Message Forums

I agree with you - there are so many causes of accidents.  Sometimes it is the fault of the driver ( i.e. using mobile while driving etc.) and sometimes it is the fault of another driver who might not actually collide with the car but cause a sudden manouver leading to instability.

It is fine to discuss causes of crashes but unfair to relate them to a particular accident which was caused by unknown ( to us ) factors.

Brian

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 30/6/2008

---

Seems I was under the mistaken impression that this forum was for discussion on caravan related issues.  As a matter fo interest dispite all the evidence how often is it that the police can definitley say what caused an accident.  I would say probably only about 40% of the time if they are lucky.

---

Of course you'r right,this the place to discuss caravan issues. Apart knowing the speed limit is 60mph that is it. Never had one . As soon as someone posts about an overturned caravan or something simalar ,people straight away blame speed, not the right car or nose weight wrong or the driver without knowing the full facts.The driver could be at the correct speed the caravan to the correct car and loaded correct.The accident could be caused by anything. It is so easy to come to the wrong decision and put blame without the full knowlodge.It is all supposition.

WG

A week last Friday we were travelling along the M27 shortly after 9pm there were roadworks near the Rownham services, we were in the middle lane and the road was busy, behind us appeared a large 4x4 flashing his lights  at us (we were doing just on 70mph) so impatient was he that he decided to overtake in the outside lane, on the back of his vehicle - a twin axel of unknown make, he literally left us not only standing but gobsmacked with his speed, especially as it was getting dark.

Quote: Originally posted by Geetee on 30/6/2008

---

A week last Friday we were travelling along the M27 shortly after 9pm there were roadworks near the Rownham services, we were in the middle lane and the road was busy, behind us appeared a large 4x4 flashing his lights  at us (we were doing just on 70mph) so impatient was he that he decided to overtake in the outside lane, on the back of his vehicle - a twin axel of unknown make, he literally left us not only standing but gobsmacked with his speed, especially as it was getting dark.

---

We live near to junction 15 and northbound there are several long downhills that can catch out caravanners as the speed increases and the exit requires extreme care as its a sharp hairpin type turn on  a steepish downhill

On the day in question I seem to recall it was very windy here as well and side wind could have been another factor as could a blowout/mechanical

Thankfully from the original posting the couple involved were unharmed

Daved I think you have hit the nail on the head.  People do not take into account conditons that may effect any vehilce because they are not observant enough.  The rig, the vehicle and the road conditons may look okay but if you look carefully you may notice trees bending in the wind at a certain spot etc.  This indicates caution.

When I did an advance driving course, we had to factor in all these conditions when travelling at speeds up to 120 mph.  You had to take into account that another driver could suddenly swerve out causing you to perhaps brake at the wrong time or perhaps swerve or some other reason and this then leads ot an accident where no one is able to determine the cuase of the accident.

IMHO the biggest cause of accidents is lack of observance.

Quote: Originally posted by Safeway56 on 01/7/2008I'm guessing but considering the caravanners were an elderly couple they would have hardly been going like a bat out of hell.

---

OOOOH !! I can see where youre coming from but stil an unfortunate bit of stereotyping there. An equal but oposite statement could be "as an elderly couple they were not aware of the speed their vehicle was capable of and with their reduced reactions and perceptions" (said as example only and not my opinion!!!)

Believe you me when youve met the likes of one high speed pensioner who kept crashing because he kept "getting the pedals mixed up" (absolutely true, his insurance refused to cover him in the end so he drove without!!) you take noting for granted

I am sure the police will be excellent at assessing available evidence.  There are cases where they will end up working out that a driver made a sudden swerve ( for example) but the reason for swerve will be known only by the driver and witnesses.  It could be unforseen reasons - caused by another vehicles manouver, driver fighting off wasp etc.  The slower the speed of the outfit the more chance there is of reacting and accomodating surprise events.

It always surprises me on narrow roads where there isn't much space for two vehicles to pass, how some drivers find it beneath them to slow down.  As a vehicles speed decreases the narrow gap feels wider even if it isn't.

Brian

When I state 40% success that is when the police can say for definite what actually caused the accident.  An extreme example may be some one who is a bit over the limit and there is an accident.  Was it the fact that they were over the limit or was it because something ran out in front of the car and the driver had to take evasive action resulting in an accident.  If the drivee had been stone cold sober would the end result have been any different.   Was being over the limit a contributing factor or not, we just do not know but it is marked down as being over the limit.  hopefully you will understand what I am trying to say albeit an extreme example. 

Unfortunatley a lot is supposition based on findings, but normally correct.  Been there, done that and got yhe T-shirt.