[JustACooperClubman]

Glad you are OK.

Hopefully this close call will make you realize the importance of driving at lower speeds in adverse conditions.

[wiz]

WOW!!!!
You are very lucky people, the airbag burn will clear up in a couple of weeks, hope you GF is feeling a bit better.
*MINI hugs*

[Mike Clarke]

Good to see that the MINI did its job and that you are both OK

[OJM]

Quote: Originally Posted by billy.batson (original)

Nobody here seems to consider that, mud or no mud, had you been driving within safe limits, it would not have happened. Think yourself fortunate that there were no pedestrians at that spot or you could be facing a manslaughter charge.

Quote: Originally Posted by JustACooperClubman (original)

Hopefully this close call will make you realize the importance of driving at lower speeds in adverse conditions.

Quote: Originally Posted by mini33 (original)

Maybe you will think twice about showing off!!!

No offence to all those above, but why does everyone assume that when someone has an accident, it was because they were driving like an idiot? Accidents can happen when driving within the speed limits, and sometimes the fault is with the road / others / car itself etc. Take aqua-planing or black ice, or mud in this case, as examples.

[aharte]

Quote: Originally Posted by OJM (original)

No offence to all those above, but why does everyone assume that when someone has an accident, it was because they were driving like an idiot? Accidents can happen when driving within the speed limits, and sometimes the fault is with the road / others / car itself etc. Take aqua-planing or black ice, or mud in this case, as examples.

I agree with you. Good job we don't still having hanging in this country!

People can't make assumptions they have made, without actually having been there?

If I had been reckless or driving stupidly, why would I want to broadcast it all over the internet?

[feenaldo]

Crikey! After seeing the pictures I'm very thankful that you and your Gf both got out of there!

Hope you are both back to 100% soon! You going to start looking for another MINI when you know what the insurance are going to pay out?

[ladee-wood]

OMG! You must be shocked yet relieved your both ok! At least the pair of you are ok,at the end of the day its only a piece of metal

[mini33]

Exactly agree with the above points - I agree if you were racing & that was the cause of the accident then you wouldn't be braging about it wil you - No one wants to brag about there pride & joy been in that condition

Exactly - None of us were there thanks god (sorryy!!) so only you know what happened & everyone can make assumptions

I would be the first to put my hands up that i drive my mini how its meant to be driven!!! but as i drive on country roads everyday twice - three time a day & i know i have the worry of mud, horses, birds etc on the roads but we all have accidents & its weather we come out alive or not that really matters - as i said before you can get another mini but you cant replace a life

So how many of the previous post actually admit to not driving fast, showing off, speeding & that they have never had accidents - i bet they had some of the above - we all do it sometimes & it just being on that bit of road at the wrong time

I am sure you have driven along that road before & never thought about it until know

All i would say is thank god the mini lived it to it 4/5 star safey rating & that when you get you new one you will know that if it saved you once hopefully it will not need to again but if it does then it reassuring to know

All the best & we look forward to seeing you need baby

[Den W]

WOW!! Glad you both got out relatively unscathed! Time for a new MINI!

[billy.batson]

Quote: Originally Posted by OJM (original)

No offence to all those above, but why does everyone assume that when someone has an accident, it was because they were driving like an idiot? Accidents can happen when driving within the speed limits, and sometimes the fault is with the road / others / car itself etc. Take aqua-planing or black ice, or mud in this case, as examples.

Everyone will sympathise with this guy, after all he has had a close call and wrecked his pride and joy. Of course, he will not blame himself, that is human nature. And, true enough, accidents will happen: black ice being a case in point.

The fact is that as he admits, he "lost it". He should have driven in such a way that he had time to react to any unexpected hazard. I find it hard to believe that anybody driving with due care and attention would "lose it" to the extent that he did as a result of a muddy road.

The serious point here is, that it would have been tragic enough if he had killed himself or his passenger, but had any of you on here defending the guy happened to have been coming the other way at that moment and as a result of the accident, due to somebody's else's action, tragically lost a child or other loved one I think you would have rather a different view.

I also live way out in the country and cope with muddy roads on a daily basis and I can tell you that one would have to be going at a fair lick to "lose it" in a MINI which as we all know holds the road rather better than most cars....

Let's hope our friend recovers from his experience - and buys another MINI!

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote: Originally Posted by billy.batson (original)

Everyone will sympathise with this guy, after all he has had a close call and wrecked his pride and joy. Of course, he will not blame himself, that is human nature. And, true enough, accidents will happen: black ice being a case in point.

The fact is that as he admits, he "lost it". He should have driven in such a way that he had time to react to any unexpected hazard. I find it hard to believe that anybody driving with due care and attention would "lose it" to the extent that he did as a result of a muddy road.

The serious point here is, that it would have been tragic enough if he had killed himself or his passenger, but had any of you on here defending the guy happened to have been coming the other way at that moment and as a result of the accident, due to somebody's else's action, tragically lost a child or other loved one I think you would have rather a different view.

I also live way out in the country and cope with muddy roads on a daily basis and I can tell you that one would have to be going at a fair lick to "lose it" in a MINI which as we all know holds the road rather better than most cars....

Let's hope our friend recovers from his experience - and buys another MINI!

Glad the driver and passenger are ok - you gotta love the engineering in these little cars when it comes to protecting the occupants.

Mr Molton (is that his name?) who designed the suspension on the original Mini and gave that scathing attack on the new Mini "blah blah blah, it's huge, crash protection taken too far, what do you want an armoured car, it has no place in the history of the Mini blah blah" should take one look at these pictures and maybe put his ego where the sun don't shine..

On the other hand me thinks that is a little too much damage for a car doing 30Mph..
I wonder what Quincy would have to say?

Cheers, Geoff.

[billy.batson]

[quote=drainaudio;3377455]Glad the driver and passenger are ok - you gotta love the engineering in these little cars when it comes to protecting the occupants.

Mr Molton (is that his name?) quote]

Yes, those pictures are the best re-assurance I have seen regarding the safety of our cars. Hope never to confirm that first hand though.

That's right it was Alex Moulton creator of the Hydralastic Suspension. He also designed the Hydragas suspension as used on the Austin Metro, which of course was originally designed as a Mini replacement: in the event, the Mini outlived it.

He is also famous for bicycles:
Alex Moulton Bicycles

A clever guy.

[Joolsmini]

Good Lord. Thank goodness you are both ok

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote:

That's right it was Alex Moulton creator of the Hydralastic Suspension. He also designed the Hydragas suspension as used on the Austin Metro, which of course was originally designed as a Mini replacement: in the event, the Mini outlived it.

He is also famous for bicycles:
Alex Moulton Bicycles

A clever guy.

Clever indeed..
But clearly also with a rather large chip on his shoulder

[Mooyer]

Thanks for all the messages guys, yes we were incredibly lucky. Thank you as well for all the people sticking up for me too. I was on a national limit road, and the ppl at the scene, ie police, ambulance etc reckoned i was doing about 40-50. Was a dry night too.

Most of the damage has come from the car landing upside down on the kerb, just all about angles. The edge of the wall I struck was essentially 45 degrees so that hasnt helped.

But again, were alive and no long term issues. No new Mini for me tho, I actually just started working for a BMW dealership so will get a comp car soon enough. Just need something to get by for a few months. Can't praise these little cars enough, i've had 3 of the bloody things now. The new R56 lacks the supercharged loveliness of the original so think i may look past next time.

Thanks again guys

[Fin]

I live in N Wales Mooyer, where abouts did you crash?

[Mooyer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

I live in N Wales Mooyer, where abouts did you crash?

A5, about 5 miles away from Llangollen

[thebadun]

Glad to hear you were ok, that looks pretty bad.

[MINIMAT]

Quote: Originally Posted by OJM (original)

No offence to all those above, but why does everyone assume that when someone has an accident, it was because they were driving like an idiot? Accidents can happen when driving within the speed limits, and sometimes the fault is with the road / others / car itself etc. Take aqua-planing or black ice, or mud in this case, as examples.

If the car aqua planes it's because the road is wet. Didn't you slow down when you saw the conditions? If you skidded on black ice didn't the car remind you the temperature was below three degrees? Didn't you scrape ice of the windows when you got in? If you are driving down country lanes isn't it likely that the next bend could have mud on the road or be a road full of sheep? Every accident has things that a good driver could have considered before hand and adjusted their driving accordingly.

Save all the 'spirited' driving for the track. I don't think car accidents are called 'accidents' anymore as that seems to imply they were not preventable.

(Oh and I had an 'accident' due to my own carlessness.)

[Joogle]

Glad your both Ok, that looks nasty.

As for the criticism & assumed blame you seem to be getting - how can people who were not there and dont have the full facts jump to such conclusions is beyond me.

That Road is one of our local routes for club runs & 40-50 mph in a 60mph limit at night on that stretch of road is by no way "Spirited" driving.....