My first little RTA

Well it had to happen in the end. I have managed to drive around for more years than I care to admit without a hint of an accident other than a scratched bumper on my then bosses 911 (brakes are crap) and falling off a couple of motorbikes at the tender age of 17. I drive defensively and try and anticipate the actions and errors of other drivers and that has always worked very well. However, on Sunday morning I was driving along on a back road doing a steady 50mph when I saw a Honda Civic rounding a bend in the distance at high speed and the driver losing it big time. During the next 5 seconds I braked to a virtual halt as there was no escape route available and the Honda driver (a male yoof) decided not to steer into the skid so ended up completely out of control and he slid sideways so his nearside hit me head on at around 40mph. I suppose if you are going to have an RTA you might as well have a big one. His passenger door ended up beside his gear lever. So the big question is what is left of my very tidy A610? Fortunately if you are going to have an accident try and do it in a nice big long weelbase high top rental van which is what I was attempting to move house in. The Honda was destroyed, the van seriously knackered but no one was badly hurt, just a few cuts and bruises. If I had been on my Moto Guzzi I would be brown bread as would have been any passenger in the Civic. If I had been in the A610 I imagine the Civic would have rolled up and over the top due to its great inertia so that would have been serious also. But I live to drive another day. If I could work out how, I would post some pictures to remind you all that it is not yourselves but "the other idiot" you always have to worry about. I also greatly enjoyed my first breathaliser whilst trying to work out how many ribs I still had. It did read zero of course. Please all enjoy your driving but remember it can happen to you as well. Geoff.

Glad your ok, must have shook you up a bit! We had this discussion in work the other day, about it doesn't matter how you drive, it's the other person you need to worry about. Very true! I was out for a Sunday drive down the lanes in my GTA myself at the weekend and it's always the thought of something else coming round the next bend that's on your mind. Good job you wasn't in the A610 is the most important thing! Only joking, glad no one was hurt.

glad you and the 610 are ok!

That had to hurt

si21 Glad everyones ok and the little factor that the a610 was parked up

Is the yoof in trouble?

Ah, although the police advised me it was 100% driver error on the part of the yoof, if they prosecuted as they used to, it would tie up a load of police resources and he would hire a good lawyer and get off so they were not recommending prosecution. I wonder if the same test will apply next time I am doing 85mph across Bodmin Moor on a dry and sunny empty road. I think not! The A610 is just perfect on a similar road at 135 although that one was obviously not a public highway ! ! !

Well its my last night in Hampshire. Cornwall beckons with its laid back culture and benign climate. I hope it works out and no one else decides to drive into me. I look forward to those empty winter roads and friendly local people.

Local shops for local people ...................where's my banjo got to

Local shops for local people ...................where's my banjo got to

[Alpineandy]

Tiddle um pum um pum um pum um.... deliverance

Gonna make you squeal like a piggy ..........................

Cornwall
Friendly locals, only in the summer when you are buying their goods, in the winter you are an "emmett" or "grockle"

Have a great time

Cornwall
Friendly locals, only in the summer when you are buying their goods, in the winter you are an "emmett" or "grockle"

Have a great time

Probably because youre a tourist!!!! Once he's local and starts saying things like oooarghh, the locals will be very friendly.....after all most of them have moved from London in the last 10 years themselves

Ah now I did not spot the last post. The reason I have moved to Cornwall is that it is where I originally came from before I emigrated across the Tamar at 18 years of age. It is true that half the population down here came from elsewhere in the Uk but they all seem to buy in to the local slower and much more friendly lifestyle. So far I do not regret it for a minute and a short notice, very quick trip to Exeter last Friday on almost empty, wide and pretty roads did much to enhance my views. I can breathe down here and so can my A610.