[AlanHo]

There has been a serious accident on the M5 motorway in Somerset tonight, Several people have died.

Early reports suggest that it was wet and foggy at the time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15603124

My guess is that yet again vehicles were driving too close - especially lorries and white vans. I also guess that people were driving too fast in fog.  This is the inevitable result of the police doing little to prosecute drivers over many years regarding such dangerous driving habits. Tailgating is endemic on British roads. The authorities are quick enough to nick people for parking violations - but do little to address the serious problem of motorway driving standards.

Rant over - I'm going to bed to sleep it off.

[beerman]

Thought with those who have lost loved ones,

and to the emergency services who will spend the night rendering the scene safe, patching up the living, recovering the dead and trying to work what went wrong

[Dazzler]

 

I was quite impressed with large signs above the expressways in Brisbane which constantly broadcast messages about excess speed, seat belts and TAILGATING.. it made we think and drop back a bit..

I found it quite daunting being amongst so much fast moving traffic...

[bumpkin]

Horrific stuff, but it is little more than a week since Kim and I were out and about and commenting on the standard of driving you now see in this country.  There is multiple undertakes and overtakes going on all around you all of the time, even if you are sitting on the speed limit, loads of cars,buses, lorries and motorbikes go zooming past you on all sides, I could only liken the rush hour 30 mile trip on mainly dual carriageway as a 30 mile first lap of a Grand Prix!  Utterly ridiculous.

Only yesterday whilst driving home I had an Audi TT sitting on my jacksie as I was sitting at 40 mph about to filter off the dual carriageway to the right (ie about to cross the oncoming traffic, so effectively sitting in the overtaking lane).  It went scooting up the inside of me then proceeded to cut back across the front of me into the filter lane.  Just a bloody idiot.

When I was taught to drive it was my responsibility to be safe, apparently now it is my responsibility to avoid all the unsafe pinball machine drivers all around me 

Unfortunately for all of those involved, in my mind it was and is only a matter of time

[Surferdude]

This made the news in Oz tonight too.
Horrific stuff.

[meehalych]

Horrific stuff, but it is little more than a week since Kim and I were out and about and commenting on the standard of driving you now see in this country.  There is multiple undertakes and overtakes going on all around you all of the time, even if you are sitting on the speed limit, loads of cars,buses, lorries and motorbikes go zooming past you on all sides, I could only liken the rush hour 30 mile trip on mainly dual carriageway as a 30 mile first lap of a Grand Prix!  Utterly ridiculous.

Only yesterday whilst driving home I had an Audi TT sitting on my jacksie as I was sitting at 40 mph about to filter off the dual carriageway to the right (ie about to cross the oncoming traffic, so effectively sitting in the overtaking lane).  It went scooting up the inside of me then proceeded to cut back across the front of me into the filter lane.  Just a bloody idiot.

When I was taught to drive it was my responsibility to be safe, apparently now it is my responsibility to avoid all the unsafe pinball machine drivers all around me 

Unfortunately for all of those involved, in my mind it was and is only a matter of time

Well, now I see the situation is quite similar to one we have got in Russia, but it gradually receding nowadays.

[eye30]

There is multiple undertakes and overtakes going on all around you all of the time, When I was taught to drive it was my responsibility to be safe, apparently now it is my responsibility to avoid all the unsafe pinball machine drivers all around me 

Have you been watching Ice Road Truckers - Deadliest Roads, set in India.

Now I wouldn't want to drive there as every trip could be your last...

re M5 - It says some may have been burnt alive in their vehicles as the heat was so intense.

[Shambles]

Seven confirmed dead. Tragedy

[2i30s]

is the scene near anyone we know on the forum? 

[Dazzler]

Seven confirmed dead. Tragedy

Yes, that is a terrible loss of life (and doesn't include those who were maimed for life 

[bumpkin]

Back on topic, the police and ambulance/hospital services report that they expect more deaths in the coming days, many of the survivors are on life support and in critical conditions

[eye30]

On the news last night the Police are now looking into a possibility that a firework display next to the motorway may have contributed as part of the cause to the accident.

They had a bonfire and smoke was being blown across the motorway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15615992

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15612315

[Dazzler]

Gee it would be even more tragic if that was the cause..