Ian Anderson
Lifetime Supporter
Ok to start I am an account that normally drives 10 miles each way to the office so not normally a lot of miles on the roads.
So July - Le Mans Classic - crazy weather but as it transpired the cars were well driven and road rules obeyed.
2 weekends ago I took the GT40 to Liverpool for the weekend - about 230miles each way and the UK drivers needed to be reminded they are driving - not a film crew taking pictures of cars,and in one instance I was turning Right at a Green arrow turn signal and some BOZO decided he did not need to stop for the Red - Just as well the GT40 has good brakes and stops quickly. Likewise on the motorway the youngster sitting 6 foot from my tail at 80mph -me in the 40 and him in a Fiesta - sheer stupidity - he would not have stopped in time if anything happened!. I pulled over and let him past - much safer that way.
Last weekend I went to Scotland to pick up my daughter who had spent time with my parents during the school holidays. This time it was in the daily driver and about 1100 miles over the 4 days.
First off
M6 on Thursday and a Landrover coming South made a strange move - and ended up ramping up the armco and rolling onto it's roof - thank goodness there was a double armco in the central reservation at this point as the 2nd armco stopped it coming down our carrigeway on it's roof. This was 2 cars in front of me so without that barrier I doubt I would be here today! Still amazing how many people stopped and pulled the woman driver, her hubby and kids from the overturned car! No major injuries but so close.
Then Friday
North of Moffat on the way to Edinbrugh for the Tatoo and there was a car on it's roof - took a corner too fast on a damp road - wheels slid into the very soft verge dug in and over they went - again no injuries. I was 3rd car on the scene.
Sunday
Torrential rain on A1M and some people think they can still drive at 90 when the official limit is 70 and the conditions are visibility of 60 yards. I was so glad to get off that motorway and drive down the side roads.
Today
A Rear bumper blew off a truck back (Carrying car bits in opposite direction) and landed on our side of the motorway. Had to brake and steer around - the Van behind did too but 2 tons on skinny tyres do not make for good control - he missed my tail by inches - but hit the bumper still on the road (about 2 foot high by 6 foot across) - strange but he did not follow so closely after that.
Hell after these incidents I ask all to please take stock of their driving habits and check their bad ones - we all have them, be it travelling a little faster than the limit, taking a chance at traffic lights, following too closely, not indicating when changing direction etc. etc. etc.
Perhaps by being a bit more aware of the road and your surrounds you will make it home in one piece - I did but there were a few too many heart stopping moments!
Drive safely
Ian
So July - Le Mans Classic - crazy weather but as it transpired the cars were well driven and road rules obeyed.
2 weekends ago I took the GT40 to Liverpool for the weekend - about 230miles each way and the UK drivers needed to be reminded they are driving - not a film crew taking pictures of cars,and in one instance I was turning Right at a Green arrow turn signal and some BOZO decided he did not need to stop for the Red - Just as well the GT40 has good brakes and stops quickly. Likewise on the motorway the youngster sitting 6 foot from my tail at 80mph -me in the 40 and him in a Fiesta - sheer stupidity - he would not have stopped in time if anything happened!. I pulled over and let him past - much safer that way.
Last weekend I went to Scotland to pick up my daughter who had spent time with my parents during the school holidays. This time it was in the daily driver and about 1100 miles over the 4 days.
First off
M6 on Thursday and a Landrover coming South made a strange move - and ended up ramping up the armco and rolling onto it's roof - thank goodness there was a double armco in the central reservation at this point as the 2nd armco stopped it coming down our carrigeway on it's roof. This was 2 cars in front of me so without that barrier I doubt I would be here today! Still amazing how many people stopped and pulled the woman driver, her hubby and kids from the overturned car! No major injuries but so close.
Then Friday
North of Moffat on the way to Edinbrugh for the Tatoo and there was a car on it's roof - took a corner too fast on a damp road - wheels slid into the very soft verge dug in and over they went - again no injuries. I was 3rd car on the scene.
Sunday
Torrential rain on A1M and some people think they can still drive at 90 when the official limit is 70 and the conditions are visibility of 60 yards. I was so glad to get off that motorway and drive down the side roads.
Today
A Rear bumper blew off a truck back (Carrying car bits in opposite direction) and landed on our side of the motorway. Had to brake and steer around - the Van behind did too but 2 tons on skinny tyres do not make for good control - he missed my tail by inches - but hit the bumper still on the road (about 2 foot high by 6 foot across) - strange but he did not follow so closely after that.
Hell after these incidents I ask all to please take stock of their driving habits and check their bad ones - we all have them, be it travelling a little faster than the limit, taking a chance at traffic lights, following too closely, not indicating when changing direction etc. etc. etc.
Perhaps by being a bit more aware of the road and your surrounds you will make it home in one piece - I did but there were a few too many heart stopping moments!
Drive safely
Ian