Saw a nasty shunt today
04 July 2006, 10:06 AM
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Saw a nasty shunt today
Driving down the 44 in Dubai. This is a four-lane stretch of straight road with a 120KMH limit
I am in lane 2 doing around 110
Lorry in lane one doing less than that
Two outside lanes clear.
I see a fast moving 4x4 coming up behind me in the distance, glance again in the mirror a few secs later this 4x4 moves over onto the hard shoulder still doing a big sped, faster than me I econ 140kmh+
I am level with the lorry just getting ahead when I spot a stationary minibus ON THE HARD SHOULDER just in front of the lorry I am overtaking; I swerve into lane 3 (which I know is empty). Next thing I hear is wheel locking up and a loud BANG.
I look behind to se the minibus catapulted up the road and a mess of a 4x4 stopped dead.
I did not stop, as I would not have been much use.
The minibus looked empty, it is the sort to drop workers at sites around Dubai. This happened around 9:30am, so chances are on its way home.
Not nice!
I am in lane 2 doing around 110
Lorry in lane one doing less than that
Two outside lanes clear.
I see a fast moving 4x4 coming up behind me in the distance, glance again in the mirror a few secs later this 4x4 moves over onto the hard shoulder still doing a big sped, faster than me I econ 140kmh+
I am level with the lorry just getting ahead when I spot a stationary minibus ON THE HARD SHOULDER just in front of the lorry I am overtaking; I swerve into lane 3 (which I know is empty). Next thing I hear is wheel locking up and a loud BANG.
I look behind to se the minibus catapulted up the road and a mess of a 4x4 stopped dead.
I did not stop, as I would not have been much use.
The minibus looked empty, it is the sort to drop workers at sites around Dubai. This happened around 9:30am, so chances are on its way home.
Not nice!
04 July 2006, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
inshallah...
Too true.
I se so many big 4x4's driving literally along nose to tail at silly speeds with young kids just loose in the front, faces pressed against the screen - inshallah!
As for stopping i was a way down the road beofre i had a chance to react, maybe 500m!
Trust me you do not want to stop, walk or reverse up the hard shoulder!
It was a blacked out 4x4 so a local driver, i was told not to stop if i see an accident between locals, not get involved.
Other cars pulled off to help so there you go.
Standard of driving is ****e, even the expats could do with learning some manners and common sense!
Last edited by The Zohan; 04 July 2006 at 12:10 PM.
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04 July 2006, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Bubba po
Why did he go down the hard shoulder if the outer lanes were empty? 
You know what, i have no idea. It is such a stupid thing to do but it does happen a lot. Usually happens when the other lanes are busy.
'Inshalla' - roughly translated means 'God willing' - it is a coverall expession you hear a lot it is a bit like removing all responsibility from the person(s)and 'God Willing' things will be fine!
04 July 2006, 12:22 PM
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Paul, I'm told that here people have crucifixes somewhere in the cabin and touch it just before they overtake on a blind bend. All the same principle really - 
(Jasey - don't bother, OK?)
Agree with you not stopping, unfortunately. There's **** all you could do except become another accident, frankly.
On Saturday evening we drove back along the Lisbon equivalent of the North Circular; I say that but it usually flows at 50-60mph outside rush hour. After the football victory, more than one vehicle had two kids (10-14yo) standing out of the sunroof at that speed, waving flags. 10-20mph perhaps, but get in an accident at that speed and
.
(Jasey - don't bother, OK?
)Agree with you not stopping, unfortunately. There's **** all you could do except become another accident, frankly.
On Saturday evening we drove back along the Lisbon equivalent of the North Circular; I say that but it usually flows at 50-60mph outside rush hour. After the football victory, more than one vehicle had two kids (10-14yo) standing out of the sunroof at that speed, waving flags. 10-20mph perhaps, but get in an accident at that speed and
.
04 July 2006, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul Habgood
You know what, i have no idea. It is such a stupid thing to do but it does happen a lot. Usually happens when the other lanes are busy.
'Inshalla' - roughly translated means 'God willing' - it is a coverall expession you hear a lot it is a bit like removing all responsibility from the person(s)and 'God Willing' things will be fine!
'Inshalla' - roughly translated means 'God willing' - it is a coverall expession you hear a lot it is a bit like removing all responsibility from the person(s)and 'God Willing' things will be fine!
I suspect Darwin's theory of evolution more appropriate than "Inshalla" ....
05 July 2006, 08:32 AM
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That reminds me of a time in India, on a twisty two-lane mountain road. Approaching a blind bend , with a sheer drop on one side and the mountain on the other side, somebody pulled out to overtake us. Then, as the bend started, somebody else pulled out to overtake them... so there were now three cars abreast.
This is on a road where there are a lot of fuel tankers chugging up the hills (and a few burnt out ones at the bottom too).
I asked our driver if they were mad, and he said 'no, they know that it is fate decides whether they have an accident. If it is their fate to have an accident then that is what will happen, if not then they are safe.'
Our own fate was obviously to survive the trip - it works !
This is on a road where there are a lot of fuel tankers chugging up the hills (and a few burnt out ones at the bottom too).
I asked our driver if they were mad, and he said 'no, they know that it is fate decides whether they have an accident. If it is their fate to have an accident then that is what will happen, if not then they are safe.'
Our own fate was obviously to survive the trip - it works !
05 July 2006, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by ricardo
That reminds me of a time in India, on a twisty two-lane mountain road. Approaching a blind bend , with a sheer drop on one side and the mountain on the other side, somebody pulled out to overtake us. Then, as the bend started, somebody else pulled out to overtake them... so there were now three cars abreast.
This is on a road where there are a lot of fuel tankers chugging up the hills (and a few burnt out ones at the bottom too).
I asked our driver if they were mad, and he said 'no, they know that it is fate decides whether they have an accident. If it is their fate to have an accident then that is what will happen, if not then they are safe.'
Our own fate was obviously to survive the trip - it works !
This is on a road where there are a lot of fuel tankers chugging up the hills (and a few burnt out ones at the bottom too).
I asked our driver if they were mad, and he said 'no, they know that it is fate decides whether they have an accident. If it is their fate to have an accident then that is what will happen, if not then they are safe.'
Our own fate was obviously to survive the trip - it works !
All they do is lean on the horn,
First thing I did was hire a car
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