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Question for you UK gents...

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:36 am
by :FI:WillieOFS
what is the penalty for gettin involved in an accident with a piece of highway maintenance equipment inside a closed workzone in the UK?

Reason I ask is, yesterday a very lovely redhead lady from England drove through the cone line and crashed into the machine I was running. Messed her SUV up a LOT worse than it did that lil shoulder broom I was running. Impact speed was next to nil and there were no injuries. She stated that she thought it was alright to go to the exit that was closed. We had all the proper advance warning signs and a good line of cones.

The police wrote her 2 tickets. One for causing an accident and the other for disregarding a traffic control device.

Her fine will be double what it normally is because the work zone was occupied. The poor kid will pay handsomely for that screw up.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:09 am
by :FI:Murph
We had a highway worker killed last year by a very drunk woman who drove through a cone zone at high speed. I think these things have to treated very seriously. Just my 2 cents.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:50 am
by :FI:Scott
It would either be driving with undue care and attention or from the sounds of it maybe even dangerous driving (as the hazard was signed and people were put in direct risk).

Either mean points on your licence and some level of fine but with the latter the sentencing powers are far greater- including community service orders or even a bit of chokey if you've been naughty enough. This plus having to explain why the car isnt so pretty any more

Not a good day out wherever you are

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:36 am
by :FI:Nellip
UK here - and Spitthedog (anyone remember Tiswas) is right, either "driving with undue care and attention" or "dangerous driving" would be the penalties over here. Normally for dangerous driving there has to be some element of recklessness involved, typically excess speed, dangerous manouvre etc and that carries higher penalties.

Sounds like it was a bit of luck no-one was hurt.

Just saw the "Rita" thread so good luck to every one in the Lone Star State - hope everyones OK.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:39 am
by Grecian
It would either be driving with undue care and attention or from the sounds of it maybe even dangerous driving (as the hazard was signed and people were put in direct risk).
Yep sounds about right.

Women drivers :roll:

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:09 pm
by :FI:WillieOFS
I guess the poor child has been over here too long. Lost her manners w/respect to traffic.

People here are too busy ( in their minds ) to be bothered by having to detour a bit for a work zone. I'm sure you guys over in the UK would be apalled by the behaviour of our asshole motoring public. I know I am.

We had 3 "new" hires on that job and they were complaining about the way folks were acting on our little deal. I informed them that what little they saw on that job was NOTHING compared to what usually goes on. We were working on a multi-lane, secondary road at the time of my deal. It really gets mean when we have to get out in the "main lanes" of one of our interstate roads. :roll:

As for Rita and me? They're saying now that we ( those of us in the Dallas/FOrt Worth area) may not even get any rain!! :( Just some wind.

If it was Ireland....

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:32 pm
by :FI:Fenian
They'd proably apologise for putting the cones in the way and help her straighten out the bumper with a sledgehammer. And then invite her for a pint :D

You imperialists and colonials are so uncouth!

:lol:

*runs away into the oncoming cones*

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:06 pm
by :FI:WillieOFS
:shock: I thought about doing as Uncle Fen mentioned. She was delightfully red haired and VERY pregnant.. :roll: NO weddin ring visible.. 8)

As I'm happily married now, decided it would be best left to itself.. :lol:

Pics here..ftp://68.189.216.86/WRECK/

lemme know if they don't work. My ftp server has been acting wierd lately. :?

That a GM truck?

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:31 pm
by :FI:Fenian
Made of wafer-thin 'peel'.... that fender is history....

Mind you Ford aren't much better.....

Your ma-sheen seemed to come out of it quite well Willie!

Pregnant too eh? That would save some time I suppose :lol:

You must be gettin' old Sir Willie ;)

:lol:

:beer:

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:28 pm
by :FI:WillieOFS
Twas a Ford Exploder. Complete with the ubiquitous "GB" on the rear bumper. :lol:

Bad day for the lil lady I'm afraid and YES I'm gettin a bit long in the tooth. ;)

Actually...

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:23 am
by :FI:Heloego
...you should have charged her for the damage to her Ford.

Now it has "character". :D