Idiot Subaru driver
02 June 2007, 02:27 PM
#31
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I feel obliged to chip in here
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
02 June 2007, 02:28 PM
#32
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02 June 2007, 02:30 PM
#33
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). But I don't know what the evidence is, so whilst I find it hard to believe the bloke is innocent, I can't say for certain he's deserving of anything in particular.I still think that apparently "blowing a kiss at the victims" doesn't fit with a picture of remorse, or support "you couldn't meet a nicer person", but again there may be facts we don't know.
02 June 2007, 02:31 PM
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I feel obliged to chip in here
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
Cheers FMC for spreading a bit more light on the matter. Agree with your thoughts.
02 June 2007, 02:33 PM
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02 June 2007, 02:36 PM
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02 June 2007, 02:40 PM
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I feel obliged to chip in here
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
I know a bit about this case as the subaru driver was a headmaster from a local primary school. There were a few BBC web news links before this latest sentencing story hit the rounds, and here's what i have to say!
Some links:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher 'upset' at 120mph claim
Slighlty longer story:
BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher's '120mph danger crash'
Guilty verdict: BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
The sentence story: BBC NEWS | Wales | 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
The road was the A465 Heads of the Valleys road approaching Merthyr. I now it VERY well. It's a three-laner, NS limit. The subaru was going up the hill (and it's a big, long hill), on the dual section. The driver who got hit was going the other way down the hill on a single lane part. The driver said he saw the subaru coming quickly towards him when it lost control, swerving across all 3 lanes before finally colliding with him. He was unable to move out of its way. This alone gives some indication of potential speeds, as the subaru aquaplaned on a road-river section of the A465. It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip. Now imagine the speed it would need to be travelling at in the "road-river" to not only aqauaplane, but casue it to lose control and travel a fair distance across all three lanes, swerving uncontrollably before hitting the oncoming car?
The witness (a nurse IIRC, in the Saxo) guesstimated at "between 100-120" for the scoob. Not hard to imagine that, as if she'd been doing 50-55 (which i think she admitted), then for the scoob to "fly" past it would esily need to be doing a ton. So don't have a go at her for her estimate. Any of us would say the same, as the perspective she would experience from her car at, say 55mph, would be that the scoob would travel past quite quickly, with ease, and would cover the raod ahead very quickly if it was doing 100+. Even at just 80mph, it wouldn't have past her that quickly cos she was doing 55.
And to think he was a headmaster amost beggars belief IMO. He should have had more repsect for the car, the conditions, the other roadusers and himself. He gets what he deserves for driving like a ****. Simple as that.
For me howver, this story raises more questions over the state of our roads. Why the helldo we pay so much road tax and see so little of it going into maintaining, repairing and buiding new roads? This section of the 465 which has drainage problems needs to be addressed ASAP to avaoid a similiar future incident. My sympathy to the now disabled driver.
Rant over!!
Whilst "120" is something to get a headline, noting the nurse guessed at "about 100-120", passing her quickly when she was doing 55 and someone else who claimed he was doing 60, sounds like he was clearly going a lot over the speed limit.
And from my recollection of road traffic laws, the speed limit is only 70 if it's a dual carriageway / motorway with a central reservation of some kind. Doesn't sound like there was one, so the limit would have been 60.
02 June 2007, 02:43 PM
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In fact, i'm pretty sure.I'm off to check the highway code....
02 June 2007, 02:49 PM
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So I'll stick to my guns - no central reservation = 60mph limit
02 June 2007, 03:03 PM
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Well it seems the department for transport have come up with a blinder there!
You're right Hades, it'll be 60 on a two (or more) lane road WITHOUT a barrier/central reservation. I've even passed speed camera vans at 70 on such roads feeling safe in the knowledge it's a 70 not 60
It wasmy driving instructor that told me this years ago (i.e. limit increases to 70 when raod widens to 2 lanes, then reduces back to 60 when road reverts to a single. If i get caught for doing 70 on such a NSL road, i'm hunting him down!!
You're right Hades, it'll be 60 on a two (or more) lane road WITHOUT a barrier/central reservation. I've even passed speed camera vans at 70 on such roads feeling safe in the knowledge it's a 70 not 60
It wasmy driving instructor that told me this years ago (i.e. limit increases to 70 when raod widens to 2 lanes, then reduces back to 60 when road reverts to a single. If i get caught for doing 70 on such a NSL road, i'm hunting him down!!
Last edited by FMC; 02 June 2007 at 03:05 PM. Reason: spelling
02 June 2007, 03:30 PM
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I feel obliged to chip in here
It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip.
It's particularly bad in that section when it's raining, but easily driveable even at 60 (BTW, the limit there was 70 as it was the dual section). No DECENT or AWARE driver would head into it at full steam, even in a scoob with all its traction. No mention was made to the state of the tyres, so we assume therefore, that they were ok with plenty of grip.
Good perspective, And just ignoring the driver's excess speed for a moment. It makes me wonder what model tyre he was using.
For example Yokohama A680, or Road Champ, or LingLongs or Nankangs on wet roads are lethal. Whereas ContiSports 3's, Yokohama Parada2, Michelin Exalto/PS, or Goodyear GSD3 are much better.....
Something I've been campaigning about for many years, no matter what car, be it a Corsa or a Corvette. Tyres that have inferior wet road grip should be banned in the UK - they are just not suitable for our climate (dispite them conforming to EU regs and E approval).
Anyhoo, I still presume the driver was beinga wreckless feejit. But with decent tyres, it could have made a difference between the affected [arty being stuck in a wheelchair or hobbling along on crutches.
02 June 2007, 07:15 PM
#46
Yip - tyre question is interesting (feel bad about that but hey..lol)
Sure my SP9000 would have been fine *cough* Would be interesting to find out what tyres he ran, and then avoid them for the wet..
Sure my SP9000 would have been fine *cough* Would be interesting to find out what tyres he ran, and then avoid them for the wet..
02 June 2007, 08:02 PM
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With regards to the previous statements about the judges opinion on how the type of car reflected the type of driver, and the Nurses statement of speed, I think this is worth a read.
Ride Drive Ltd UK, Advanced Driving, Advanced Driving Course, Advanced Driver Training
After all I'm sure we've all formed opinions on peoples driving based on the three seconds we cross paths on the roads. I know I did today with the idiot in the Fiat Coupe on Polish plates darting about all over the DC!
Ride Drive Ltd UK, Advanced Driving, Advanced Driving Course, Advanced Driver Training
After all I'm sure we've all formed opinions on peoples driving based on the three seconds we cross paths on the roads. I know I did today with the idiot in the Fiat Coupe on Polish plates darting about all over the DC!
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