Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > Ford Australia Vehicles > Small and Mid Sized Cars > Cougar and Probe

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-06-2009, 02:18 PM   #1
thearrow
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 455
Default My Brush with DEATH......

Its 1:30 am on Saturday night and I am driving along Stoney Creek Rd. at Bexley (a dual carriage way in both directions) minding my own business, feeling a bit tired & thinking about what I have to do on Sunday, mow the grass, take the kids somewhere you know the normal stuff . The traffic is very light, a car passes me in the opposite direction every couple of minutes and I am doing about 80 clicks, as you do at that time of night.

I am stone cold sober & have not had a drink all night.

I see another car coming toward me about 100 metres away, as we get to about 50-60 metres he starts to drift across the road at first I wasn't concerned I just thought that's a bit strange and he will straighten up but he doesn't he keeps coming I flash my lights, he keeps coming, by now he is in my lane on the wrong side of the road.

WTF !!!!!!!! :

I swerve into lane 1 and sense his lights going past me inches away but now I am heading straight for the gutter and the brick fence just beyond that and the brick house just beyond that. I wrench the wheel back the other way and the car swerves back into lane 2, I straighten it up and get things tidied up as I stuff my heart back into my chest. I check my rear view mirror and he is still on my side of the road for about another 50 meters and finally wakes up and gets back on his side of the road.

I can honestly say the Cougar saved my life it performed the manoeuvre flawlessly under an emergency situation and I am convinced that driving a lesser vehicle would have invloved me in a serious accident.

I have been driving for 35 years and had my share of accidents but this is the closest I have ever come to being killed outright as there is no way anybody is going to survive a head on at 80KMH and live to talk about it.



Everytime I get in my Cougar now I give thanks and praise to the FORD engineers who designed my car & to brand new BFG tyres.

: : : :

thearrow is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 09-06-2009, 03:31 PM   #2
galaxy xr8
Giddy up.
 
galaxy xr8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Kramerica Industries.
Posts: 15,637
Default

And did you go after the other driver,
How do you not know if he/she was drunk behind the wheel, or if they were actually falling asleep behind the wheel, they were obvisouly not in the posistion to be behind the wheel, they could have either hit someone else or killed someone else latter on??.
galaxy xr8 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 09-06-2009, 03:53 PM   #3
#Russ#Es#
Hello Koni's!
 
#Russ#Es#'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: South Sydney
Posts: 762
Valued Contributor: For members whose non technical contributions are worthy of recognition. - Issue reason: This member has made a few valuable contributions to the Forum in the Focus section, seems to know exactly what he is talking about with his posts, which are helpful and concise. 
Default

I drive on Stoney Creek Road often - would not be pretty seeing a head-on along there (or anywhere for that matter!), considering how close the houses are to the road on some parts.
If the driver was drunk, not sure if you can really do much can you? Even if they could pull over, who knows what they would do after that...
__________________
2006 LX FOCUS SEDAN
Titanium Grey, factory bodykit, slightly debadged
CSA Motorvatr 17's/Kumho KU31's, Eibach Prokit/Lovells rear springs, Koni Sports Kit
Lower airbox removed, K&N Panel filter
Momo gear knob + boot + pedals, Ghia boot garnish, Zetec Chrome interior door handles
JVC KW-XR816 Headunit + more to come...

#Russ#Es# is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 09-06-2009, 09:59 PM   #4
MTL10N
red kitty kat
 
MTL10N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 20
Default

phwoar...very fortunate you (and the kitty) escaped unscathed...but drivers like that put all others on the road at risk. Let me pose this question: if it were you in that situation, the one avoiding the near-miss caused by another driver on the road due to DUI or micro-sleeping; do you think it’s your responsibility and/or the right thing to do is go after that reckless driver and warn/help them, even if it meant potentially saving a fatal crash incident? Do you go out of your way to be a Good Samaritan? I know it’s unheard of in this day and age and in most circumstances you would just drive off in opposite directions (whilst fuming, swearing your head off as usual), not giving it a second thought. Would you potentially put your own safety in question so that reckless driver is stopped somehow? If so, how would you go about it?

Part of my work involves road safety and this is one particular issue I would like to hear your opinions on. What would you do in thearrow’s position? Its easy saying you should do the right thing but in reality the right thing and our honest responses don’t always line up exactly.
MTL10N is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 09-06-2009, 11:06 PM   #5
scout
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 70
Default

Several years ago I was driving to work dual lanes both ways bucketing down with rain and a semi trailer overtook in the fast lane the driver in the car infront of me paniced and hit the brakes which somehow I and those following missed. I followed the truck and it had a number on the back and a message that said "ring this number if you are not happy with our drivers" so I did and was advised they would contact me and advise of the outcome. 2 weeks later I rang them back and asked the outcome they advised there was non at that stage, I then told them not to worry as the same truck on the same corner in the same conditions had just left the road and travelled about 30 meters up hill and taken out a house, there was no coment. I should contacted the police in the first instance as this may have had an effect on the second. At least if you report situations like these it could be used later.
Trev
scout is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 09-06-2009, 11:20 PM   #6
zetec
Zoom Zoom
 
zetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Posts: 4,352
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MTL10N
phwoar...very fortunate you (and the kitty) escaped unscathed...but drivers like that put all others on the road at risk. Let me pose this question: if it were you in that situation, the one avoiding the near-miss caused by another driver on the road due to DUI or micro-sleeping; do you think it’s your responsibility and/or the right thing to do is go after that reckless driver and warn/help them, even if it meant potentially saving a fatal crash incident? Do you go out of your way to be a Good Samaritan? I know it’s unheard of in this day and age and in most circumstances you would just drive off in opposite directions (whilst fuming, swearing your head off as usual), not giving it a second thought. Would you potentially put your own safety in question so that reckless driver is stopped somehow? If so, how would you go about it?

Part of my work involves road safety and this is one particular issue I would like to hear your opinions on. What would you do in thearrow’s position? Its easy saying you should do the right thing but in reality the right thing and our honest responses don’t always line up exactly.

It's 1:30am and barely anyone's around... HANDBRAKE TURN!!! Smoke up the tyres and chase after him. Engage the PIT manouvre to stop him and then politely tell him to wake up.
__________________
2012 Mazda3 MPS
zetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 10-06-2009, 11:29 AM   #7
Petal
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SW Sydney
Posts: 48
Default

Geez Dave, what a scare! Glad to hear that you got out of it OK, there are quite a lot of drivers around that would not have been able to avoid the accident. (BTW, if you are ever over near my work drop in & have a look at the kit)

Tony, in response to your question I would like to say that I would be a good samaritan & try to prevent them from injuring or killing anyone, but in reality I think I would more likely just keep going & thank my lucky stars that I had avoided the accident. If I had enough wits about me to have noted their rego number (we all know these things happen so fast) I would call the police & report the dangerous driving, although I think it would be pure luck that the police would find them!
The main reasons I would not try & stop them are:
  • how do you stop them without injuring yourself or damaging your car if they do not want to stop?
  • if they do stop are they going to be aggressive (or have a knife, screwdriver, gun etc.)?
Sad fact of life but that's the way it is these days. Just goes to show that "the right thing and our honest responses don’t always line up exactly".
__________________
2000 Ford Cougar Silver Frost MTX

Roush Performance Body Kit (pics coming soon!)
Petal is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 10-06-2009, 11:42 AM   #8
thearrow
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 455
Default

Thanks for the support guys but the last thing I was thinking about was the other guy/person. My heart was thumping in my chest I broke out in a cold sweat and just wanted to get home.

As for chasing someone let alone pulling them over there would be a huge amount of legal issues to be considered not withstanding what Melissa said about the possibility of being assaulted by the other driver.

Once you embark on that sort of action ANYTHING could happen.

If I had turned around and chased him/her the most I would have done was ring 000 and report it and the location and see what happened = probably nothing.
thearrow is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 11-06-2009, 05:31 PM   #9
FumDuk
Regular Member
 
FumDuk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bundaberg, QLD
Posts: 126
Default

Freak stuff !

I have a temper... so I kinda agree with the hand break n' chase, if only to get their number plate n' call the cops... That being said, I dont blame you for just wanting to get home, what a scare... I been putting off buying new wheels until my tries are well n' truly 'ed... maybe its time, you never know when this sort of situation will pop up!
__________________
2010 Ford XR50 - Viper
2001 Ford Cougar - Candy Apple Red
FumDuk is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 11-06-2009, 05:42 PM   #10
paule11
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Townsville
Posts: 1,167
Default

Ive had a similar thing truck with a trailer and a wheel fell off the truck causing the truck to fishtail across a bridge while im driving towards it the last thing you think of is doing anything to the driver all you think about is how lucky you are to be alive .
paule11 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 11-06-2009, 07:49 PM   #11
zetec
Zoom Zoom
 
zetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Posts: 4,352
Default

I was being slightly sarcastic.

I'd have shat myself too.
__________________
2012 Mazda3 MPS
zetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 15-06-2009, 08:31 AM   #12
Thunderbird
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 70
Default

I can add to this tail too.. SAME PLACE.. Stony Creek Road just past the Hurstville Turn-off.. its about 5.30 am.. I'm driving to work in my Mitz Lancer Coupe.. (1974 era type rally car - fairly rare now days).
Cruising the speed limit an on the inside lane.. a paper truck goes flying by... then moves to the left fairly sharply... urr WTF .. but OK.... next another .. but he miss judges and swipes the RHS front of the Lancer.. between his push and natural want to get out of the way.. and shear LUCK.. I mount the curb and go into somebodies scrubs and garden...
The trucks continue up the road.. don't want to wear this .. and with no time to think.. the engine was still going.. I could see some panel damage.. I reversed out and gave chase... thru a red light carefully and on about 1km or so.. as they approached a set of lights they slowed down and I pulled in front and stopped.
That's when I first really saw the damage on my car but they were a bit startled too.. I was in full uniform on my way to Long Bay for the early day shift.. the drivers did not muck around.. the 2nd truck who hit me.. still had all the yellow paint on his side bars and a side lamp broken.. A home owner came out .... preparing to call the cops....if needed... but this trucker seemed decent....
Later I learned he had a series of warrants out for him.. his employer covered the damage and they wrote the car off.. & they gave it back to me with a decent cheque. All ended up well... but .. without the chance that there was NO POLE in my way.. the car still started.. and drove... I was able to catch them & I was in uniform.. then entire situation could have been deadly and costly.

Somebodies looking after us.... we are the lucky ones....
Thunderbird is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 15-06-2009, 06:06 PM   #13
thearrow
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 455
Default

Jeez Thunderbird another close shave..... I can just imagine his face when he saw you in uniform his jaw would have dropped LOL.
thearrow is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 07:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL