Slowing down to look at crashes!

**KATWYN** · 7th July 2004, 16:06

Well I look, at the same time I am hoping and praying they are o.k.
Just like whenever I see an ambulance screaming along with its lights
on I get goosebumps and literally start feeling sick, cos I know someone
or someones families life is about to change.

I don't look to stare at someones misfortune -

It could even be someone I know, if I stare straight ahead to be PC and not a sicko,then what if I find out it was my family member,
or my freind, then what?

Thats why I look.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 7th July 2004, 18:04

Originally Posted by Skyryder

However if the accident happens on the other side of the meridian well that's another story.

Would that be the Greenwich or the Paris meridian that you are talking about?

**bgd** · 7th July 2004, 19:37

Originally Posted by KATWYN

... if I stare straight ahead to be PC ...

Don't think it's PC, in my case I see it more as a survival thing. Over here often multiple accidents occur (on motorways) following the original accident simply because drivers are not paying attention as they pass. I'd prefer not to be another statistic so I'm extra alert passing the site of an accident and that ususally leaves me no capacity to have a look.

**KATWYN** · 7th July 2004, 19:41

Originally Posted by bgd

Don't think it's PC, in my case I see it more as a survival thing. Over here often multiple accidents occur (on motorways) following the original accident simply because drivers are not paying attention as they pass. I'd prefer not to be another statistic so I'm extra alert passing the site of an accident and that ususally leaves me no capacity to have a look.

Yes that makes sense to carry on in that situation. Can imagine slowing down
would create further probs

**Bob** · 7th July 2004, 19:55

Originally Posted by toads

therein lies the difference between your roads and ours, I always slow down and look, if I see an accident, for the simple reason there might be someone who needs help, it's going to be a long time before emergency services reach them and may not even have been notified. I agree it's goulish to watch for the sake of it, but it's dependant upon time and place.

In this case it wasn't a case of finding someone or seeing an accident - the police, fire brigade and ambulance services were already there (as I said, they were hauling away the two cars involved). This was on a major 'A' road - all dual carriageway, so there was no way over to the accident from 'my' side of the road.

I do agree though - if you see someone down and the authorities aren't there, always best to pull up and see if they need assistance.

It is possible to find quiet, relatively unpopulated areas over here as well (even if we do squeeze around 70 million people in an area the same size as NZ)!

**Lou Girardin** · 7th July 2004, 20:25

Even if it were someone you knew katwyn, you wouldn't recognise them.
It's a much better idea to concentrate on your driving.

**jimbo600** · 7th July 2004, 20:31

Originally Posted by Bob

WHAT IS IT WITH CAR DRIVERS!

On the way home this evening, a normally flowing section of road ahead of me looks backed up.

Reason? There had been a serious accident on the other side (two cars being hauled away, one of them had had the roof cut off). So the sickoes in cars all slow down to have a good look! At least those of us on bikes had the decency to keep going.

Soon as they were past the "Viewing Zone", they all got back up to normal speeds. Sick, sick people - and to make it worse, the ambulance had to come back in my direction (assume closest A&E my way) so the ghouls would have slowed him down.

People like that need a good slap, they really do.

Was that on the M40? I used to work at RAF Northolt and we used to see this all the time. Lots of nose to tails too from the gawkers slowing down.

**Bob** · 7th July 2004, 20:38

Originally Posted by jimbo750

Was that on the M40? I used to work at RAF Northolt and we used to see this all the time. Lots of nose to tails too from the gawkers slowing down.

Friend of mine used to be in the RAF Auxiliary at Northolt! Small world etc.

But no, it wasn't the M40 (they're still trying to finish off the roadworks on there, btw - I've lost track of how many years that has been going on), but the 'new' section of the A12 that goes from the top of the East India Dock Road out to the start of the M11.

**maybe** · 7th July 2004, 20:55

I used to be an Ambulance Officer one time we were at an accident some dick went past so close clipped the door of the Ambulance just missed us then went into the corner of the fire truck that was assisting us.

**jimbo600** · 7th July 2004, 20:57

Originally Posted by Bob

Friend of mine used to be in the RAF Auxiliary at Northolt! Small world etc.

But no, it wasn't the M40 (they're still trying to finish off the roadworks on there, btw - I've lost track of how many years that has been going on), but the 'new' section of the A12 that goes from the top of the East India Dock Road out to the start of the M11.

Yeah I know the road.

They are STILL working on the M40. Flippin' flip, I left there in '96

**Bob** · 7th July 2004, 21:38

As long as my wife is happy to rack up some more motorway miles on her XV250 (not an ideal m/way bike, it'll do 75, but that is wringing the neck out of it), got to use the M40 next month.

If we do, I'll have to report back on how the roadworks are coming along! Haven't been on it for a couple of years, so maybe they finally got done (though I doubt it somehow).

Talking M40 - I've always been convinced that section that goes through a valley - around about Thame? - is the one they use in the opening scenes of 'The Vicar of Dibley'. Never been able to get this confirmed though.

**Motu** · 7th July 2004, 22:17

As I slowly trundle past an accident scene I gawk too - but I'm thinking how the hell did this happen? skid marks,what hit what,where,tragectories,make,model,that's a nice arse on the ambulance chick...I find accidents interesting.

**scumdog** · 7th July 2004, 23:53

Originally Posted by Motu

As I slowly trundle past an accident scene I gawk too - but I'm thinking how the hell did this happen? skid marks,what hit what,where,tragectories,make,model,that's a nice arse on the ambulance chick...I find accidents interesting.

Me too, especially when a rubber-necker runs over a flare he hasn't seen 'cos he's too busy looking out his side window, you can bet he don't need a dose of Ex-lax for a month.

**Firefight** · 8th July 2004, 07:01

Originally Posted by maybe

I used to be an Ambulance Officer one time we were at an accident some dick went past so close clipped the door of the Ambulance just missed us then went into the corner of the fire truck that was assisting us.

'

Sadly the same thing happened just north of H bridge a few years ago, drunk driver, killed a professional firefighter who was already working at another MVA, Then his co workers had to cut the drunken bastrd out of the wreckage while Jims body lay on the road next to the fire appliance covered with a tarpalin.

F/F

**jimbo600** · 8th July 2004, 12:19

Originally Posted by Bob

As long as my wife is happy to rack up some more motorway miles on her XV250 (not an ideal m/way bike, it'll do 75, but that is wringing the neck out of it), got to use the M40 next month.

If we do, I'll have to report back on how the roadworks are coming along! Haven't been on it for a couple of years, so maybe they finally got done (though I doubt it somehow).

Talking M40 - I've always been convinced that section that goes through a valley - around about Thame? - is the one they use in the opening scenes of 'The Vicar of Dibley'. Never been able to get this confirmed though.

You're absolutely right.