Justin Smith Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) Be warned, expect the totally unexpected on motorways, and all roads in fact..... Today I saw the most dangerous thing I`d ever seen on the motorway. In fact I`ve never seen it before. As we were going northbound on the M1, just past Woolley services, in damp conditions, there`d been an accident, a van was upside down on the hard shoulder with half a dozen cars also parked in front and behind it on the hard shoulder. Nothing out of the ordinary, apart from the fact there was a second van stationary* on the inside lane ! It had its hazards on but also with its reversing lights on ! ! So, just when many (most ? ) motorists attention would be diverted by the accident, a van was stood still, in a live running lane, right next to it **...... I don`t know how long that van was there but a serious accident was a certainty. Other than a vehicle which had been in an accident, and (usually) obviously so, I`ve never ever seen a vehicle stopped on a live running lane on a motorway. Has anyone else ? And this particular stretch of motorway has got a hard shoulder, many motorways are having their hard shoulders removed ! * He wasn`t even right over on the left side of the inside lane, he was bang in the middle ! ** This is what the police say, most accidents are caused by more than one thing going wrong at the same time. This was a classic case of that. Edited April 5, 2017 by Justin Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinfoilhat Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Be warned, expect the totally unexpected on motorways, and all roads in fact..... Today I saw the most dangerous thing I`d ever seen on the motorway. In fact I`ve never seen it before. As we were going northbound on the M1, just past Woolley services, in damp conditions, there`d been an accident, a van was upside down on the hard shoulder with half a dozen cars also parked in front and behind it on the hard shoulder. Nothing out of the ordinary, apart from the fact there was a second van stationary on the inside lane ! It had its hazards on but also with its reversing lights on ! ! So, just when many (most ? ) motorists attention would be diverted by the accident, a van was stood still, in a live running lane, right next to it *...... I don`t know how long that van was there but a serious accident was a certainty. Other than a vehicle which had been in an accident, and (usually) obviously so, I`ve never ever seen a vehicle stopped on a live running lane on a motorway. Has anyone else ? And this particular stretch of motorway has got a hard shoulder, many motorways are having their hard shoulders removed ! * This is what the police say, most accidents are caused by more than one thing going wrong at the same time. This was a classic case of that. I'd bet rubbernecking is a major one. Eyes front Justin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daven Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) When I passed my driving test my lovely Dad told me to always expect other drivers to do the most ridiculous things imaginable and I would never be disappointed. Expect the unexpected. I have now been driving for over 32 years and I will say it was very good advice. Edited January 15, 2017 by Daven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey104 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 Were there any German vehicles involved? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodie Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I don`t know how long that van was there but a serious accident was a certainty. Did that van actually cause a serious accident then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Smith Posted January 16, 2017 Author Share Posted January 16, 2017 Did that van actually cause a serious accident then? I don't know, I didn`t stop to find out...... ---------- Post added 16-01-2017 at 10:14 ---------- I'd bet rubbernecking is a major one. Eyes front Justin. Rubbernecking is recognised as a major cause of accidents. Human beings are inherently curious, but they`re incapable of looking in two directions at the same time, thus it`s a big problem. Rubbernecking is most likely to cause accidents when it`s combined with something else, e.g. the car in front suddenly braking. I`d have thought that would be the most common cause of accidents involving rubberneckers. But the vehicle in front actually being stopped, that`d be rather rarer. Have you ever seen a vehicle (not involved in an accident) actually stopped on a live running lane of a motorway ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alchresearch Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Other than a vehicle which had been in an accident, and (usually) obviously so, I`ve never ever seen a vehicle stopped on a live running lane on a motorway. Has anyone else ? Only on those Facebook pages which show daft driving or dashcam footage, where its been some sort of cutting up / road rage incident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obelix Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Have you ever seen a vehicle (not involved in an accident) actually stopped on a live running lane of a motorway ? Yesterday. Someone had lost all power and had stopped in lane 1 - because of course it's that oh so safe all lane running the car had nowhere to go... I didn't see the need to post it on a forum though. I have eyes - you look for hazards drive round them as needed and carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihpb Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 Be warned, expect the totally unexpected on motorways, and all roads in fact..... * This is what the police say, most accidents are caused by more than one thing going wrong at the same time. This was a classic case of that. An accident by definition is a catalog of errors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geared Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I saw that accident too, although the police were on location and I didn't notice a van in lane 1. Perhaps the accident had only just happened when Justin saw it?? Maybe the other van was involved or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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