Page 5 | Funeral Carriage Horse killed by car driver... aibu?

AdriftOnMemoryBliss · 2016-02-26T16:13:17+00:00

To think the stupid woman should have the fucking book thrown at her? [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-35653240]] this second article covers it a bit better and has photos, but they've been edited/blurred. they're not graphic, but a couple do show the horse laying in the road as they were taken before it was removed from the scene. [[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/horrific-aftermath-accident-saw-car-10953991]] From what i can gather, the driver overtook the funeral procession and then pulled in hitting the horse so hard it went over the top of its harness mate, and she also smashed the front of the hearse. The horse had to be put down at the scene. What on earth is the matter with people that they would so something like this?

BathtimeFunkster · 27/02/2016 09:29

DH points out that I should have known this as it's standard to give way to slower-moving traffic

I think it's the "living beast" element that freaks me out.

I love horses, but they frighten me a bit.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 10:00

I can find no evidence at all that the driver is a recently retired police officer. Is it just rumours to feed the police bashers?

OurBlanche · 27/02/2016 11:41

From friends who live there and the carriage driver himself I only know the driver was female. The detail popped up here and I have no idea if it is true or not.

So I have generally ignored it.

BertrandRussell · 27/02/2016 11:48

On what planet is this an AIBU?

Themodernuriahheep · 27/02/2016 11:55

Round us, the driving examiners used to fail you if you didn't change down a gear if you came up to a horse, or a sheep or cow.

I have overtaken funeral processions in towns, if I have to get to an appointment . And I wouldn't want, as another has said, to stop emergencies. But the bus story is dreadful, very sorry for your loss, Dexter, and this is appalling.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/02/2016 12:20

This was an accident. Caused by driver error, yes, but an accident nonetheless. I'm sure the driver is shaken and feeling appropriately miserable having caused it.

Some of you though should be disgusted at your own posts. From 'police look after their own' to 'woman should be in prison' to 'I hope she never has a days peace in her life'... I mean, what are you?

I'm sorry for the owners of the horse and carriage, the carriage driver, and for the funeral mourners and for the driver. I'm not willing to lump in the pitchforkers with them, they're not grieving, they're thigh-rubbing in mawkishness.

I'm feeling particularly sorry for the driver who caused an accident (as many drivers do) but a) had a serious incident caused by their own negligence that others would not have and b) has to face public vilification because it was a funeral procession and an animal died.

Let's hope that no poster on this thread - or any relative of theirs - ever has the misfortune to be the cause of an accident that gets them into the news.

We really do have a love of gutter press in this country. Facts optional but public ranting mandatory.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/02/2016 12:21

This was an accident. Caused by driver error, yes, but an accident nonetheless. I'm sure the driver is shaken and feeling appropriately miserable having caused it.

Some of you though should be disgusted at your own posts. From 'police look after their own' to 'woman should be in prison' to 'I hope she never has a days peace in her life'... I mean, what are you?

I'm sorry for the owners of the horse and carriage, the carriage driver, and for the funeral mourners and for the driver. I'm not willing to lump in the pitchforkers with them, they're not grieving, they're thigh-rubbing in mawkishness.

I'm feeling particularly sorry for the driver who caused an accident (as many drivers do) but a) had a serious incident caused by their own negligence that others would not have and b) has to face public vilification because it was a funeral procession and an animal died.

Let's hope that no poster on this thread - or any relative of theirs - ever has the misfortune to be the cause of an accident that gets them into the news.

We really do have a love of gutter press in this country. Facts optional but public ranting mandatory.

SuperFlyHigh · 27/02/2016 12:36

Howmodern

I'm sorry to say but how selfish of you to overtake a funeral cortège because of appointments, you should really allow good time and a reasonable excuse for being late would be to quote funeral cortège. That shows good manners.

I recall a few years ago my DB's school friend (grown up) driving a hearse to our grandfather's funeral in the country (from Clapham) he was fine all the way, said he felt more nervous as it was a close family friend but we had someone overtake his funeral car too and a few of our family were but not totally surprised by it as we all know of twats on the road. This is one step further and involves killing an animal, unforgivable.

Lying sadly yes a lot of the police do "look after their own" but why that should give them a green card to behave as though they're above the law is beyond me. A witch hunt for the woman I agree is harsh but if most people know she'll probably get off scot free then of course there will be bitterness and resentment and also sense of shame that she didn't act within social norms and show a bit of respect.

Peaceandloveeveryone · 27/02/2016 12:36

I am glad that this thread has raised awareness of not passing horses unless you can go wide and slow.

SuperFlyHigh · 27/02/2016 12:45

Lying it was also an accident which could have been avoided. And caused by someone selfish enough to want to overtake a funeral cortège.

Equiem89 · 27/02/2016 13:01

An accident is clipping someone's wing mirror of bumper as you park in a car park. This was not an accident

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/02/2016 13:10

Cars in a cortege could be given black flags so that other drivers know they're part of the procession and they then don't inadvertently join the procession at roundabouts?

There's no reason why a cortege can't be overtaken on a dual carriageway, it's safe to do so. I don't flash or nod and nor do I speed or dawdle; just get past without fanfare or a need to be noticed doing it.

As for passing horses on the highway, perhaps people don't see them on the road as often as they did so don't know how to behave around them? I think there needs to be more awareness of how to safely manoeuvre around animals on the road. There used to be a tv advert, I seem to remember it? Anyway, slow and giving a wide berth is definitely the way to go.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/02/2016 13:10

Oh, you think the driver did this on purpose then, Equiem? Well, that certainly puts a different slant on it!

britnay · 27/02/2016 13:18

Sadly, horse riders have to deal with these sort of idiots on a daily basis. Here are a few links to videos showing helmet camera footage from riders points of views

be sure to watch the video on this petition link
www.change.org/p/goverment-law-parliament-i-want-to-make-it-a-legal-requirement-to-legally-have-to-slow-and-pass-a-horse-wide-and-slow-and-abide-our-hand-signals-to-stow-and-slow

crazy lorry driver
www.facebook.com/sophie.williams.796569/videos/10154034462994363/?fref=nf

note the blue car at approx 1 minute in
www.facebook.com/dani.randino/posts/10208402102632795?fref=nf

And these are just a few that have been filmed.
So many impatient, reckless drivers out there...

ToastDemon · 27/02/2016 13:21

This was anything but an accident.
It was someone taking a conscious decision to behave in a reckless, selfish and dangerous way. In this instance, it had appalling consequences for many people.
Yes I do hope she is haunted every day of her life, and I hope she goes to prison but I suspect chance would be a fine thing for that to occur.
I truly hate, loathe and detest reckless drivers.
It's a choice. No sympathy for them.

kormachameleon · 27/02/2016 13:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheFairyCaravan · 27/02/2016 13:28

We used to live off that road in Bridgend. DH and I can't understand what possessed her to overtake. Unless it's changed drastically you just wouldn't do it down there, and not only that the cemetery is on that road so she'd have been held up for all of 5-10 minutes.

I think she should be charged with driving without due care and attention at the absolute very least. The poor horse and the poor people involved.

TheFairyCaravan · 27/02/2016 13:30

We used to live off that road in Bridgend. DH and I can't understand what possessed her to overtake. Unless it's changed drastically you just wouldn't do it down there, and not only that the cemetery is on that road so she'd have been held up for all of 5-10 minutes.

I think she should be charged with driving without due care and attention at the absolute very least. The poor horse and the poor people involved.

Equiem89 · 27/02/2016 13:45

No LyingWitch I do not think she did it on purpose but it is not an accident. As Toast said it takes a conscious decision to drive in such a way which results in an outcome like this

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 27/02/2016 13:49

Trying to over take a funeral car. That is a low in itself. Poor horse. Thinking of everyone concerned.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 27/02/2016 14:21

It was an accident of course it was. I highly doubt the driver woke up that fateful morning with the intent of killing the poor creature thus devestating not only the horse's owners but the family on their way to the funeral. However it was an accident that wouldn't have occurred had the driver not rudely been trying to take over the funeral procession.
If you're late for an appointment in those circumstances. You're late. That's the end of it. You just say, Sorry I'm late. I had to wait for a funeral procession to pass. It only takes a few minutes.

Gabilan · 27/02/2016 14:27

LyingWitch much of the reason our roads are dangerous is because people shrug and say "it was an accident" instead of taking responsibility for the actions and decisions which caused the event. Unless there was a mechanical failure or an unforseeable health problem the driver made a decision to overtake when there was insufficient space. Drivers should be made to realise that these careless or reckless decisions can cause deaths.

Dying in an earthquake is an accident. Being driven into by a driver who made a bad decision is a deliberate act. You can bet if drivers knew they would be tried for manslaughter they'd be much more thoughtful.

I don't want to see vigilante action - often it's as bad as the original act. I do hope the driver's conscience never lets her rest again.

Drivers often get away with killing precisely because jurors know they've taken similar risks and got away with it. It's an appalling, selfish and self-centred attitude.

CheesyNachos · 27/02/2016 15:09

From the pics and the report, it seems that she tried to overtake then merge back in between the carriage and the horses. That is just fucking insane.

My FIL died recently. We had the hearse and a total of 6 cars following the hearse, that is it. We were on a main country road going to the crematorium and an impatient driver tried to cut in from a side road between the hearse and the lead car. Cue slamming brakes and the driver at fault actually beeped at us and gesticulated.

I was pretty shocked at that to be honest. He was delayed by all half a minute perhaps- not even that long.

Original poster

AdriftOnMemoryBliss · 27/02/2016 16:29

its not an accident, and if you dont know that you should pass a horse wide and slow then you're a fucking idiot.

Its in the highway code, its part of the damn theory test.

Even if you argue the 'older generation' might not know that because they didnt take the theory test (i'm 35 and one of the first generation to take it) they DONT have the excuse of not knowing its the height of bad manners to overtake a funeral cortege!

I've been to quite a few funerals in that area of South Wales, long funeral processions to the cemeteries are not unusual, my own MIL had about 30 cars following hers.

To overtake on that road make this woman thrice, maybe four times an absolute IDIOT. This wasn't accidental.

OP posts:

limitedperiodonly · 27/02/2016 16:46

Give it a rest OP.

The driver was fucking stupid. Just as many other drivers are. Her stupidity had devastating consequences which she may or maybe not be reflecting upon.

I don't know what her charge will be, but it will be dealt with in court and after that maybe people might think twice before driving stupidly and being in a rush. But probably not.

Anyway, you can start another thread then.