Near miss!!

[Milltown Row2]

Cars are dangerous, of that there is no doubt but drivers are a lot more dangerous.  I have been a competitive rally driver for over 10 years with a bit of experience. I have my fair share of crystal but have also been through my fair share of hedges. The one thing I can say is that the steering wheel will get you out of a lot more trouble than the brake peddle. The average drivers instinct is to slam on the brakes, this is often where it goes wrong.

The one thing you need is awareness of what is ahead, use your eyes. Driving along thinking about a match or some bit of fluff will get you in trouble. If everyone concentrated on what they were doing there would be very few accidents.

Guilty on both counts

Was it a camogie match you were refereeing?

Haven't seen too many camogs that would make me lose concentration

[AZOffaly]

Had a scary one myself there last September. Leaving the home place back for Newport. I was toddling along at 100km/h on a bog road, which is signposted as 100. There is a bit of subsidence though, it being a bog road. Anyway, I reached for the radio to tune in BBC Radio5 as Liverpool were playing Arsenal at the time, and as I did, the car hit one of them little bumps. I hit them 1,000,000 a year I'd say, but this time, because of the alignment of eyes off the road, one hand on the wheel, and other hand on radio, I completely lost it. Steering wheel was ripped from my hand, and I couldn't get it back. I braked, wrestled with the wheel etc, but it was just like the OP said, complete powerlessness. Car crossed the dividing line, hit the verge, flipped up in the air, did a 270 degree spin and ended up back facing Ferbane , standing up sideways on the passenger side. The passanger window was exploded, and I was hanging sideways by my seatbelt. I had to open the driver side door (amazingly heavy when gravity is against you) and climb out , Dukes of Hazzard style.

I gave thanks that day I'll tell you.

1 - No car coming against me. I'd have killed us both.
2 - I was on my own in my car, not child or wife to injure. My wife would have been showered with glass at best.
3 - No injuries to me because I had my seatbelt on. If seatbelt was off, I'd not be typing this.
4 - I came to rest about 4 foot from a telephone pole. If I'd hit that, possibly the same as point 3.

Unbelieveably, because the land is good and soft around home, the sum total of damage to the car was €2000 for two panels, a passenger window and a bit of tipping and tapping here and there.

Scary shit though, and I know how lucky I am. Suffice to say, lesson learned re. respecting the power of a car going at even that speed. Because modern cars are so comfy and solid on the road, you forget you are essentially in charge of a lethal weapon going at 60mph or more.

[Milltown Row2]

Had a scary one myself there last September. Leaving the home place back for Newport. I was toddling along at 100km/h on a bog road, which is signposted as 100. There is a bit of subsidence though, it being a bog road. Anyway, I reached for the radio to tune in BBC Radio5 as Liverpool were playing Arsenal at the time, and as I did, the car hit one of them little bumps. I hit them 1,000,000 a year I'd say, but this time, because of the alignment of eyes off the road, one hand on the wheel, and other hand on radio, I completely lost it. Steering wheel was ripped from my hand, and I couldn't get it back. I braked, wrestled with the wheel etc, but it was just like the OP said, complete powerlessness. Car crossed the dividing line, hit the verge, flipped up in the air, did a 270 degree spin and ended up back facing Ferbane , standing up sideways on the passenger side. The passanger window was exploded, and I was hanging sideways by my seatbelt. I had to open the driver side door (amazingly heavy when gravity is against you) and climb out , Dukes of Hazzard style.

I gave thanks that day I'll tell you.

1 - No car coming against me. I'd have killed us both.
2 - I was on my own in my car, not child or wife to injure. My wife would have been showered with glass at best.
3 - No injuries to me because I had my seatbelt on. If seatbelt was off, I'd not be typing this.
4 - I came to rest about 4 foot from a telephone pole. If I'd hit that, possibly the same as point 3.

Unbelieveably, because the land is good and soft around home, the sum total of damage to the car was €2000 for two panels, a passenger window and a bit of tipping and tapping here and there.

Scary shit though, and I know how lucky I am. Suffice to say, lesson learned re. respecting the power of a car going at even that speed. Because modern cars are so comfy and solid on the road, you forget you are essentially in charge of a lethal weapon going at 60mph or more.

So many things went your way, on any given day you might have had a different outcome!! Scary stuff

[Christmas Lights]

Lot of bad drivers on this thread.
Lot of bad drivers now.

[Croí na hÉireann]

I drove straight through the express lane barrier at the toll bridge in Portlaoise.

Luckily it was only made of soft foam.

Happened to a fella I know, it didn't lift in time. Nobody behind him so he backed up and went up to the window to explain. Your one didn't give a monkeys, said it happens at least a couple of times a day and on he went.

[laoislad]

I drove straight through the express lane barrier at the toll bridge in Portlaoise.

Luckily it was only made of soft foam.

Happened to a fella I know, it didn't lift in time. Nobody behind him so he backed up and went up to the window to explain. Your one didn't give a monkeys, said it happens at least a couple of times a day and on he went.

I thought I was fucked.I was sure the car would be a write off, its amazing the amount of stuff can go through your head in a split second. It came down just as I was coming up to it.  Slammed on the breaks but was too near to stop. Went straight through it, was so relieved when I realised it was only soft material.

[ballinaman]

July 2009 I was a front seat passenger in a car with my friend driving and another friend in the back.

Driving back to Dublin from Clonmel at around 12pm the following day after a birthday party the night before.

We were in great humour discussing the banter the night before. My friend was tipping along nicely, nothing crazy but a bit too fast with not knowing the roads. Doing about 100km on a fairly decent road, secondary or could have been a primary.

As we get to the crest of the hill, my mate turns to me a goes..here, pull my finger...obviously had a stinker lined up.  As get over the crest, big curve to the left, friends just shouts..f*****ck as there is no way he was going to make it.Car kept going straight, crossed the road and went between 2 huge black and amber chevron signs (no more than the width of a car) hits and embankment and we're airborn for a good 2-3 seconds before nosediving into a ditch which was about 20 metres below the road. Airbags go off,front of the car in on top of us in the front.

Still remember the white power and ringing in the ears from the airbag. Engine smoking big time at this stage, driver and friend were dazed and frozen. I just started roaring at them to get out of the car...expecting a Hollywood engine explosion at any moment. Had to climb out the back side window and then up the hill to the road. I just lay down on the grass for about 20 minutes thanking God. Car was in bits. If didn't have belts on or met a car coming around a corner or hit one of the chevron signs we were toast.

So basically, pull my finger can kill.

[johnneycool]

July 2009 I was a front seat passenger in a car with my friend driving and another friend in the back.

Driving back to Dublin from Clonmel at around 12pm the following day after a birthday party the night before.

We were in great humour discussing the banter the night before. My friend was tipping along nicely, nothing crazy but a bit too fast with not knowing the roads. Doing about 100km on a fairly decent road, secondary or could have been a primary.

As we get to the crest of the hill, my mate turns to me a goes..here, pull my finger...obviously had a stinker lined up.  As get over the crest, big curve to the left, friends just shouts..f*****ck as there is no way he was going to make it.Car kept going straight, crossed the road and went between 2 huge black and amber chevron signs (no more than the width of a car) hits and embankment and we're airborn for a good 2-3 seconds before nosediving into a ditch which was about 20 metres below the road. Airbags go off,front of the car in on top of us in the front.

Still remember the white power and ringing in the ears from the airbag. Engine smoking big time at this stage, driver and friend were dazed and frozen. I just started roaring at them to get out of the car...expecting a Hollywood engine explosion at any moment. Had to climb out the back side window and then up the hill to the road. I just lay down on the grass for about 20 minutes thanking God. Car was in bits. If didn't have belts on or met a car coming around a corner or hit one of the chevron signs we were toast.

So basically, pull my finger can kill.

Aye, a good guinness fart can blind you at close quarters.

That aside, you were very lucky.

[theskull1]

As we get to the crest of the hill, my mate turns to me a goes..here, pull my finger...obviously had a stinker lined up. 

So basically, pull my finger can kill.

Id say there was a phased transistion when you went over the crest of that hill

[ballinaman]

As we get to the crest of the hill, my mate turns to me a goes..here, pull my finger...obviously had a stinker lined up. 

So basically, pull my finger can kill.

Id say there was a phased transistion when you went over the crest of that hill

Reverse sublimation I'd say....gas to a solid!

[muppet]

The moral of this thread is never buy a used car from a GaaBoarder!

[heganboy]

July 2009 I was a front seat passenger in a car with my friend driving and another friend in the back.

Driving back to Dublin from Clonmel at around 12pm the following day after a birthday party the night before.

We were in great humour discussing the banter the night before. My friend was tipping along nicely, nothing crazy but a bit too fast with not knowing the roads. Doing about 100km on a fairly decent road, secondary or could have been a primary.

As we get to the crest of the hill, my mate turns to me a goes..here, pull my finger...obviously had a stinker lined up.  As get over the crest, big curve to the left, friends just shouts..f*****ck as there is no way he was going to make it.Car kept going straight, crossed the road and went between 2 huge black and amber chevron signs (no more than the width of a car) hits and embankment and we're airborn for a good 2-3 seconds before nosediving into a ditch which was about 20 metres below the road. Airbags go off,front of the car in on top of us in the front.

Still remember the white power and ringing in the ears from the airbag. Engine smoking big time at this stage, driver and friend were dazed and frozen. I just started roaring at them to get out of the car...expecting a Hollywood engine explosion at any moment. Had to climb out the back side window and then up the hill to the road. I just lay down on the grass for about 20 minutes thanking God. Car was in bits. If didn't have belts on or met a car coming around a corner or hit one of the chevron signs we were toast.

So basically, pull my finger can kill.

I nearly crashed the yoke reading that...