Snake on M5

[Niall_McIntosh]

From today’s Daily Mail. Speed appears to be a major factor.

Heart-stopping moment driver loses control of his wobbling caravan

Dashcam footage, taken by lorry driver Lee Flower, shows a truck travelling down the M5 when a red car towing a caravan comes speeding down the motorway.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Buckman]

On another forum I watched that a couple of weeks ago as not sure why they think it happened 2 - 3 days ago. Evesham is nowhere near the M5? However really scary for both drivers and lucky no one was injured.

 

[otherclive]

On another forum I watched that a couple of weeks ago as not sure why they think it happened 2 - 3 days ago. Evesham is nowhere near the M5? However really scary for both drivers and lucky no one was injured.

Thought Evesham was only around 10 miles from the M5 so in a national paper that’s not that far.

 

[Buckman]

Thought Evesham was only around 10 miles from the M5 so in a national paper that’s not that far.

Probably closer to 16 miles however either Worcester or Tewkesbury would have been a lot closer. On checking the event occurred about two or more weeks ago and was posted on FB so we can forgive the DM. No wonder no one believes what newspapers print! LOL!

 

[borderbilly]

Overtaking 1 HGV is bad enough, but to go for the double? A prime contender for the Darwin award.

 

[RogerL]

Overtaking 1 HGV is bad enough, but to go for the double? A prime contender for the Darwin award.

So what do you do when there's a line of HGVs nose-to-tail at 56 mph and a clear overtaking lane.

On the evidence of the video, speed was the issue.

 

[Johnb]

Overtaking 1 HGV is bad enough, but to go for the double? A prime contender for the Darwin award.

I beg to differ!

I travel faster than lorries most of the time and consequently regularly overtake them.
Sometimes it may be far more than 2.

A properly maintained and loaded car and caravan, acknowledgement of any prevailing weather issues to allow for, never overtaking on a steep downhill section of road and, I suppose, driver awareness, all make the overtake safe and straightforward.

As for driving at 50mph (presumably speedo indicated) as suggested by one comment, a real speed of around 47mph, simply clogs up the motorway making driving more difficult for those who wish to, and can safely, maintain a real speed of 60mph, to do so

And of course a caravan at 47 mph in the inside lane simply forces HGVs to overtake and monopolise the central lane on a 3 lane motorway, which sometimes make overtaking when when towing a very long wait - the "3 mile" lorry overtake we have all experienced!

 

[borderbilly]

So what do you do when there's a line of HGVs nose-to-tail at 56 mph and a clear overtaking lane.

On the evidence of the video, speed was the issue.

I would sit behind them, no hurry, better to arrive late than arrive dead.

 

[RogerL]

I would sit behind them, no hurry, better to arrive late than arrive dead.

So no point in multi-lane roads?

 

[borderbilly]

So no point in multi-lane roads?

That's a silly reply, course there's a point. Inside lane for HGV and me, other lanes for the desperados.

 

[RogerL]

That's a silly reply, course there's a point. Inside lane for HGV and me, other lanes for the desperados.

I don't see why caravanners towing at or just below their legal speed limit should be regarded as desperados - our 60mph towing limit is lower than France (81mph) or Germany (62mph) although in both cases some other restrictions apply.

A vehicle travelling at 45-50 mph in good conditions shouldn't really be on a motorway, out of courtesy to everyone else including the HGVs.

 

[borderbilly]

Well the moron in the video was clearly a despo

 

[Buckman]

I don't see why caravanners towing at or just below their legal speed limit should be regarded as desperados - our 60mph towing limit is lower than France (81mph) or Germany (62mph) although in both cases some other restrictions apply.

A vehicle travelling at 45-50 mph in good conditions shouldn't really be on a motorway, out of courtesy to everyone else including the HGVs.

The last time we were in France I am sure that the towing speed was lower than ours. I know that in Spain it is definitely a lot lower.

 

[RogerL]

The last time we were in France I am sure that the towing speed was lower than ours. I know that in Spain it is definitely a lot lower.

That's why I posted "other restrictions" as only outfits under 3500 kg total can do 81 mph in France, over that they're restricted t 56 mph

 

[Beardy]

I would sit behind them, no hurry, better to arrive late than arrive dead.

I generally sit behind HGVs if they're maintaining 56mph. I have no problem adding 7 minutes to a 100 mile journey. I'll overtake if they drop to 50(ish) on uphill sections.

 

[Dustydog]

I too saw this on another forum week before last.
The guys speed looks a lot more than the lorry, say on 56. Did he have ATC?
Very similar to the one I saw a few weeks ago on the A40 in Wales.

National newspapers see J6 M5 as the gateway to Evesham , a place known by many of their readers 😜. Not many know Worcester😉

On the speed thing there is no doubt a correctly set up balanced unit paying heed to all the weight factors will be able to safely break the official speed limit. If I thought for one minute a snake will occur at 61 mph then where is the safety margin and why isn’t the max motorway speed say 50 mph. Bunkum🙀