God damn 4x4's

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:16 pm

Driving home from work last week in torrential rain, I come off a roundabout and the Land Rover Freelander in front of me just comes to a halt without warning or brake lights coming on. Needless to say even at 10mph I had F* all chance of stopping because I had no time to react.

S40 is a mess, front lights busted, bonnet has bent back on itself and the support beam is also fooked. I think the radiators gone too. I'm really sick as a parrot coz the only damage to the Land Rover is a scratch, it was the back wheel on the boot that caused all the damage otherwise it would have been a bumper tap.

Anyhow can anyone with an Auto help me with this. The driver admits he was not braking, and that he had his hand on the gear selector at the time it happened but does not know why he stopped. Also just as I came to a halt his reverse lights came on. The only explanation I can think of is that he has knocked the selector into Park whilst driving? Is this possible/likley? Any other reason you could think why it might just stop dead? Obviously I am desparatley trying to prove him liable for it, as without seeing any brake lights, even being a safe distance behind, by the time I realised it was stopped I had no time to avoid the accident.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:19 pm

He went into PARK!

That's how I know if it's an auto in front of me at the lights.

JayTee · Post by **JayTee** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:13 pm

martinholmesuk wrote:He went into PARK!
.

Mart its been a few years since I've driven an auto can you put it in P/park when you are driving at 10mph

MGB that sounds like a nightmare

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:00 pm

You have to get passed reverse before you get to park, donâ€™t think the car would have liked it but there is a small delay when going from park to reverse/drive before the clutch starts biting so maybe it is possible, however going from drive/reverse to neutral/Park is instant so I really donâ€™t know if it is possible

Agwa Moose · Post by **Agwa Moose** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:12 pm

It is possible, I had a renault 11 auto many moons ago and the brakes failed one day (rear piston seal burst), so I just put it into park to do an emergency stop, I was only going slow at the time though, think it could be an easy way to kill the box if it was done at speed

J

Bramdeman · Post by **Bramdeman** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:25 pm

If you put any automatic in park at any real speed its kaboem! Trust me, the dif tries to lock up and something WILL snap with a bang. Usually the diff but then debris from the dif locks up the box. I've had to fix a few cars that it had happended to, gearbox dead, driveaxles snapped wheelbearings even front wishbones and suspension. It makes a real mess.

Reverse is very different that will burn the clutches out very quickly but nothing will go bang.

I think it might be more likely that he put it in N and rolled to halt whilst trying to understand why his car was slowing down.

480_rocket · Post by **480_rocket** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:42 pm

Did you check his brake lights were working?

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:56 pm

JayTee wrote:
martinholmesuk wrote:He went into PARK!
.
Mart its been a few years since I've driven an auto can you put it in P/park when you are driving at 10mph

MGB that sounds like a nightmare

It will click big time as it's trys to lock up. Sorry to hear about this dude!

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:15 am

Well the insurance company wrote the car off, which is a little unexpected. However looks like it may work out in a funny way. Gonna take the money and run, so it's just the 480 at the moment. However new job is much less miles so I'm sure it'll be fine, come summer I can cycle to work as well.

Still no answer on liability though.

stu chacks · Post by **stu chacks** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:03 am

From memory unless his brake lights weren't working, you'll be liable as the highway code states you should always leave a safe braking distance from the car infront (whether it's because he has to emergency brake/stalls or drops into 'park' by accident even).

So I'd try to get the admission his brake lights were out urgently, as otherwise you might be up the creek.

Best of luck.

Stu.

mac star · Post by **mac star** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:29 pm

not sure but this may help

one of my mate works for landrover in oz

he says that the freelander auto and manual early modles are always coming back for repair on the brakes,

suggests that they are something of a regular problem with them locking on after driving for a while

ie. if he was driving normally then braked for the ropund about the would not have released properly and that would have caused him to stop dead

worth checking with other landrover companies etc

but it may help

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:09 am

stu chacks wrote:
From memory unless his brake lights weren't working, you'll be liable as the highway code states you should always leave a safe braking distance from the car infront (whether it's because he has to emergency brake/stalls or drops into 'park' by accident even).

So I'd try to get the admission his brake lights were out urgently, as otherwise you might be up the creek.

Best of luck.

Stu.

Well, yes, but depends on the circumstancees; I had an accident once where I was coming round a roundabout, and a woman in a fiesta decided to try and jump in front of me from her exit, she put her foot down, then decided she didn't have room, and just stopped in the middle of the roundabout, across both lanes - no chance to "leave a safe distance" in those circumstances, and I slid into the side of her car.

Her fault, and once the police found her (the insurance details didn't match up, so the insurance co got the police on the case), she admitted it all anyway, but the insurance company was already OK with it not being my fault.

Which brings me onto yesterday's little incident on the Sheffield Parkway, where a t0$$er in a Astra (I think) had already been agressive with me for undertaking him (he was doing 62 in lane 2 of a 2 lane dual, with nothing in front or in lane 1) - I hovered around him (not close) for a while and it was clear he wasnt moving over, so I went under (didn't even break the 70 limit) - he went into a frantic flashing light act, which I ignored and went on my way - it drops to 50MPH about a mile further on, so there's me just moved into lane 2 again because of a lot of traffic joining from an on-ramp, and suddenly, here's Astra t0$$er up my arse (he'd flown up much faster than 50) and as soon as he's on my arse, he starts flashing again.

I am distracted by this momentarilly, so when I look forward again, the cars in front (still a fair way in front) are going slower than I expected (i.e. where your brain fills in for a few milliseconds from when you last looked, whilst you're looking in the mirrors) - so I pop the brakes on accordingly and SLIIIIDE the astra goes into the back of my T5, and then IMMEDIATELY veers left just in time to catch an off-ramp (I thought he was pulling over) - I pulled over, but where I had to pull over meant I couldnt see back up the road, so I waited for 5 mins, and nothing - so he obviously hadn't pulled over, he'd buggered off.

Luckilly, the T5 certainly lives up to it's brick mantra, as it seems I've only got some scuffed paint to deal with - bumper isn't rippled or split, the boot still works perfectly - can't see any structural issues at all - so although I'm gutted (and shaken), the car survives with almost no damage (phew!)

Now, who knows the details of that slush fund in the UK that coughs up for hit and run and uninsured driver accidents?

Big Brother · Post by **Big Brother** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:35 am

dragon wrote:Now, who knows the details of that slush fund in the UK that coughs up for hit and run and uninsured driver accidents?

Something like that does exist doesn't it?

Murf · Post by **Murf** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:52 am

Bastard!!
was there any CCTV camera's covering the dual carriageway you were on?

MGB_GT · Post by **MGB_GT** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:33 pm

volvo-bigbrother wrote:
dragon wrote:Now, who knows the details of that slush fund in the UK that coughs up for hit and run and uninsured driver accidents?
Something like that does exist doesn't it?

It does, but you'll end up with bugger all for something like what happened.

Surely if someones brakes lights aren't working and it wouldn't be my fault. It makes sence to go along the same lines as he didn't use brake lights. He must have been stopping though, because cars don't come to a halt that quickly rolling. The driver freely admitted he was not braking at the time. I can't think of anything other than a fault with the car or putting it in Park. I spoke to Landrover here (My Volvo dealer is also a landrover one) and they did not mention any faults, but then I suppose they wouldn't!

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 1:59 pm

Which brings me onto yesterday's little incident on the Sheffield Parkway, where a t0$$er in a Astra (I think) had already been agressive with me for undertaking him (he was doing 62 in lane 2 of a 2 lane dual, with nothing in front or in lane 1) - I hovered around him (not close) for a while and it was clear he wasnt moving over, so I went under (didn't even break the 70 limit) - he went into a frantic flashing light act, which I ignored and went on my way

I'm guilty of undertaking in the same situ, I can't under why the guy got the ass with you. I guess his a fooking twat!

I hang around (they can see me) wait then pass going a little faster.

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:28 pm

same here.... they get a flash, then they get fogs/mainbeams/driving lights...then i undertake them. Its usually people un mobiles. Never had one get pissed off at me though.

robkendall · Post by **robkendall** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:08 pm

funnily enough, i had one on the sheff parkway...somebody in a big volvo...
nah only joking gaz!! (sorry if its not funny)

seriously though, going to work up the parkway has turned into a chore, as lane 2 is full of people tootling along at whatever speed they choose, just in case there might be something in the other lane.....
i come off at the first junction, but can guarantee to undertake at least once without breaking the speed limit...... i would have thought people would be a little more understanding and stay in the slower lane if they dont want to go above 50....
anyways, this guy in a beemer followed me after my undertake manouver, flashing the headlights, beeping horn etc proper tailgating....right up to where i work....which conicidentally is almost next door to the police regional hq....at that point i think he though i might be filth, and peeled off quickly......laugh, i nearly pissed myself

rgrds
rob

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:29 pm

Nice one mate!