Beware 4x4s

BartyB · Sep 21, 2010

I was having a great drive up in the Cotswolds yesterday nicely bimbling along in no particular hurry on the A44 going up to Long Compton. The roof was down, the stereo was off so I could enjoy the soundtrack of the beautiful flat six. At Southcombe, near Chipping Norton, the A44 forks to the left, and most of the traffic that was in front of me continued round to the left.

I came up to a Land Rover Discovery that was waiting at the lights to go straight ahead in the right hand lane. I pulled up behind him and was waiting for the lights to go green when all of a sudden the clot throws the Discovery into reverse and smashes into the front of me. I didn't get a chance to take evasive action other than sound my horn.

After exchanging details, it turns out he decided to back up so he could move into the left lane to go left on the A44 but couldn't see me. Apparently I was "very low" and he didn't see me behind him. No witnesses unfortunately.

The Discovery was sporting a towbar and step which has done a fair bit of damage to my front end. Not a mark on his car of course. As you can imagine, I'm somewhat miffed having had an accident-free run for 10 years and now having to go through the hassle of sorting out insurance and facing the inevitable rise in premium next renewal. I'm awaiting the estimate from Spraymaster but it looks like it's going to be a complete new front end.

Next time I come up behind a large 4x4 or van I'll make sure the Bose is on full blast and the headlamps on main beam. A.

colinbythesea · Sep 21, 2010

Ouch. Has he admitted liability to his insurers? If so you should be OK with insurance renewal.

spyderman · Sep 21, 2010

Sure this wasn't an insurance scam? Mind you, they normally travel with more than one person in the car.

Had a big black Audi Chelsea Tractor up my chuff on the way to work this morning. As soon as we got to a traffic cue he forces himself into the other lane. And was he paying full attention to his driving? No - he was texting on his mobile. Seriously - texting.

Black80XSA · Sep 21, 2010

Sorry to hear the news.

I'm more inclined these days to adopt the tread n Tarmac distancing at junctions and lights. Does allow a bit more gap than most people would normally leave.

Tread n Tarmac means you stop at a distance where you can clearly see the Tyres of the car ahead touching the road surface. This typically also gives enough room to move around said vehicle if it breakdows down.

Mark Elder · Sep 21, 2010

ORIGINAL: spyderman

Had a big black Audi Chelsea Tractor up my chuff on the way to work this morning. As soon as we got to a traffic cue he forces himself into the other lane. And was he paying full attention to his driving? No - he was texting on his mobile. Seriously - texting.

See it every morning - about half my 12 miles to office is in town traffic - not too slow but always a few red lights. I look around me and always see someone every day texting or trying to find a name in their phone to call as their car is crawling along.

About a week ago a guy in an Audi stopped in middle of a box junction in a queue. Started texting. Traffic moved off and he just stopped there by himself, in middle of junction, oblivious, texting away.

williaa68 · Sep 21, 2010

ORIGINAL: Black80XSA

Sorry to hear the news.

I'm more inclined these days to adopt the tread n Tarmac distancing at junctions and lights. Does allow a bit more gap than most people would normally leave.

Tread n Tarmac means you stop at a distance where you can clearly see the Tyres of the car ahead touching the road surface. This typically also gives enough room to move around said vehicle if it breakdows down.

+1 on the feelings. It must be incredibly annoying to tangle with some muppet in these circumstances - I am sure you have all the sympathy of everyone on here.

I hadnt heard of the "tread and tarmac" concept until i did a driving day with Bernard Aubrey a few months ago. It was one of the best things he taught me. It does get some strange looks occasionally when one leaves a significant gap to the next car at a junction or roundabout but it makes sense. Andrew

GOOFY · Sep 24, 2010

i always hang back from large vehicles due to this and also keep my hids on continously / or fog lights (annoying I know !) as I have one or two HGV's almost side swipe me as cas so low.

spyderman · Sep 24, 2010

ORIGINAL: williaa68
It does get some strange looks occasionally when one leaves a significant gap to the next car at a junction or roundabout but it makes sense.

The saying you sometimes see on the back of the lorries is quite true:
"If you can't see my mirrors - I can't see you".

gdavison · Sep 24, 2010

+ 1 on the Tyres on Tarmac - was taught that on the Porsche Prescision driving course, as well as the "your slowing down at a junction / lights is what slows the guy behind you down, so control the zone behind you etc etc" .. Great course and I'd have to say the on raod driving skills improved my driving way more than the on track section .. Track section was however more fun

Hope the car gets fixed soon and to your satisfaction

BartyB · Sep 26, 2010

Sadly there was a good six feet or more between us. I did an advanced driving course many years ago and since then I've always left enough space so I can see the bottom of tyres of the vehicle in front plus a foot of tarmac but sadly it didn't pay off on this occasion. He had a lot of gear in the back and a big spare wheel on his tailgate but I'm not really sure he actually looked behind and had assumed all the traffic behind him had turned off to the left. He admitted it was his fault, saying his wife had suggested they go the other way.

I'm hoping he'll be as good as gold when his insurers receive the estimate from Spraymasters. Fingers crossed.

keithm · Sep 27, 2010

I drive with lights on always, biker habits die hard. I also leave a large gap behind any car but also tend too position my car to one side or the other when stopping. This way, they should see me, I emphasise should!

BartyB · Sep 29, 2010

The estimate from Spraymasters has just arrived. A grand total of £1251.01.

BartyB · Nov 17, 2010

Just a footnote to say that I've just got the car back from Spraymasters looking as good as new.

Fortunately, the other party confessed and the claim went through without a hitch, albeit a bit slower than I'd liked. Can't complain too much though as I got loaned an AMG E-class for a week (more by luck than by design I suspect). Just to say that Spraymasters at Swindon were very helpful and did a really good job. Happy to recommend them to anyone who needs a good bodyshop.