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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to thank the lady in a blue mazda on M25

405 replies

mw27pink · 25/09/2010 23:01

We were travelling on M25 this morning at about 9.30 on the fast lane. Couple of cars before us suddenly slowed down, but the breaks in our car did not work. All I remeber is me shouting at my husband to slow down as I could see us crashing into this convertable blue mazda(not sure about the make). The lady herself was able to break on time and get out of our way by 10 cm...I am still shaking. We were going out for a fun family day and it could have gone soo wrong. We never got a chance to say thank you to her as we had to move out of the motorway all togather, but I have been thinking of that woman all day as I dont think she realised how lucky she was avoiding us at 70ml/h crashing on her back. So whoever you are THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

OP posts:
rpickett · 25/09/2010 23:49

Glad your all ok.

scurryfunge · 25/09/2010 23:53

Hope your car is fixed too. How did you manage with no brakes for the rest of the journey?

Glad you didn't have a collision.

MrsMadWriggle · 26/09/2010 00:02

YwillBU, however, if you go out again before your brakes are fixed. Not sure from the OP if you knew whether they were dodgy before you went out.

MadameCheese · 26/09/2010 00:09

No one in their right mind would drive a car knowing they had faulty brakes, poor you mw must have been horrible! Glad you're ok

Original poster
mw27pink · 26/09/2010 00:24

It is one of those moments that people talk about "life flashing before your eyes"!! I still can see it in my mind our car approaching the blue car in front of us and at the last second moving out of the way...my husband kept pumping the breakes to make them work and nearly pulled handbreaks, but that would have made the car skid and it could have been a pile up of cars. Ten minutes later we passed an accident and all I kept thinking was "that could have been us". I am ever so thankfull the womans driving skills- it saved her, us and possibly other people lives too!!

OP posts:
MistsAndMellow · 26/09/2010 00:35

Jesus.

I'm going out on my third lesson tomorrow to a duel carriageway.

Lovely post though, it frightens but reassures me at the same time. Good for you reacting and good for her responding.

I'm glad you're okay Smile

cat64 · 26/09/2010 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MadameCheese · 26/09/2010 00:46

indeed Hmm

Quattrocento · 26/09/2010 00:52

So you went out in a car that isn't roadworthy and are now glad to be alive?

Well I'm glad you're alive too but I'm gladder that you didn't kill someone innocent

Original poster
mw27pink · 26/09/2010 01:20

We bought the car 6 months ago and were told that the service was done- but we are not sure anymore about the quality of that service. I have used the car a lot within the town and the breaks have been fine for low speed break, but having been in that situation it really shook my confidence in our car.

OP posts:
Lovesdogsandcats · 26/09/2010 01:31

Yes, but mw,why did you continue driving when you nearly smashed into the car in front when your brakes went?

sonia77 · 26/09/2010 01:39

Didnt he use the horn either when he realised or would that have been the wrong thing to do? Or maybe not enough time. Journey should not have been continued either way! Shocking .

Original poster
mw27pink · 26/09/2010 01:49

Breaks do seem to work when the car goes at 30 or 40 m/h and it is a big car ( 7 seater) ,so I presume it takes longer to break at 70 or 80??? I have no idea about engines or makes, but was glad it was my DH driving rather than me.

OP posts:
booyhoo · 26/09/2010 01:58

my brakes failed on me completely once. i had driven to work in the morning, no problems. left in the evening, got to the top of the junction and sailed right out into the middle of the main road. apparently my brake drums had been leaking brake fluid. no way of expecting it. it just happened.

OP glad no one was hurt, get them fixed asap.

DancingHippoOnAcid · 26/09/2010 01:59

Good God! Shock

get those brakes fixed NOW or you will kill yourself (or someone else)

Brakes should work at ANY speed!

IMoveTheStars · 26/09/2010 02:23

Quattro- FFS, what a twattish comment.
I'm sure they didn't knowlingly go out with defective breaks.

Why is there always that MUM on mumsnet who pick apart every SINGLE incidence of an OP's experince? Hmm

IMoveTheStars · 26/09/2010 02:25

brakes.. argh

IMoveTheStars · 26/09/2010 02:28

When was your lasy full service^?

Are you one of those motorists that drives abour in a clapped-out shit-mobilr or do you actually give a shit about not being mown down.

MrsRhettButler · 26/09/2010 02:35

i think quattro meabt that she obviously drove on afterwards with defective breaks to be able to see a crash 10 mins later?

QueenStromba · 26/09/2010 04:43

I bet the lady in the mazda has been bitching about you all day saying how she just managed to get out of the way of some idiot who almost drove into her arse at 70mph. Glad everything was ok in the end. Please tell me you're getting your brakes checked because I drive on the M25 and can tell you I would be rather shaken by that experience - are you sure it wasn't her that had the accident you passed later?

gtamom · 26/09/2010 05:46

Oh no. Glad everyone is ok, but your car needs to be serviced and the brakes fixed.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 26/09/2010 06:10

that accident will be you if you don't get your car checked.

dribbleface · 26/09/2010 09:29

Failing breaks is scary stuff. My brake line severed on day, with no pre-warning. DS was only 6 weeks at the time.

Glad your all ok. But please don't drive the car again till its fixed, a lucky escape this time. Thank goodness the other woman was so alert.

catherinewho · 26/09/2010 09:45

My husband said if this ever happens then you should move the gears down as this will slow the car down. Althoough this obviously only works in a manual.

pinkbasket · 26/09/2010 09:48

YANBU to want to thank her but what the hell were you doing driving 10 minutes later with a car with unpredictable brakes? HmmShock