Crash on M1

[armynick]

Saw a blue Caterham mangled up on the inside Armco barrier on the southbound carriage way of the M1 just outside of London.

Hope the occupant/s were ok.

[va1o]

Doesn't sound good

Think I drove past that earlier coming out of Central London and heading northbound. Very long tail back quea

[willmagrath]

Oh blimey, saw the signs near st Albans of the road closure, didn't realise it was a caterham! Also hope they're ok!

[eltax91]

Air ambulance was in attendance so perhaps not good.

[littleredrooster]

If this was J5-J4, it was closed for quite a while, suggesting fatality or life-changing injuries.

[Rich_W]

I suspect a Caterham scored very, very lowly on the NCAP tests.

Anyone know how they can get past these crash test regs? The basic design is what 50 years old now?

[Ved]

Sounds bad but I hope everyone is ok

[FourWheelDrift]

this is all I can find at the moment - http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/10898827.M1_...

Officially speaking, lots of twittering going on.

[BBS-LM]

The last thing you what to crash is a Caterham on the motorway. Nasty.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Rich_W said:

I suspect a Caterham scored very, very lowly on the NCAP tests.

Anyone know how they can get past these crash test regs? The basic design is what 50 years old now?

IIRC they don't have to; that's the problem. To be sold in UK the design only has to be compliant at the time the car was first put on the market. That's how rubbish like the VW Camper managed to stay "in production" although it's recently been canned by the Brazilians.

[Jasandjules]

Fingers crossed the occupants are ok.

[Adam205]

Ozzie Osmond said:

IIRC they don't have to; that's the problem. To be sold in UK the design only has to be compliant at the time the car was first put on the market. That's how rubbish like the VW Camper managed to stay "in production" although it's recently been canned by the Brazilians.

It's to do with volumes of production.

Every car has to fit the rule book at the time it is produced, but they can get through on ECSSTA if manufactured in quantities of less than 1000 per year. It is not mandatory to achieve any standards for crash performance or even test it.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Be careful not to confuse the two concepts,

• Old mass-produced cars can stay in production for as long as there are customers (Original mini, VW Camper, probably Caterham)
• Separately, low volume manufacturers of recently designed cars are exempt from many if the usual Type Approval rules.

[Adam205]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Be careful not to confuse the two concepts,

• Old mass-produced cars can stay in production for as long as there are customers (Original mini, VW Camper, probably Caterham)
• Separately, low volume manufacturers of recently designed cars are exempt from many if the usual Type Approval rules.

I've explained how it works. Your first statement is incorrect.

Edited by Adam205 on Tuesday 24th December 21:38

[bristolracer]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Rich_W said:

I suspect a Caterham scored very, very lowly on the NCAP tests.

Anyone know how they can get past these crash test regs? The basic design is what 50 years old now?

IIRC they don't have to; that's the problem. To be sold in UK the design only has to be compliant at the time the car was first put on the market. That's how rubbish like the VW Camper managed to stay "in production" although it's recently been canned by the Brazilians.

Are you guys serious? This is pistonheads FFS. Whilst I hope the people in the Caterham are Ok I would defend to my dying breath their right to choose and drive such a vehicle. I dont think NCAP and airbags were high on the list of their priorities.
Same with the VW camper. By this mentality then you can get rid of all classic cars,and we all end up driving the latest diesel hybrid satellite tracked speed limited insurance approved self driving vehicle on PCP. Why dont you guys jump on the Lambo Vs R8 debate and tell all the posters that as these cars will break the speed limits they should be both banned?

[iva cosworth]

bristolracer said:

Are you guys serious? This is pistonheads FFS. Whilst I hope the people in the Caterham are Ok I would defend to my dying breath their right to choose and drive such a vehicle. I dont think NCAP and airbags were high on the list of their priorities.
Same with the VW camper. By this mentality then you can get rid of all classic cars,and we all end up driving the latest diesel hybrid satellite tracked speed limited insurance approved self driving vehicle on PCP. Why dont you guys jump on the Lambo Vs R8 debate and tell all the posters that as these cars will break the speed limits they should be both banned?

Chillout.

No one has said Caterhams should be banned !

[slippery]

Fingers crossed for all concerned.

[loafer123]

My first car was a Pilgrim Bulldog with a similar chassis to a Caterham.

The chassis was very strong, and a friend got hit hard by a large Royal Mail lorry in one, and had badly damaged bodywork, but nothing wrong with him or the chassis, so it is best not to make generalist assumptions about the danger of that sort of car.

[digger the goat]

I just hope that there are no casualties.

I wonder how different the responses will be to this VS the 3 guys that died in the the Subaru thread.

No-one knows the circumstances in either for sure.

I wish ALL parties, in BOTH events, the most sincere of condolences and a peaceful resolution to your loss.

[SidewaysSi]

Yep hope the occupants are ok. Not sure if wet but caterhams are not great in inclement weather.

I drive one and know the risks I.e. death or serious injury but it is a risk I am willing to take...