Sheppey bridge accident

[Colin Pook]

So it wasn't the fault of motorists driving at 60-70 mph, or not having any lights on--IT WAS THE FOG! Well I never!! and gor blimey.

So tell me, if 2 ships collide in fog, then it isn't the cap'ns fault, they can be exonerated at the enquiry because it was foggy.. I never knew that!

Several years ago, I was driving my family home after a day at Bristol zoo. It came down foggy, as thick as guts on the M4. I looked at my speedo, and it read 20mph, and there was no way that I could have safely driven any faster. Lights , and hazards on.

First of all an articulated milk tanker roared past me, and hot on his heels were about a dozen or so cars. In the next 10-15 minutes I was overtaken by at least 20 vehicles all doing about 60-70mph.. I came up behind 2 red lights, slowed down and stayed there. When the fog bank lifted I was in a line of about 50 vehicles all ambling along about 20-30 with plenty of space between us.

Were there any police cars about? was there hell

Morons, all of them.

Colin

[John Pruden]

colin go on to any motorway and look at the driving of some people 70/80/90 mph in all weathers snow ice they just dont think? because they have the likes of a 4x4 it can work in all conditions stupid the cops should have been there this morning in that fog pure luck no one was killed.jp

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Colin and John P.,

I share your concerns about the driving habits of some (it's the same here in Oz). Whilst not fully conversant with the particular incident you refer to, I shall try and be careful in what I say. John, your belief that Police presence would have alleviated the problem may well be the case in this instance, however, in the aftermath of any serious traffic incident there always seems to be a tendency to blame the presence of inclement weather and/or the absence of police or other traffic authorities. The unfortunate truth is, the reason for most traffic incidents, collisions etc. comes down to the lunatic behaviour of those who choose to drive a lethal weapon whilst exercising the mentality of sheep. Surely, as a licensed driver of a motor vehicle one has a duty to exercise caution and consideration for other road users at all times. Those who think otherwise should not be driving at all. The ability to drive a motor vehicle correctly is a skill that most aspire to, but so many choose not to practice once they obtain the much sought after driver's licence. In this enlightened age where responsiblity for ones actions is something to be avoided, the tendency to blame something or someone else for ones own folly has now become common practice. With this in mind, the level of carnage on our roads does not surprise me. However hard you may try, you can't put brains in statues.

The scenario you described, Colin, is one so common and yet, potentially, as deadly as a game of Russian Roulette. In thick fog, the driver of a 'juggernaut' late for a delivery, perhaps, and high on 'yipee beans' decides to forge his way forward at a speed of 50 mph (or worse). Not one to let a chance go begging, the impatient, unwary driver will join others of similar ilk who form up in the wake of the leading vehicle in the mistaken belief that if anything should happen the juggernaut will cop it, but the rest will be able to stop in time. Such moronic behaviour is not something peculiar to British motorists. The belief that 'if anything nasty happens it will be someone else who gets it' is common to drivers the world over. It is this very same 'sheep' mentality that is the cause of so many horrific motorway collisions which are now almost commonplace. I think I may have mentioned it before on this site, but at risk of sounding monotonous we would do well to remember that the most common cause of a motor vehicle collision is the driver who, when following another vehicle, does not allow sufficient distance/time in which to stop his vehicle in the event of an emergency. It is the very same person who does not recognise a need to allow for other factors that may prevail such as speed, visibility, weather conditions and road surface, etc.

In view of my forthright opinion, perhaps I should explain that at one time I was a police investigator of motor vehicle accidents and, as such, acquired some knowledge of the subject. As ex-seamen I know we are a dying breed, but let's not go before our time. Please! don't be a sheep - drive safely !


..............................Roger

[happy daze john in oz]

Driving is a privelege not a given right. One should drive to conditions not speed limits, but there rae so many out there who think they are Stirling Moss or similar. the fact is such men knew how to drive, not just aim the car as so many do.

Here in Oz in Victoria toi obtain a driving licence one has to log 200 hours of driving before a permit will be issued. So out they go with mum and dad, aunts and uncles to learn all their bad habits and of course the figures for the 200 hours are all fudged and forged. Then we complain because the road toll is too high, why?. I suggesdted to out minister for crashing on the road, ( actualy supposed transport minister) and suggested thta all learners undergo a minimum of 10 hours with a driving school. His responce, that would be expensive for some. Well minister so are funerals.

[Mike Hall]

Concerning yesterdays Sheppey bridge accident, I would like to note the following.
(The bridge is only 9 miles away from me and I use it quite a bit when visiting the sheerness area.)

This morning my wife had to be at the hospital by 08.15. In the process of getting there and back home again, i was cut up several times by some bad drivers, at one time I indicated to pull out and overtake, when the lorry behind me went to do the same, but he kept going, not letting me pull out. how close that was to another accident, I could not tell you.

I can now see how the bridge accident happened, most drivers have one thing in mind, "I must get to my destination at all costs" .

If it was not for my quick thinking and being in the past a professional driver with advanced driver training, I could have been squashed by that lorry, it just does not bear thinking about.

Some drivers these days are not safe.

[robpage]

A couple of months ago I was due to go for an appointment in Ealing , I left here with almost tone and a half spare hours and an hour and a half travelling time . There was a Fatal accident at Guildford that used up the spare time . I have not travelled in the morning rush for years and was shocked by the appalling driving standards . I changed from the Outside to the middle lane , to facilitate the exit some three miles ahead to the M25 , the traffic was travelling at less than five miles an hour , there was nothing in my inside mirror as I signalled and started the move , then two motorcycles went through , at over forty miles an hour . They missed my passenger door by less than an fag paper one knocking the nearside mirror . After that my attention was so activated that I had to stop at the M4 Services to get rid of the shakes . I missed the appointment , remade it from the services and came home . But I started noticing driving standards more after the motorcyclists , who seemed to believe they had a right to use the white lines between the lanes as a super highway went passed . The amount of people who do not signal is incredible , the close overtakers and tailgaters more common than I realised , and a few people were driving so dangerously at speed the need retraining . I believe that driving standards are at an all time low . I am not an advocate of retests , but feel that some people driving high powered cars need an advanced test , before they are let loose in them

[Mike Hall]

ROB,
Your comment about the motorcyclists does annoy me.
Many of the ad campaigns tell us motorists to "think bike " before we pull out.

Some of the motorcyclists are the biggest offenders for breaking the law.

[robpage]

I always think bike , I use a narrow road several times a week and pull tight to the edge to let bikes through , most are sensible , but when you get two or three together they seem to lose their will to live . What happened was reckless , and if I had been able to go slightly faster I am sure there would have been a fatality , the fact that I was at walking speed , gave me enough time to abort the maneuver part way , The car behind in the outer lane had closed the gap up that I was vacating . I wa ssurprised that it shook me up like it did .

[Keith Tindell]

As one of the people who used to have to attend these incidents to cut out the remains of the dead, and also the living, i think when motorists are convicted of speeding, or reckless driving they should be made to watch some of the horrific scenes as punishment. i am sure they would then reflect on the misery caused. In 30 years in the Fire Service it was the part of the job i disliked the most, KT

[happy daze john in oz]

Concerning yesterdays Sheppey bridge accident, I would like to note the following.
(The bridge is only 9 miles away from me and I use it quite a bit when visiting the sheerness area.)

This morning my wife had to be at the hospital by 08.15. ................................

Mike, sorry to hear of your near misfortune but it is symptomatic of todays society. It is all about 'me, me,me' and the rest can go to hell in a handcart. There is an old saying, do as you would be done by, but do it forst.