Something Awful happened to me last night...

[Texx]

Fuck Me!!! That is upsetting and certainly food for thought for all of us.
Glad yer ok mate, things could be a whole lot worse.

You say you were only travelling around 10mph and this barrier was at the bottom of a ramp? How steep is the ramp?
My point is, what if you had seen the barrier but your brakes failed, or there had been a spillage on the ramp of some sort and you slid? This would have probably ended in the same result, so regardless of whether you did see the barrier or not, its obviously been mounted too high if its cleared the bonnet and hit the windscreen.

Are there not regulations for these sort of things?

 

[Aidan@EP-styling]

Fuck Me!!! That is upsetting and certainly food for thought for all of us.
Glad yer ok mate, things could be a whole lot worse.

You say you were only travelling around 10mph and this barrier was at the bottom of a ramp? How steep is the ramp?
My point is, what if you had seen the barrier but your brakes failed, or there had been a spillage on the ramp of some sort and you slid? This would have probably ended in the same result, so regardless of whether you did see the barrier or not, its obviously been mounted too high if its cleared the bonnet and hit the windscreen.

Are there not regulations for these sort of things?

good point there... imagine youd be on a motorbike and hit that barrier

i cannot believe that damage was done due to travelling at 10 mph!
it looks like a good 50-60 mph!

 

[DriveR]

Yep true guys, I was bloody lucky...it's hazy but i obviously did react at some point before the impact cos my foot was locked down on the brake pedal holding the car in its place long after the impact....i then pulled the handbrake and released....yeah i wasn't going too fast, but i guess going down a ramp gravity was on my side too...

My thoughts exactly mate, this is one of my points i will be pursuing further, why is the bar at windscreen height....basically head height! And yes, i have already thought about if i'd of been on a motorbike, but would of been more likely to notice it in advance if i was i think.

 

[Streetech]

Fuck Me!!! That is upsetting and certainly food for thought for all of us.
Glad yer ok mate, things could be a whole lot worse.

You say you were only travelling around 10mph and this barrier was at the bottom of a ramp? How steep is the ramp?
My point is, what if you had seen the barrier but your brakes failed, or there had been a spillage on the ramp of some sort and you slid? This would have probably ended in the same result, so regardless of whether you did see the barrier or not, its obviously been mounted too high if its cleared the bonnet and hit the windscreen.

Are there not regulations for these sort of things?

We have the same thing at my work car park.
The Barrier is mounted at that height so people see it, thats why its painted yellow for health and safety regulations, if it was mounted lower there is even less chance of people seeing it.
It has happened to our car park before because people havent seen the signs saying car park closed or the car park opening times. (Same barrier on the entry ramp as the exit)
We also get people driving in just before we lock it and getting stuck in the car park again because they havent seen the signs.
Every time the people have put it down to driving on auto pilot. (I have driven into a big pillar in the car park because of my auto pilot)
Really glad your ok though mate, it happens to all of us.

 

[DriveR]

Thanks for letting me in on that Streetech, I feel less isolated knowing others have done similar...it's a shocking thing to have happen to you, it makes you question your own abilities.

 

[Texx]

Thanks for letting me in on that Streetech, I feel less isolated knowing others have done similar...it's a shocking thing to have happen to you, it makes you question your own abilities.

Just put it down to experience mate and move on. Life's too short.

 

[sMARTINside]

So sad, what happenned to you, and the pics you have sent: Luck was on your side! You are still alive and that's the important thing. This could have turned a lot worst. It's just a car after all. But I know that we all love our little Toys. You should really not lose time and get back on the road, with another car. You will find something for sure. Don't think about what has been done, bu look forward to what can be done, in the near future.

 

[DriveR]

Texx, sMARTINside...thanks for the advice, muchos appreciated.

 

[Speed Freak]

So sorry to hear this happened to you! How guttering!

But I cannot help but think that there's something not quite legal about putting the bar at the bottom of the ramp. You would of thought that by law, they would have to put it at the top of the ramp. Simply because things like this can happen, and could of caused some serious damage to you! I would look into this for legal advice, alot of places give it free so definatley enquire into this mate!

 

[DriveR]

yeah i appreciate your comment/advice mate...I've slacked up on that aspect a bit as i've bveen so busy with other stuff...I did call an accident helpline, one of the major ones, and they said it's not really their field, but that this didn't mean i didn't have a case, and to follow it up elsewhere...I will do soon i think....i too thought the barrier at the bottom is a bit dangerous...I'm the first in line to condemn myself for not seeing the barrier at the bottom, but one blocking entrance to the ramp at all would of got my attention for sure.....it is my opinion that companies do cut costs by just putting one bar on brackets across entrance and exit at one level.

 

[Sparky]

wow that really is bad!!

In the last pic it looks like theres no front end from the B pillar forward!!

You are a very lucky man although unlucky at the same time

Was a nice looking GT but if you was to break you should get £300 for the wheels at least ;0

Glad your OK, thats the main

 

[DriveR]

Thanks for your kind words my friend. Yeah not a day goes by where i wonder how the hell i didn't see this thing...but since then i've heard of similar scenarios, so it does happen. Yeah my plan was to respray it yellow, fit my carbon fibre bonnet, and spray wheels black, i think she would of looked mean then....but it looked nice enough as it was to be fair.

I didn't have the time or space to break it really, otherwise undoubtedly i would of fetched the most for it that way, but I'm happy with the deal i got for it, and she's gone to a good home now, in bonny Scotland, where her heart (engine +gearbox etc) lives on in a new body, and is in good hands.

A happy ending to this story I'm pleased to say