Well sadly our carvan has been given a new entrance, not through choice!
Sorry if you got caught up in the road closure (B3196, California Cross, Devon)
basically we were in narrow section, slowed down to make sure it was safe, and around bend comes speeding driver doing (he says) 45mph!. more likely 55. Anyhow we stopped OK, he threw the anchors on, missed our car, hit the embankment on his side, then bounced off that into the c-van.
Suffice to say the caravan won marginally.
His car was leaking oil water, the lot, and steering was shot.
All of us fine fortunatly, but now to get caravan back near home.
It seems that the brake mechanisim isnt working on the towbar. so it must go on transporter.
Biggest learning is to make sure i carry the insurance docs! Fortunatly i recalled the name of the co. and just googled and called them. Great servce from Lifesure so far at 10:30 last night to find out if it was them is was insured with.
So we have to stay an extra night - stuck here until tuesday until they decide how the caravan can be transported.
Did you get the Police involved at all? I hope so because from the details you state, the offender will most certainly be guilty of driving without due care and attention and probably careless driving too. It's drivers like this speeding through country lanes that kill horses and their riders. I hope get sorted soon and the driver gets what they deserve.
All the related phone numbers are already in my mobile phone for caravan insurance claims department and breakdown emergency etc. That way I'm well prepared just in case the worst happens.
police, and ambo involved - but they said there was nothing they could do as it was technically a 60 limit.
They seemed to know what they were talking about based on experience and did say that CPS would throw it out.
his car was a write-off, so he will pay in other ways.
his line "i drive this road every day, and know it well" was not viewed in good light...fortunatly i restrained myself, but i have never even heard myself repeat the language that i used in reply.
we are most upset that our next 3-4 months of booked holidays are not going to be with this van.
Well that comment was a sure sign of complacency to say the least. They really think they could do it blind folded and it's drivers like this that drive with less caution due to their ignorant attitude.
It was an idiot like that who pushed me and my horse off the road, he then reared and we went down a ditch luckily we both survived, and the driver said the same thing I drive this road everyday, most accidents happen within two miles of your home due to being to confident .
Sorry about your van glad you weren't hurt.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
'police, and ambo involved - but they said there was nothing they could do as it was technically a 60 limit. They seemed to know what they were talking about based on experience and did say that CPS would throw it out.'
Being within the speed limit does not mean that the driver wasn't driving too fast. Drivers have been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving, even though they were within the limit.
Quote: Originally posted by murano on 05/5/2012
It was an idiot like that who pushed me and my horse off the road, he then reared and we went down a ditch luckily we both survived, and the driver said the same thing I drive this road everyday, most accidents happen within two miles of your home due to being to confident . Sorry about your van glad you weren't hurt.
The problem where we live is that we have one major road that runs along the coast - the A55. When there are major blockages on that drivers then use the back roads and either they are not used to driving on country lanes, they are just thick, or they couldn't care less as they are in a hurry. It is often a combination of the three.
Does anyone know the reason why back lanes have a 60mph speed limit? Where we live the 2 A roads at either end of our lane are 50 so at the junctions where the lane meets there's national speed limit signs. Completely stupid!
regardless if it is a 60mph speed limit, you do not take a bend at that speed on a narrow lane, that is suicidal. For the police to say that it would be thrown out by cps is noncical and should not deter any sensible driver from seeking clarity in this matter from a second party.
------------- How many roads must a caravanner go down before he admits he's lost!
Unless there is an injury or clear independant evidence of an offence I am afraid the police wouldn't even normally attend ......the exception been if the road was blocked (which I guess is what happended in your case?). Sadly with all the cut backs, especially within traffic units, most forces only now attend injury accidents as a matter of policy. Also the CPS (no comment) won't take things like this to court unless there is some independant witness to say the driver was driving careless, a passenger in your car is not normally viewed by them as independant I am afraid. Skid marks and the damage could lead a police collison investigator to prepare a report estimating the speed and standard of driving but as above they are unlikely to attend something of this nature due to their being no serious injury. In most cases such as this the police will normally advise you to proceed with this via your insurance companies and let them sort it out. They will normally attend if they can to take a breath test from all drivers, to show there was no drink driving, but again it will often depend on how many staff they have available.
As you did it is therefore important to take lots of pictures and get any passengers to make notes of what they witnessed. The attending police officer (always worth getting their details) can also be approached by the insurance companies for a statement and as this is for civil proceedings they can then give an opinion on who was at fault......something they couldn't do with a criminal investigation. The civil routes only benefit is that matters are decided on the balance of probabilities, as opposed to beyond reasonable doubt in the criminal courts. However many insurance companies these dates won't fight a case unless you push it as its just easier (i.e cheaper) just to agree to a 50/50 spilt.
Glad you are all ok and hope the van gets repaired.
totally agree with everyone. thing is, i was in no fit state to challenge the police on scene. i thnk the driver learnt a lesson. i am taking comfort in that its going to cost him a lot financally
a have done a bit of research re the brakes....the towing shaft moves totally freely...ie, not the usual resistance, so brakes dont apply when braking the car. anyone any exerience re these? i suspect its a sealed unit.
Glad you're all safe and sound. How awful for you, hubby had an accident with the van many years ago and I know it shakes you up (ours due to a lorry driver and van ended up in central reservation).
Hope you get it sorted quickly.
------------- Are you sure you've read the instructions?
The Police will take no action simply because the CPS will look at the incident, checking what witnesses there were to it. If it was only the two vehicles involved and no other witnesses then it is down to your word against their's. Remember that passengers in the cars are NOT independent witnesses.
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Topic: Serious damage inflicted by idiot
. In most cases such as this the police will normally advise you to proceed with this via your insurance companies and let them sort it out. They will normally attend if they can to take a breath test from all drivers, to show there was no drink driving, but again it will often depend on how many staff they have available. 
