....so brought her with me to hospital to check her over .... My specialism? Viruses and contagious diseases .... and nasty lurgies .....
Based in big hospital up North!
All good clean fun - and MRSA? Not in my hospital!!!!
Wildy on other hand is one of bods reponsible for one of the drugs which target chemical which causes cell growth in many cancers without harming healthy cells - allegedly....and another which enhances others when taken in combination.....they are still working on these .....
Seems you can't really win. I was in a similar situation on a long journey and was getting very tired. No services for about 15 miles so the only option was fall asleep at the wheel or pull over and get 15 minutes shut eye - then get to the next services and sleep. I took the latter option before risking my life and someone elses - the end result - stopping on a hard shoulder is illegal, points fines and warnings. Next time - I will keep driving and 'hope' I make it. needless to say i did do exactly that several weeks later and hit the central reservation.
Mad Moggie said:
My specialism? Viruses and contagious diseases .... and nasty lurgies .....
Based in big hospital up North!
All good clean fun - and MRSA? Not in my hospital!!!!
interesting stuff....so you part of BSAC or HIS or PHL or any of that lot? I've done a fair bit of work with them over the years....
TDTH1975 said:
Seems you can't really win. I was in a similar situation on a long journey and was getting very tired. No services for about 15 miles so the only option was fall asleep at the wheel or pull over and get 15 minutes shut eye - then get to the next services and sleep. I took the latter option before risking my life and someone elses - the end result - stopping on a hard shoulder is illegal, points fines and warnings. Next time - I will keep driving and 'hope' I make it. needless to say i did do exactly that several weeks later and hit the central reservation.
What about exits - they lead to shops and car parks? 24 hour superstore may be close to or 24 hour garage?
What about a B&B? Lot of Novotels etc close to m/ways....
But ... you are the bloke in charge and you need to make sure you have had sufficient sleep before you set off.
We have been known to park up safely before we even drive onto motorway - and have the hot flask of coffee before continuing. But that's us. We like our cars and yes - we like and can speed safely (though SteveC will be amused to note that we certainly do not do so near his speed traps
In fact - we do in fact drive at safe speed - but do admit we have strayed over on occasions and had to reign it in a bit - like every driver in the world whether he be Street 
, gone or Dicky or Steven Callaghan! Germany - on the other hand
Pleasure to drive over there..... and even then - as Wildy has pointed out - you still have to "keep it safe" and read the small print on your insurance document! You must learn to listen to your body and react to it. A chap who thought he was OK and was not - nearly killed my wife some years ago.
I do admit - I am biased on this one!
Mad Moggie said:
Seems you can't really win. I was in a similar situation on a long journey and was getting very tired. No services for about 15 miles so the only option was fall asleep at the wheel or pull over and get 15 minutes shut eye - then get to the next services and sleep. I took the latter option before risking my life and someone elses - the end result - stopping on a hard shoulder is illegal, points fines and warnings. Next time - I will keep driving and 'hope' I make it. needless to say i did do exactly that several weeks later and hit the central reservation.
What about exits - they lead to shops and car parks? 24 hour superstore may be close to or 24 hour garage?
What about a B&B? Lot of Novotels etc close to m/ways....
But ... you are the bloke in charge and you need to make sure you have had sufficient sleep before you set off.
We have been known to park up safely before we even drive onto motorway - and have the hot flask of coffee before continuing. But that's us. We like our cars and yes - we like and can speed safely (though SteveC will be amused to note that we certainly do not do so near his speed traps
Germany - on the other hand
You must learn to listen to your body and react to it. A chap who thought he was OK and was not - nearly killed my wife some years ago.
I do admit - I am biased on this one!
And I similarly agree with all you say. The bit I neglected to put at the end of my previous point was - I had learnt my lesson and fortunately with no harm to anyone. I think the way I wrote my experience implied it was everyones elses fault not mine - wasn't supposed to. Now in Germany - I could have put my foot down and been home in 20 minutes and then had a kip.
Nightmare said:
My specialism? Viruses and contagious diseases .... and nasty lurgies .....
Based in big hospital up North!
All good clean fun - and MRSA? Not in my hospital!!!!
interesting stuff....so you part of BSAC or HIS or PHL or any of that lot? I've done a fair bit of work with them over the years....
Small world .... delivered lectures to these (Hospital Infection Society and BSAC) in past ...
am associated with them - You fishing for my real name ID?
Yes - job is very interesting and I learn something new every day - only to find when I get there - I then have to go somewhere else ..... and a new lurgy appears daily - or is the same one in disguise ....
Bit like s/ cams in a way
BTW Wildy - false alarm - she had indigestion
Wimmin ....
...... Mad Moggie said:
Small world .... delivered lectures to these (Hospital Infection Society and BSAC) in past ...
You fishing for my real name ID?
well am interested to find out if we've ever met I guess! funny thing about this forum - Ive been quite surprised that a couple of well known posters on here are people I know well and didn't realise!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff