It's not YOUR driving or the fact YOU know the roads, it's them other twunts driving lethal weapons around ...
Being T-boned isn't fun and stats say most accidents happen locally to one or other parties ...
raywin
Well-Known Member
I agree with that, I live in a quiet rural area, but I am seriously looking at getting a dash cam, the number of nob heads who come screaming at you round a blind bend on the wrong side of the road is frightening even motor bikes do they think it wont hurt? Our high street is a 20mph limit but we get so many doll heads flying up there saving a full 1.5 seconds on the trip time.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
People are either risk takers like me or risk avoiders whist the avoiders may agree with the views of the takers and vice verse neither will do what the other does. My next door neighbour gave me a hard time for taking my grandson out on the back of my motorbike but failed to properly supervise her 3 year old whilst visiting her mate. The little girl had half her face ripped off by her mates Doberman. Those who preach need to look closer to home.
Col
Col
Funnily enough, it's usually locals who think that because they know the road well, they are immune from fate ...
neilly
Well-Known Member
Whilst generally true, there is also the point about allowing someone in your care to be at risk and what level of risk you are prepared to accept for them.
Cheers
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
Before my enforced retirement, I was a professional health and safety manager, I was considered expert in certain areas. When one considers a risk first you determine the probability of something going wrong using a number of factors, then you consider the severity of the consequences if it goes wrong. So as a basic example, I have driven well over a quarter of a million miles without having an accident. The small number of car accident I had when I was younger were fairly minor with no injuries. I have had extensive driver training over the years and I live and drive in a quiet part of the world avoiding rush hour traffic. Based on that and other factors, the probability of my having a crash is pretty low, 1 in 250,000. the consequences of me crashing are also fairly low depending on what car Im driving at the time. Therefore, I estimate the level of risk of injury to be acceptably low if I take my 7 year old grandson out in my landy with him sitting in the forward facing back seat that does not have seat belts. Others might disagree but their opinion is more likely to be based on emotion and misperception.
Col
Col
raywin
Well-Known Member
Well consider there are many accidents, and your chances are 1 : 250,000, OK.
But there are nob heads out there who drive like they have had a brain out pork pie in transplant they may be down to 1 : 250
So what if they involve you in one of their accidents?
Don't want to involve any emotion here but what risk level I choose for myself and what risk level I choose for a grandchild are two different equations.
Imagine the aftermath and living with the consequences.
I do
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
Part of the driver training I alluded to was defensive driving where you are taught to take account of other road users such as boy racers. Where I live, there are that many speed cameras and speed humps nobody can go that fast anyway. If I was driving long distances or on fast roads the risk assessment would be different.
Col
Col
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
My daughter is a Sister in a local hospital, she sees quite a few children who have suffered injuries at the hands of other children but she can't remember a single car crash victim under the age of 17. Things need to be put in perspective.
Col
Col
raywin
Well-Known Member
Well the link I was given earlier in the thread put it in perspective for me:
http://www.saferroads.org/advice/drivers/seatbelts/
http://www.saferroads.org/advice/drivers/seatbelts/
I think it's worth remembering that if you do fit forward facing seats in a vehicle that had side facing or no rear seats the legal requirements also change and just fitting them and bolting them to the floor may get you through an MOT but doesn't necessarily make them legal.
Retrospaceman
Well-Known Member
You need to notify insurer and DVLA of the change to carriage capacity. - Similar to motor home conversions in some respects.
My insurers were happy once they had a new MOT.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
I removed the side facing seats in my station wagon changing it from a 10 seater to a 6 seater. Do I need to tell my insurers?
Col
Col
raywin
Well-Known Member
Its an interesting point.
I know not all insurers are the same, but I have found some who seem to react to any modification by saying OK we will slap a lump on your premium, this does not seem to reflect the nature of the modification ( like yours).
But you need to be wary that others seem to use any excuse to avoid payment of a claim.
Dammed if you do and Dammed if you don't.
Its on my bucket list to hear from someone who had a message from the insurer "OK that's less people can be carried so we will reduce your premium"
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
I can well understand insurers wanting to know about people modifying their vehicles to make them faster or more nickable, or some mod that might affect its roadworthyness like wheel spacer etc but where does it end? When I got my series3 the original wheels and tyres where in bad condition so I bought a brand new set of defender wheels and tyres from a landy dealer, they are tubeless, the originals where tubed. I've never thought to mention this to the insurer, do you think they would use this upgrade as a reason to avoid a claim? How many of the classic vehicles still on the road are exactly as the manufacturer made them?
Col
Col
raywin
Well-Known Member
I agree about classic vehicles, my own has a new galvanized chassis, I would think there is a strong case to say you have replaced worn parts with upgraded parts from the OEM there fore you have discharged your duty of care.
But I am not your insurer, and its them who would count.
