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Post by mick on Sept 14, 2023 8:35:28 GMT
I just drove to a local pharmacy. Route along a narrow lane, no pavements lined with high banks. I came across a lady pushing a pram. I've never, ever, seen a pedestrian walking that lane.
Approaching a bend I see a car coming, too fast. Because of the relative positions, I could see both of them but they couldn't see each other. How he avoided her I'll never know. I'll bet that she 'wet' herself.
As I began - heart in mouth.
Mick
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Post by kate on Sept 14, 2023 9:12:38 GMT
Scary moment. Glad the driver was quick enough to avoid the lady and pram. Hope your BP is back to normal again.
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Post by geoffr on Sept 14, 2023 9:35:13 GMT
I have for some years thought that the idea of all roads being open to all traffic is not actually viable. I know of roads that are too narrow for vehicles to pass each other, some where the width and traffic density and width makes cycling and walking dangerous. I think there is a case for making some roads "access only" by motor vehicles with a 20mph speed limit and others "motor vehicles only" with alternative routes offered for pedestrians and cyclists, one local road could be bypassed by cyclists going through the grounds of a hospital. Some roads should probably be closed entirely to motor vehicles.
Over the past 30 years cars have become wider and longer making them unsuitable for some of our roads. Rather than making the roads wider, in many cases it would be more appropriate to make them one way. Another thing that needs attention is speed limits on n arrow roads. When cars were narrower 60 might have been appropriate (but probably not) but with current car widths 40 seems too fast. More recently I have taken to avoiding roads that I know are relatively narrow, why take unnecessary risks.
Road safety isn't all about motor vehicles it is about every road user behaving responsibly.
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Post by mick on Sept 14, 2023 10:24:59 GMT
We have many lanes around here signposted "single track with passing places"
At the moment there are lots of roadworks on the usual routes and so the traffic on these small roads has increased.
Mick
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Post by don on Sept 14, 2023 13:52:23 GMT
Just seen a clip on the Local news about the state of the roads here in Kent. The roads are all potholes and in terrible shape and I think it’s nationwide, I know when I’m in the wheelchair in the back of our vehicle it’s not a pleasant experience at times.
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Post by Chester PB on Sept 16, 2023 20:33:43 GMT
I live on a very narrow country lane, with hedges and/or high banks on both sides on the stretch near my house, that has a 8-10% slope.
In school holidays children with a short life expectancy ride down on skateboards, and sometimes lycra-clad adults on expensive bicycles take the same risk at greater speeds. I have witnessed what happens when a skateboarder has to decide if he should go into the hedge or the front of the refuse collection lorry that takes up the entire width of the lane, which is perhaps why the lorries now have CCTV cameras at the front and rear. I have learned to drive up the hill very cautiously.
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Post by John Farrell on Sept 16, 2023 21:28:43 GMT
My "heart in mouth" moment was many years ago, driving home from work one evening. I pulled out to pass a slow car, and put the lights on full when I started to overtake...then I saw a gleam of light ahead, and pulled back behind the other car. A black van with no lights went past - what I had seen was my lights reflected in the van's headlights.
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Post by dorsetmike on Sept 16, 2023 22:40:44 GMT
My "heart in mouth" moment was many years ago, driving home from work one evening. I pulled out to pass a slow car, and put the lights on full when I started to overtake...then I saw a gleam of light ahead, and pulled back behind the other car. A black van with no lights went past - what I had seen was my lights reflected in the van's headlights. A wonder you didn't discover that adrenaline's brown and smelly |
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Post by John Farrell on Sept 17, 2023 1:09:23 GMT
My "heart in mouth" moment was many years ago, driving home from work one evening. I pulled out to pass a slow car, and put the lights on full when I started to overtake...then I saw a gleam of light ahead, and pulled back behind the other car. A black van with no lights went past - what I had seen was my lights reflected in the van's headlights. A wonder you didn't discover that adrenaline's brown and smelly I don't remember being that concerned - more a feeling of relief. |
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Post by spinno on Sept 17, 2023 7:31:04 GMT
A wonder you didn't discover that adrenaline's brown and smelly I don't remember being that concerned - more a feeling of relief. Non smelly adrenalin, the worst kind..  |
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Post by JohnY on Sept 17, 2023 20:53:22 GMT
Many years ago being flown in a tiny aircraft owned by the Nairobi aero club by one of our MCK members. It had 4 seats. There were 4 of us on board all adult. Because of the wind direction we were directed to use the short runway. I think that Mark our pilot realised that we were pushing it a bit and backtracked to the airport boundary to get the best length out of the runway. We trundled the whole length of the tarmac and a couple of hundred yards of the muram extension. Finally rotated and cleared the boundary fence with a couple of feet to spare.
He somehow avoided a proper enquiry but a result of this event was that the two rear seats were removed.
Relevant is that Wilson airport is around 5000 feet altitude and the weather was hot. What might be safe around sea level in a moderate climate is not safe at Wilson airport.
I flew many times from Wilson but never again with Mark.
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Post by Bipolar on Sept 17, 2023 22:27:51 GMT
Many years ago my brother played an instrument in the high school band. He needed to get to school early one morning for a band practice.I had to work that morning so it meant leaving a half hour earlier than normal for me. About 10 kilometres into the 20 kilometre drive a car came out of a side road on the highway and collided with us driving my vehicle into the oncoming lane. There was a dump truck in the other lane coming straight at us. I cranked the steering into the ditch with us travelling at probably 90 kilometres an hour. I managed to get the vehicle stopped and amazingly kept it right side up. We missed being in a fatal head on collision by about two metres that day.
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Post by mick on Sept 18, 2023 7:59:37 GMT
Many years ago being flown in a tiny aircraft owned by the Nairobi aero club by one of our MCK members. It had 4 seats. There were 4 of us on board all adult. Because of the wind direction we were directed to use the short runway. I think that Mark our pilot realised that we were pushing it a bit and backtracked to the airport boundary to get the best length out of the runway. We trundled the whole length of the tarmac and a couple of hundred yards of the muram extension. Finally rotated and cleared the boundary fence with a couple of feet to spare. He somehow avoided a proper enquiry but a result of this event was that the two rear seats were removed. Relevant is that Wilson airport is around 5000 feet altitude and the weather was hot. What might be safe around sea level in a moderate climate is not safe at Wilson airport. I flew many times from Wilson but never again with Mark. That sounds scary. Were you aware of the situation at the time or did realisation strike later?
I have many flying stories. Just one was flying from , IIRC, Lugano to one of the hub airports in the region. We were in a plane with about a dozen seats. It was VERY windy and the cockpit door was open so we could see the plane pointed at the runway then blown way off course. The pilot would get it pointing at the runway again and it would all happen once more. Surprisingly I wasn't scared - more interested.
Mick
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Post by andy on Sept 18, 2023 8:45:08 GMT
I wonder if the other driver in the original post could be charged with assault for causing fear of bodily injury?
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Post by JohnY on Sept 19, 2023 20:24:41 GMT
Many years ago being flown in a tiny aircraft owned by the Nairobi aero club by one of our MCK members. It had 4 seats. There were 4 of us on board all adult. Because of the wind direction we were directed to use the short runway. I think that Mark our pilot realised that we were pushing it a bit and backtracked to the airport boundary to get the best length out of the runway. We trundled the whole length of the tarmac and a couple of hundred yards of the muram extension. Finally rotated and cleared the boundary fence with a couple of feet to spare. He somehow avoided a proper enquiry but a result of this event was that the two rear seats were removed. Relevant is that Wilson airport is around 5000 feet altitude and the weather was hot. What might be safe around sea level in a moderate climate is not safe at Wilson airport. I flew many times from Wilson but never again with Mark. That sounds scary. Were you aware of the situation at the time or did realisation strike later?
I have many flying stories. Just one was flying from , IIRC, Lugano to one of the hub airports in the region. We were in a plane with about a dozen seats. It was VERY windy and the cockpit door was open so we could see the plane pointed at the runway then blown way off course. The pilot would get it pointing at the runway again and it would all happen once more. Surprisingly I wasn't scared - more interested.
Mick
I realised the situation as we left tarmac for muram. Carrying on was the only hope of avoiding a crash. On another occasion which was only hair raising in retrospect was flying with a chap called Phil Snyder who was an assistant warden for Mt Kenya National Parks. He came into the Mountain Club of Kenya headquarters on Wilson airport, where I had a flat. "Would I like a trip down to Ol Doinyo Lengai?" Of course I would. Remember I am not a pilot but often flew boring sections on many flights. Phil flew down to Lengai and did a couple of circuits while I took pictures on my Spotmatic and 50mm lens. Then he flew a figure of eight to put himself on the inside of the circuit so he could take pictures with his upmarket Nikon. As expected the reason for my invitation became clear. He handed over control, but not quite. I had the yolk and throttle, he was ready to apply pressure on the rudder.
He had left his standard lens at home and only had a wide angle on the camera. So started tightening circuits I increased roll to tighten the circuit, pulled the yolk back to keep the nose up and increased throttle to keep speed. I am guessing that Phil was applying significant rudder, not to point into the turn but to hold the tail down. It seemed very safe and stable but in retrospect was anything but. Eventually I ran out of throttle and on informing Phil he immediately took back control. We were banking at quite a spectacular angle.
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