[minimeminime]

Hi all,

I have been so low that I could not bear to come on to this forum before now...

I posted a thread last Monday about going to a Cherished mini dealership on Weds to put a deposit on a MINI 1 with loads of extras.

I have alsways had a phobia about joining the motorway so I insured my uncle to drive my car so that we could get a part ex for mine and sign up for my 3 month old ex demo.

We set of at 10am last Weds M1 north 70 mile one way. BY 10.25 just as Uncle was about to join the motorway as the lane gets thinner... A French lorry tries to squeeze on our left and scratches down the side of my 56 plate car and pulls the mirror off.. He then continues driving, oblivious to what has happened.. His lorry was a left hand drive and he was siting really high up ... My uncle then started to shake with the shock..I tried to console him.. He was so upset as he has been driving for 40 years in his own car and never had an accident. I told him to continue driving .. I then dialled my local poloice station and explained that the lorry was still in front of me.. The police were brilliant.. They turned up within 10 mins pulled him over and told us to pull over behind him. They told me not to worry and the driver came out and apologised as he said he did not see us as. The police got him to call his boss and he agreed to settle without going through the insurance.. Meanwhile I cant get my new mini until this has been sorted..

[ChloeG]

Quote: Originally Posted by minimeminime (original)

Hi all,

I have been so low that I could not bear to come on to this forum before now...

I posted a thread last Monday about going to a Cheished mini dealership on Weds to put a deposit on a MINI 1 with loads of extras.

I have alsways had a phobia about joining the motorway so I insurede my uncle to drive my car so that we could get a part ex for mine and sign up for my 3 month old ex demo.

We set of at 10am last Weds M1 north 70 mile one way. BY 10.25 just as Uncle was about to join the motorway as the lane gets thinner... A French lorry tries to squeeze on our left and scratches down the side of my 56 plate car and pulls the mirror off.. He then continues driving, oblivious to what has happened.. His lorry was a left hand drive and he was siting really high up ... My uncle then started to shake with the shock..I tried to console him.. He was so upset as he has been driving for 40 years in his own car and never had an accident. I told him to continue driving .. I then dialled my local poloice station and explained that the lorry was still in front of me.. The police were brilliant.. They turned up within 10 mins pulled him over and told us to pull over behind him. They told me not to worry and the driver came out and apologised as he said he did not see us as. The police got him to call his boss and he agreed to settle without going through the insurance.. Meanwhile I cant get my new mini until this has been sorted..

Awwww! I know how you feel if you get down, you don't fee like talking to anyone - however you're on the mend now to be able to confront this rotten situation; glad to Police did their stuff and fast.

Why can't you get your new MINI? Confused, as you said you have a 56 plate.

[minimeminime]

As cant part ex my 56 plate Clio in its current state.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Foreign lorries are a low onto themselves unfortunatly! On the M1 in the roadworks at the moment they are a real pain for pushing you along, they refuse to move over and almost plant themselves in the boot

So sorry to hear what happened! I hope you and your uncle are both ok, and that you get your Clio fixed soon and of course that you can still get a MINI

[Mejy Poo]

Oh dear.

It will certainly make getting your MINI even more worthwhile

[rellik666]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

Foreign lorries are a low onto themselves unfortunatly! On the M1 in the roadworks at the moment they are a real pain for pushing you along, they refuse to move over and almost plant themselves in the boot

So sorry to hear what happened! I hope you and your uncle are both ok, and that you get your Clio fixed soon and of course that you can still get a MINI

Sounds like Australian Lorry Drivers!

I have had a couple of episodes, where I haven't been allowed to merge and ended up trying to join from the hard shoulder!

They obviously know how scary they are behind, infront, or next to a little car. And the they all complain that car drivers cut too close infront of them and don't leave enough space............I don't see them complaining when they are driving 2 inches from my bumper....anyhow RANT over.

I am glad you are both ok. And it is nice to see the traffic police doing something other than staring down the barrel of a camera!

[baskers]

Sorry to hear about this Will you be able to reserve your MINI?

Is it me, or are there more accidents happening to our MINIs and soon-to-be MINI owners???

[ALD0]

There was a programme highlighting the problem with Quentin Wilson not so long ago, about the dangers of foreign lorry drivers and the fact they can't see anything or anyone to the right of them

[Nerrep]

Better it happened now, rather than to your nice new Mini though, I guess!

Will make finally getting the car that much sweeter though - I've just moved to a Mini One from a Clio 1.2 16v, and the Mini is incredible. So much solider and more reassuring in every conceivable way, as well as being a fair bit quicker!

You'll love it when the day finally comes

[airbusA346]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

There was a programme highlighting the problem with Quentin Wilson not so long ago, about the dangers of foreign lorry drivers and the fact they can't see anything or anyone to the right of them

I saw that and was quite supprised what they can't see.

[mini-millie-n-dan]

Glad you are both ok, could have been much worse .
Good on the police, it's not often you hear good praise for them!
You would have been more annoyed if it had happened in your new mini, hope you get the clio sorted soon.......

[mab01uk]

Good advice for all car drivers on a motorway is never to sit in a lane alongside a LH drive truck because they have a massive blindspot, always hang back until your way past is clear ahead and then get past into his vision as quickly as possible. Side swipes are happening everyday now with the increasing numbers of tired foreign truckers on our roads. Several have resulted in fatal accidents.
More here:-
BBC - London - Travel - A safety blind spot?

[tucker217]

So sorry to hear what has happened . But when you get your new mini you can forget the past couple of days an join us mad folk in beeping an waving at each other...!

It's not just the foreign ones, it's all of them, they seem to be getting bigger... Late last year I was sat about 4 cars behind a lorry at a mini-roundabout when an ambulance was coming towards us, the lorries instinct was to get out of the way by reversing and he went straight over the top of a Saab 93 that was behind him. He then drove off, to this day I don't know how the saab driver got out ok.

[ALD0]

Doesn't help either that the Foreign Trucks can go faster than the uk trucks, normally there limiters have been tampered with, so they will always overtake the uk trucks!

The Irish trucks are always fastest, at least they are RHD though.

[Ant FR]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

Doesn't help either that the Foreign Trucks can go faster than the uk trucks, normally there limiters have been tampered with, so they will always overtake the uk trucks!

The Irish trucks are always fastest, at least they are RHD though.

I remember driving on an autoroute in spain sitting at 130km/h and this big HGV just shot passed me. It is rather frightening. The foreign lorry drivers over drive like asses and speed because they know they will not get caught. The M20 sees one or more lorry vs car accidents per day, yet you drive that stretch and you will rarely see a police car.

[minimeminime]

You guys are soooooo lovely. Seriously I fell better already.. The French Lorry drivers boss has emailed/phoned me every day since the accident happened.. I have sent him a invoice from Renault and he has agreed to do a international transfer tomorrow + £100 for inconvenience.. Should get it my account by Friday(Fingers crossed). Thank goodness for "A" Level French. I have since seen a lovely mini cooper, here is the spec: Its only £1,000 more than the mini one I wanted with the same mileage:15" 5 Star Spooler Alloys

CHILI Pack

Chrome-Line Interior

Free UK Mainland Delivery

Interior Trim Piano Black

Metallic paint

Roof In Body Colour
£13,995.. 57 plate .. My mums yelling "Every disappointment is a blessing darlin'" Mums always right I guess..