So i suppose all of the people who are criticising the Audi driver have never gone to fast around a corner (they might have not been around before) or never had a "boy that was close" moment.

All perfect drivers who never speed and have never misjudged something.

.

I think what most people would agree with, is if it had been us in the Audi, we would have been Muppets too.

I am also a fully signed up member to the Muppet Club probably and look forward to meeting the Audi driver at the Christmas bash.

I have to agree with Ross here. Perhaps the driver ignored a couple of "Slow" markings etc, but just because he made a couple of mistakes on this corner and consequently had a bit of an accident does not mean that he deserves to have the book thrown at him, etc etc.

If this happened to me and it was a genuine accident and people were begging the police to throw the book at me I would be most upset. Until the outcome of the investigations/insurance claims are made clear I think it's a little unfair for us to all go about ripping the Audi drivers' driving ability/moral responsibility to shreds.

Wise words of Lummox.I think my mate got cautioned and had points on his licence after having an accident in his mums Corsa some years back. It prob depends on the seriousness of the incident.Glad everyones alright.I saw the damage pics and thought doesn't look too bad until I saw its slightly bent near the front wheel arch.At least the side impact beams and crumple zones worked What's a B Pillar?

What's a B Pillar?

The pillar between the doors. A pillar is the winscreen, B between the doors, C at the rear screen.

I don't know if the car is a write-off, but it could well be. Sympathy to the OP.

A driver takes a hump-back bridge at 50mph plus with his wife and kids in the car..... would any of you here do the same with your nearest and dearest on board ??????

I would have found the whole incident easier if the driver had been a young lad in his Dad's Audi out for a quick blast if I'm honest...

BTW, the driver was Polish... bet that would change a few opinions (knowing some of the views on this forum) if I'd mentioned that in my OP

A driver takes a hump-back bridge at 50mph plus with his wife and kids in the car..... would any of you here do the same with your nearest and dearest on board ??????

Certainly not.

BTW, the driver was Polish... bet that would change a few opinions (knowing some of the views on this forum) if I'd mentioned that in my OP

Doesn't change my view at all. He was an idiot, and lucky to not have killed anyone.

Perhaps the driver ignored a couple of "Slow" markings etc, but just because he made a couple of mistakes on this corner and consequently had a bit of an accident does not mean that he deserves to have the book thrown at him, etc etc.

Well that would make the road markings/signs etc worthless. What makes him different from anyone else? He ignored the warnings, which are there to prevent this very thing happening.

He deserves what he gets.

I hope the rozzers made sure there wasn't a "diesel spill" on the bend.

John has got a very good point.you don't drive hell bent like Fabrizio Giovanardi with your nearest and dearest on unfamiliar roads and in a car where you prob don't know how it handles on various conditions especially on a blind hump bridge.DWDCA he prob got charged with and rightly so.

We've got no real idea of how he was driving or exactly why the accident happened - so I think a judgement is a little premature.The damage, although a glance, would suggest high speed was not an issue.It may even be that something broke on the car causing it to veer.I can see no hump bridge sign, priority sign, speed advisory sign, sharp turn sign/road veering chevrons, we cannot see if there are 'slow' warnings in the direction the car was coming from or if they are worn out. We have no idea on the direction of the sun or shadows, the condition of the road surface or spillages etc.There also appears to be gouges in the road surface/frequent patching - suggesting plenty of sump impacts from many other drivers taken unawares perhaps?

John, can i suggest you go to the doctors tomorrow and get them to check your neck out just in case. also will back you up if you later make a claim for the injury.

As for comments on the audi driver. I was taught and then taught again when i trained for the advance driving test that you dont drive faster than the stopping distance of what you can see. if you go over a hump bridge you slow down a bit and ready with the brakes. But there would have no doubt (and i be suprised if there wasnt) a left hand bend sign (possibly on the same post as the hump bridge sign) to warn drivers of the up coming obstacles. so i for one have no feelings towards the audi man just for john and the driver of the blue car that have suffered from someone elses careless/dangerous driving.

So i suppose all of the people who are criticising the Audi driver have never gone to fast around a corner (they might have not been around before) or never had a "boy that was close" moment.

yep, i nearly turned an audi quattro over on a hump back bridge when i was about 19:O

We've got no real idea of how he was driving or exactly why the accident happened - so I think a judgement is a little premature.The damage, although a glance, would suggest high speed was not an issue.It may even be that something broke on the car causing it to veer.I can see no hump bridge sign, priority sign, speed advisory sign, sharp turn sign/road veering chevrons, we cannot see if there are 'slow' warnings in the direction the car was coming from or if they are worn out. We have no idea on the direction of the sun or shadows, the condition of the road surface or spillages etc.There also appears to be gouges in the road surface/frequent patching - suggesting plenty of sump impacts from many other drivers taken unawares perhaps?

Well no, these are all opinions but it's quite clear to see the facts. If he had been going at a speed dictated by the conditions the accident would not have happened or if it were a simple error of judgement I doubt it would have been any worse than a scrape. He was doing a fair speed to hit one, then another car. The signs would have been there and it makes little difference about sun/shadows as you drive to the conditions. Speed was an issue, he lost control because his wheels had left the ground.

The fact the road shows signs of other incidents as well is quite revealing. It means it's a nasty bit of road and he should have slowed down.

Edited 21 September, 200817 yr by Decron

Quite obviously if eveyone drove at a speed dictated by the conditions and at a speed with which they could stop in the distance they could see - no one would ever move.

I'm glad some of us are obviously perfect drivers and faultless human beings - however I guarantee that if these 'perfect' people were followed around for a few hours they would make errors of judgement that but for luck or the compensative actions of other drivers, would have them in jail by their own standards.

I have in my mind a picture of what mihgt have happened, having seen many an oncoming car do similar on a bridge near us when they try to scrub off speed on a crest. Given the OP said the cyclists on the bridge were lucky not to be killed the driver undoubtedly went over the bridge too quickly for the view offered, caught sight of the cyclists and bend and braked or swerved and as car was "light" at crest of bridge it lost traction and carried straight on into the cars at other side of bridge, perhaps....

A muppet, but still main thing is everyone is ok, and wish you all the best in your recovery and your vehicle

Quite obviously if eveyone drove at a speed dictated by the conditions and at a speed with which they could stop in the distance they could see - no one would ever move.

I'm glad some of us are obviously perfect drivers and faultless human beings - however I guarantee that if these 'perfect' people were followed around for a few hours they would make errors of judgement that but for luck or the compensative actions of other drivers, would have them in jail by their own standards.

You have missed the point. It's not about being perfect, it's about not doing something that could kill you or even worse others.

You only go as fast as you can stop, meaning you can always stop in time to prevent an accident. Driving with this in mind doesn't slow you down infact you can usually make better progress especially if you understand the limit point.

police dont call them road traffic accidents these days as they dont consider them an accident. these days they are called road traffic collisions as the vehicle/s have collided .

I did a very similar thing many years ago in an almost identical layout on a strange (to me) road (a hump bridge over the Aylesbury branch of the Grand Union Canal) got away with it, just. Definitley my worst moment/mistake in a car.

I know most of those bridges, and they vary from moderate to ohmygod in steepness and vision ahead. Lucky you!

Phil

any update on the fate of your car?

Even if I'd been "led into" that bridge by an easy right (not something I can say) I'd have been on the brakes when I saw the steepness of the crest, never mind the cyclists (who all appear to have escaped by the time the photography started?).

Yes I've "got away" with mistakes but usually my mistakes involve unexpected and invisible slippery patches, not failure to observe! That said, for every "slow" and "tight bend" sign I've seen that actually warns you of a nasty bend, I've seen 3 that don't, or are completely unnecessary. For example, leaving Tarbet, Loch Lomond on the A82 North, you accelerate to about 40mph, and start encountering Slows; by the time you reach a bend you can't take at 50, you've passed over 4 of them!

Even if I'd been "led into" that bridge by an easy right (not something I can say) I'd have been on the brakes when I saw the steepness of the crest, never mind the cyclists (who all appear to have escaped by the time the photography started?).

Ditto. The road over the bridge is narrow, that would have me on the brakes too.

His mistake he should pay for it. Hopefully he was insured.

The car is at Chippenham Accident Repair Centre being assessed.

Made a tip to the local Minor Injuries Unit was checked over and diagnosed as having a sprained right knee and 'muscle damage' to my neck and right shoulder... told to rest for 3-4 days and not to drive for a week.

Car has been assessed and will be repaired (estimated cost of damage is £3-4k), so I'll be getting it back....

Whether or not I'll be keeping it for long after I'm not sure, suppose I'll have to wait and see how it looks and if it still feels the same to drive if you know what I mean

That could have been a lot worse :eek: Wonder if the Audi driver was EBA :(

Sorry to see what had happened to your car but your alright which is the main thing.