Idiot driver on motorway!!!

[Wendy-Norfolk]

We returned home yesterday, after spending a couple of weeks in the highlands. The drive was quite a scary experience in parts, mainly due to the volume of traffic, or maybe I'm just getting more nervous in my old age! Lol

We were driving along the M74 at about 60mph with our twin axle in tow, and were indicating to overtake a lorry which was travelling at a slower pace in front. Some idiot in a red car pulled out behind us just as we were about to pull out. OH unfortunately gave a few expletives which the driver obviously interpreted from our wing mirror. He gave us a V sign when he overtook, we then pulled out to pass the lorry.

The IDIOT then decided to slow up in the outside lane of the motorway, thus preventing us from being able to pull into the inside lane infront of the lorry. This was extremely scary, and if it was not for a loud blast from the lorry driver and quick thinking from my husband, we would have been mince meat on the road. Needless to say the little wimp sped off in his car and didn't give a s**t!!

We were glad to get home in one piece!!

 

[Fubar]

Hi Wendy

sorry your experience of the highlands has been soured by such a poor experience.

It seems the idiots are taking over the asylum - yesterday I pulled into the outside lane of a dual carriageway because of a car in a parking place with its doors open, only to get dogs abuse from the idiot who came flying up behind me! as I was doing 60 I reckon he must have been going 80-90 (and he WASNT in sight when I indicated to pull out). he then gave me the finger as he passed! :0(

what else can you say??? hope you had a nice time when you escaped the traffic.

Mark (",)

 

[emmerson2]

M5, 3.30pm today. Caravan in little pieces in lane 3, traffic piled up for ten miles in both directions,cos the bits were in the northbound lane3 as well.crash barrier damaged, so work still going on at 7.00pm.I, and many thousands of others delayed for hours.Why? It appeared that he had been in lane 3 when the van flipped. Anyone got a solution? In the radio traffic report later they also reported a similar accident on the A14. Is there an increase in this type of incident because inexperienced drivers are buying bigger vans than they can handle? There is a post on the forum tonight from someone who's new to towing, and has just bought a 22ft van.That's a bit like

buying an Aston Martin to learn to drive on! Am I beginning to sound like a grumpy old man? I'll go and sit in the corner now.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Emmerson,

In this case we are certainly not inexperienced caravanners. With over thirty years under our belts, we ought to know the ropes by now.

This stretch of motorway had two lanes, had it have been three maybe this wouldn't have happened. It just seems that some idiots have it in for people towing caravans. If it's not the oldies driving at 30mph holding up a string of traffic, who you happened to be behind. It's the others who cut in front of you on a motorway, causing you to anchor on, and then take a left turn, it's infuriating, and dangerous.

Thanks alot Brave Fart, it certainly has not put us off visiting the Highlands, this has happened a few times in various places. We shall be returning to Scotland in September. :O)

 

[mcghee]

I'm not sure that new 'vanners buying large 'vans is a problem in itself. When I started out I turned down a 19ft Adria thinking it would too big and bought a 14 footer instead. Within months I had an 18 ft Swift and wish I'd done that 1st time. I now tow a 23ft 'van and find it easier to handle and manouver than my 14ft 'van. I think it's all about using the right car. What I do notice more and more is the number of people who turn up on site and unload a double garage load of gear from their 'vans, and pile it up again like a mountain in their 'van before they set off.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello emmerson,

I dont think there is a significant increase in the number of caravan incidents, but the apperance of such accidents is comparitively rare so they tend to get greater attention and comment.

It also takes longer to clear the mess up so the after effects can be more dramatic.

 

[Viking1]

Craig a bit of what you say reminds me of what I saw to day when I was on sit.

There was a old man who had to unload the boot on is car just to put the tow bar down which was one that folder under the car he seem to be there for ten mins getting bit out of is boot of is car so he cud just get at the tow bar to push it down.

Mark

 

[CliveV]

Main thing is Wendy that you are all OK - sadly the family that lost the caravan may not be. I was in a horrendous accident about 20 years ago and for long after I could easily re-live the whole event.

I overtook a transit van on the road into Guildford and then pulled up at a junction. The van driver was looking in his bag by his feet and hit my car from behind forcing me into trafic which hit me again.

My Audi 80 was a write off but I believe its sturdy construction certainly saved me from serious injury.

Accidents happen because of inexperience, lapse of concentration and the unexpected. I do think that the current boom in caravan sales will have a knock on effect re caravan related accidents.

I really do feel that their should be proper training on how to tow. I do not make fun of them but I have watched some caravanners struggle to reverse their 'van onto a pitch.

What would hapen if the had to reverse when on the road? Is this a symptom of a more general lack of ability?

 

[Viking1]

Wendy

It good to now you got home safe

I go with Clive on this there shud be training for tow a caravan ok I now that C,C & C,C,P have classes on it.

I went on one with the C,C,P were I learnt a lot but I still thick we need so thick better then what they are do.

 

[Steve L]

What an experience, next time take down his reg number and report him as a suspect drunk driver, that'll get him stopped. Well it did for me but for the wrong reason.

I was travelling home from Worcester to Leominster at about 11pm, on the A44 doing 60mph in my trusty (no not rusty)Renault 5 when I caught up with a Rover 400 doing 45 mph. I over took him safely and then the fun started. He proceeded to tail gate me at upto 85mph flashing his lights, swerving all over the road and sounding his horn.

When I got to the edge of Leominster I noticed a police van coming the other way. He did a 180 in the road and followed me to my house.

The cheeky bleeder in the rover had phoned in and reported that they believed I was a drunk driver. When I told thepolice officer what had happened he then backed off and said he'd chat with the rover gang for wasting police time.

Seems like if you mention drink and car driving that get's an immediate response!!

It also seems like there's an idiot per mile judging by the accounts on here too.

Oh well I'll pop off and practice more drifting in my XJ40, oh by the way I do that on an old air strip, not the A44!!??

 

[emmerson2]

Emmerson,

In this case we are certainly not inexperienced caravanners. With over thirty years under our belts, we ought to know the ropes by now.

This stretch of motorway had two lanes, had it have been three maybe this wouldn't have happened. It just seems that some idiots have it in for people towing caravans. If it's not the oldies driving at 30mph holding up a string of traffic, who you happened to be behind. It's the others who cut in front of you on a motorway, causing you to anchor on, and then take a left turn, it's infuriating, and dangerous.

Thanks alot Brave Fart, it certainly has not put us off visiting the Highlands, this has happened a few times in various places. We shall be returning to Scotland in September. :O)

Evening all. Wendy, I'm just catching up on the last two days, and noted your reply. It's quite obvious from your past postings that you are experienced caravanners, and my post was in no way directed at you! It was a general rumination on the possible cause of so many van accidents.Please accept my apologies.

 

[Ogre]

Just accept that there are a lot of thick, stupid people on the roads!!

My advice. Treat everybody else on the road as a total raving idiot!!

Believe me, after 20 years caravanning, we've met a few of these clowns too. You can't educate them, they are too thick for that. You also can't teach them anything, because they know it all.

Just leave plenty of space, and enjoy your drive. If you get there an hour later than planned, So What! At least you'll get there.

 

[Steve L]

Just accept that there are a lot of thick, stupid people on the roads!!

My advice. Treat everybody else on the road as a total raving idiot!!

Believe me, after 20 years caravanning, we've met a few of these clowns too. You can't educate them, they are too thick for that. You also can't teach them anything, because they know it all.

Just leave plenty of space, and enjoy your drive. If you get there an hour later than planned, So What! At least you'll get there.

Quite right Kieth, I've always said we have the house on the back so it doesn't matter if wehaveto stop in a layby over night.

It amazes me just how many folk we see dashing for the early morning ferry instead of cruising down the day before and stopping over night just a stones throw away.

It's tough enough driving abroad without the pre-tension of a ferry dash.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Emmerson,

In this case we are certainly not inexperienced caravanners. With over thirty years under our belts, we ought to know the ropes by now.

This stretch of motorway had two lanes, had it have been three maybe this wouldn't have happened. It just seems that some idiots have it in for people towing caravans. If it's not the oldies driving at 30mph holding up a string of traffic, who you happened to be behind. It's the others who cut in front of you on a motorway, causing you to anchor on, and then take a left turn, it's infuriating, and dangerous.

Thanks alot Brave Fart, it certainly has not put us off visiting the Highlands, this has happened a few times in various places. We shall be returning to Scotland in September. :O)

Apology accepted, thanks. Wendy

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Clive regarding your comments about reversing - we can all have a bad day. On one occassion I had to do a three point turn with the van hitched up - apart from my wife there was no one to witness a perfect manouvre. However I have also made a pig's year of reversing onto a pitch which did not have a caravan either side. The worse it got the more flustered I was getting. There are good days and there are bad days.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Clive regarding your comments about reversing - we can all have a bad day. On one occassion I had to do a three point turn with the van hitched up - apart from my wife there was no one to witness a perfect manouvre. However I have also made a pig's year of reversing onto a pitch which did not have a caravan either side. The worse it got the more flustered I was getting. There are good days and there are bad days.

should read "pig's ear..." Sorry

 

[CliveV]

Oh I have them as well - but it does seem to me that not enough people go on the excellent courses that are available.

When you are tired after a long journey it is so easy to make a mistake. I hate to see people shouting at one another when the have just arrived.

I know I tow a lot but I often have to make a conscious effort to think when reversing on arrival - it is all to easy to balls it up because you have relaxed - "We're here!" But if I go back to basics and start over - all is OK.

All I am saying is that without the basics being there - it is a losing battle. I have seen happy families degenerate into Mum and Dad not talking and the kids sniffling whilst the caravan is still not where they want it.

 

[Steve_5121568]

Its not just idiots in cars you have to worry about its also lorry's and caravaners. I am a coach driver as well as a caravaner and regularly travel one of the busiest stretchs of the motorway, Namely the M5 from the south west and M6 up to the highlands of scotland.You have to watch out for lorrys pulling out for no reason whatsoever,Thats only when they have finished reading thier magazine or paper which is laid out over the steering wheel. But also caravaners who think they can drive as fast as thier vehicle will allow them, my coach as a top speed of 60mph and I am always having caravans passing me as if I'm parked up on the hard shoulder and some of the time swaying from side to side just waiting to finish up on it's roof.

Speed limits are set for a reason especially for caravans I have lost count how many hours I have had to sit in a queue on the motorway whilst some poor soul is having thier caravan picked up from the motorway.

SO LETS KEEP TO THE SPEED LIMIT AND ARRIVE SAFELY AND ENJOY OUR HOLIDAYS

 

[Viking1]

Steve

I not say your one of them but I see a lot of coach / bus dive who do the same as what you have put.

To me you shod thick all drives are no good so you are ready for a dad drive to do some thick wrong weather it be a Taxi or Bus or Coach or Lorry or Car with or without Caravan or Motorbike drive. As you will come a cross bad driver what whether thing they are driving.

Mark

 

[Mike_5041089]

The Silly Season's now well and truly started! Whilst taking my van up to Highbridge Caravans this morning for its annual service, and stuck in horrendous traffic on the M5 J25-6 contraflows, what do I see weaving down the southbound carriageway - a Citroen Xsara Picasso towing a twin axle 23ft van. No doubt he'll be making the news and holding everyone up when his grossly unstable outfit goes into a snake. Hopefully the Police will pull him over before someone gets hurt. The van must have been a good 1/2 ton heavier than the car - towing at 150% - no thanks.

 

[Steve L]

I'm afraid Idiots are in their own class and don't need any particular vehicle to be coplete plonkers!!

I had a funky moped overtake me just because I was doing 20 Mph while going past our local blind college in Hereford. He even overtook while we were in the zig zag area approaching the crossing. I resisted road rage but got even by getting her in doors to take a picky of the bike clearly on the wrong side of the road with her phone. This has now been forwarded to the wooden tops.

Then yesterday while towing our van at 40 mph on the narrow A481 out of Builth to the A44 a berk in an Audi A3 overtook blindly and then proceeded to slow us down as his mate was in his astra and still behind us.

So again resisting temptation to let my 6ft 1in cave man erupt I calmly waited for a good straight at New Radnor and overtook him so he could be with his more sensible mate. We averaged 55mph all the way back to Leominster so as you can see we are no dithering fools when on the move in the right circumstance.

That's the important bit that people miss these days. Doing things safely and in the right context.

 

[HamishC]

Our scariest moment was on the A82 in Scotland returning from our holiday last summer.

my better half driving, noticed a Ferrari stopped on the road, while his passenger ran down the road to retrieve his blown off baseball cap!

She indicated, and started to move over to overtake the parked ferrari, just as a car behind decided to overtake us, forcing us to return briskly to the left, but rapidly closing the gap on the rear of the Ferrari (and no we were not going too fast!)Fortunately the Ferrari driver noticed what was going on an shot off at high speed, allowing us to continue safely.

Albeit giving his hat retrieving pasenger a longer walk to the car!! The case of the following car not knowing what was ahead and overtaking 'that damned caravan' despite ample signalling that we were moving out to overtake.

These instances are rare, but are none the less very scary at the time!

We do normally drive at a steady 50mph when safe to do so, and will always signal other drivers when it is safe to pass, or pull over to let traffic clear, when we can.

I too used to drive coaches, and was shocked at the standard of driving on our roads. I now run my own taxi, and still see some amazingly mad/bad driving.Or is it just that I am getting old and grumpy at 40??

Hamish