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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:
Rockbird · 27/09/2010 22:01

How nice, the OP comes back, still drivelling on about the poor cow who is probably still clutching a hot sweet tea and a fag in her trembling hands. Hmm

She flatly refuses to answer any questions or clarify anything which can only lead me to believe that her and her husband are as stupidly irresponsible as they've been painted. Because if they were driving and acting like adults and it was a complete fluke, then if it was me, I'd be here making bloody sure everyone knew the correct story.

OP you brought this to our attention. It was highly highly unlikely the Mazda driver was one of us and if she was she's probably be too busy shaking to log in. So what did you hope to achieve with this? A pat on the back and open mouthed admiration at how cool you are with your dodgy car and don't care attitude?

scurryfunge · 27/09/2010 22:01

But StealthPB even in the magical steel wall scenario the driver behind would still be at fault. Swap steel wall for child stepping out....driver behind= Fault.

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:01

but you don't grind to a halt! The car in front has to take a certain distance to stop too. Stopping distances are based on the understanding you will have enouigh time to stop in those circumstances. What do you not understand? If you are a certain distance behind the car infront, then mythical steel walls allowing, you will stop in time if they slam their brakes on

Goblinchild · 27/09/2010 22:01

Oh Animation, are you a driver? Grin

Morloth · 27/09/2010 22:02

The car behind, because Scurry's car may at any time blow a tyre or explode or Scurry could have a heartattack or her kid could open the back door or she may be a loony who puts her brakes on for fun - whatever so the driver behind needs to bear all of this in mind and leave a safe stopping distance.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 27/09/2010 22:02

Well said Rockbird

Animation · 27/09/2010 22:02

StealthPolarBear,

Ah, a steel wall.

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:03

Yes, sorry you are right scurry. I hate to say it though but a child would not stop the car in the same way as my mythical steel wall.
All I meant was that stopping distances probably do not allow for the car infront coming to an instant stop - which is pretty much impossible anyway

Animation · 27/09/2010 22:04

Bollocks Morloth - you've lost all credibility anyway - cos you're a name caller.

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:04

So do you get it now Animation? If the car in front slams its brakes on you are expected to have left enough room to stop. If you didn't, you are to blame.

LadyBiscuit · 27/09/2010 22:04

Amination - you really are just trolling now. Please say you are.

On the assumption you aren't, have you heard of stopping distances? It's where you drive far enough away from the car in front of you so that if they do slam on their brakes and come to a halt, you can do so too. I know, it's rather beyond belief, but it's possible.

Obviously if you do that, you risk encouraging wankers who pull into the space between you and the car in front but that's okay, you just slow down so that the same space is in front of you again. It's slightly annoying but being a bit peeved is so much nicer than being dead :)

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:04

Answer the question please

backwardpossom · 27/09/2010 22:05

^Scurryfunge - so you're going 70 on the M1 and grind to a halt. The car behind consequently ploughs into the back of you.

Who's REALLY to blame - if you want to play the blame game.^

This must be a joke. Really. Do people this clueless actually exist?

Well said, Rockbird

Animation · 27/09/2010 22:05

StealthPolarBear.

Rubbish.

backwardpossom · 27/09/2010 22:06

Apparently, I can't format posts Hmm

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:06

Answer the question please

StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2010 22:07

It's called stopping distance. Look it up in the Highway Code. I don't understand what you don't understand - but I see when you're faced with a question you can't answer you resort to taunting.

Morloth · 27/09/2010 22:08

Yes, I am the one with the credibility issues.

Animation has to be trolling at this point, it simply isn't possible for someone to not get this, it isn't possible.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 27/09/2010 22:08

Animation only one person on this thread has no credibility....and it isn't Morloth

Animation · 27/09/2010 22:08

Hey backwardpossom - SPOTTED that hit and run there - who you calling clueless?

backwardpossom · 27/09/2010 22:08

You, Animation, funnily enough. Who's running?

LadyBiscuit · 27/09/2010 22:09

Animation, if you don't believe us, do you think the Highway Code is talking bollocks too?

"Stopping Distances

Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. You should

* leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance (see Typical Stopping Distances PDF below)
* allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads"

I think someone already linked to the handy PDF earlier in the thread that you might want to download to refresh your brain

borderslass · 27/09/2010 22:09

It's always the driver of the car behinds fault because you should be reading the road in front, if your not doing so its called driving without due care and attention.
I've only ever had brake failure once I was driving the taxi on a steep hill I used the handbrake to stop the brake-pipe had developed a hole and the fluid had leaked bloody scary, it was taken straight to the garage without me driving any further.

FootLikeATractionEngine · 27/09/2010 22:10

This is why I think 5 or 10 yearly driving tests, including motorways, would be an excellent idea.

scurryfunge · 27/09/2010 22:10

Animation, in response to your M1 scenario, the driver ploughing into the vehicle in front is at fault, honest!