Car Crash Advice Needed

[Callum Trialsin]

hi,

before i say anything id like to just give the full details of what happened. ill add that im 17.

Me and a mate were driving down a road in my local town at around 12 last night, nobody was about. i will admit i was driving faster than needed but not like really stupidly. anyways we come up to a small roundabout, i went round the roundabout and then clipped the curb this then jolted the car and my foot hit onto the accelerator by accident whilst still turning, the road surface seemed slippery and this then made the car slide, i then countered this but still could not get it under control, in the end we hit a lamp post 10yards down the road, thus writting my mini off. we are both fine and came out straight away rang the police.

about 2mins later the police turned up and got it all under control no cars had gone past or anything so it was holding up traffic or anything like that. i was breathalized and came up with zero, i had nothing to drink or to smoke if you know what i mean. they took my details etc.

i have everything in order insurance MOT driving licience etc. im a young driver who has basically only just past my test like 1 week ago. i fell im a very good driver but the curb really did throw me and im feeling so bad because this small clip has turned into someting very major. would i be looking at loosing my licience or a fine. i really cant afford to loose my licience due to going straight into work from school and ive been working so hard to get through my driving test which was done first time btw.

Alot of people have helped me out at work family and ive just f***ed it up i feel ive let soo many people down and feel very ashamed.

any help would be much helpful.

cheers callum

Edited January 26, 2008 by Callum Trialsin

[manuel]

nooooob - hahahaha

no - you wont have any license problems or fines - it was an accident (unless they can prove you were speeding?)

just take the hit and buy a new car - dont bother with the insurance - you'll be shafted in the future (although i guess if the police were in volved i guess you may have to admit to crashing a vehicle on a new policy anyuway ...)

hard cheese

[Callum Trialsin]

nooooob - hahahaha

no - you wont have any license problems or fines - it was an accident (unless they can prove you were speeding?)

just take the hit and buy a new car - dont bother with the insurance - you'll be shafted in the future (although i guess if the police were in volved i guess you may have to admit to crashing a vehicle on a new policy anyuway ...)

hard cheese

yeah i know i will have to declare the crash on a new policy but it was like in town so police would have found out anyway. what if they could prove i was speeding, i cant really remember what i was doing it happened so fast lol.i just want to know what would be the worst case situation.

[Al_Fel]

Unlucky mate.

No matter how many driving lesssons you take or tests you pass nothing compares to "real" driving. Lets just hope some people on here will learn from your mistakes and it will save them a lot of bother.

The only advice I can offer is grit your teeth and get on with it. Whats done is done.

[Callum Trialsin]

Unlucky mate.

No matter how many driving lesssons you take or tests you pass nothing compares to "real" driving. Lets just hope some people on here will learn from your mistakes and it will save them a lot of bother.

The only advice I can offer is grit your teeth and get on with it. Whats done is done.

yeah i couldnt sleep last night i felt so bad but in the morning i was thinking about it and i just said to myself whats done is done so sort it out now.

but yeah id like to add that i feel this has changed my view on driving alot. things can change in seconds, it did make a mess of my car though i think just because minis crumple easily it looked bad

[Bionic Balls]

me mate did a similar thing....but in alot more "style" and more speed...

car was written off...police were called by nearby residents i think..in the end i think it was something like either pay this fine and have some points, or pay to go on an advanced driving course..

he went on the 2 day course..

[shaggy]

If you did the lamp post in you'll probably have to pay for that as well. Think it usually comes out of your insurance.

[BONGO]

i fell im a very good driver

I really don't mean this to sound all righteous etc, but this is part of the problem.

You have learnt how to pass your test, not how to drive. It takes at LEAST a whole year from the point you pass to beginto get anywhere near a good driver i thhink, becasue then you have experienced the sun, the rain and the snow. The leaves and mud, the harvest season with mud on the roads of tractors, weeks of hot days and then a down pour that turns the roads to a skid pan etc.

It took me a couple of years, and yeah, a couple of crashes, before i realised that when i thought i was a good driver i wasn't. You do seem to have your head screwed on, and realised your mistake by stating your speed, which will have been a contributing factor to the crash, whether you think so or not.

Take it, learn from it, remember the stress it's caused so you can avoid it, and you'll no doubt come out of it a better driver. There isn't much in life you can get good at without doing it wrong first

Chances are if there are no injuries or other people invoved, the police won't look into it as closly as if there were. Not to spoil things for you, but you can still get taken to court for dangerous driving/driving without due care, directly by the police even without witnesses, as my friend knows. He is in court this week under very similar circumstances. It all depends what has been said to the police really, combined with the damage to the road etc, skid marks and your car.

Fingers crossed for you mate. You'll come out a better driver though that's for sure

Bongo

[Gavyn.]

yeah well done you crashed a week after your test you must be a great driver.

I don't mean to offend you but it's cocky people like you who jump in a car and think there great, that give young drivers a bad name and put up the rest of our insurance policies.

you shouldn't lose your licence and I doubt you'll get fined but when you've got a new car (or your one sorted) just take it a bit easier or next time you might end up dead.

sounds like I'm preaching, I'm not really, I know the temptation will be there for me aswell, I just think if your going to nail it about then you should go into motorsport or wait until your older and more expereinced perhaps do an advanced test or something, so atleast if you are going faster than you should be you'll have been taught how to and you get to know lots of cool things, for example on a blind summat spotting the street lights change sides so you now to go easy because there's a corner. It's defo worth it and it only costs 70 quid.

gav

[BONGO]

for example on a blind summat spotting the street lights change sides so you now to go easy because there's a corner.

Never use street furniture as a guide to what the road is about to do, as there is always exceptions. Use the road itself...

So you blast over a blind summit and 'know' the road bends to the right, because you spot some street lights, and then bang, a tractor is pulling out...

[Callum Trialsin]

yeah well done you crashed a week after your test you must be a great driver.

I don't mean to offend you but it's cocky people like you who jump in a car and think there great, that give young drivers a bad name and put up the rest of our insurance policies.

you shouldn't lose your licence and I doubt you'll get fined but when you've got a new car (or your one sorted) just take it a bit easier or next time you might end up dead.

sounds like I'm preaching, I'm not really, I know the temptation will be there for me aswell, I just think if your going to nail it about then you should go into motorsport or wait until your older and more expereinced perhaps do an advanced test or something, so atleast if you are going faster than you should be you'll have been taught how to and you get to know lots of cool things, for example on a blind summat spotting the street lights change sides so you now to go easy because there's a corner. It's defo worth it and it only costs 70 quid.

gav

no i was just saying that there are alot worst drivers going through tests than me, i know i did crash however i feel i did more to try and stop its than what any other new driver would have done. and i wasnt going like a maniac. i felt exactly the same as you before i past my test. but when you pass your test, you wont be able to tell me the temptation isnt there.

but thanks for your view.

[F-Stop Junkie]

no i was just saying that there are alot worst drivers going through tests than me, i know i did crash however i feel i did more to try and stop its than what any other new driver would have done.

A driving test isn't a test of skill, it doesn't say if you're a good or bad driver, it says if you're a safe driver. Nothing more.

If you've had your licence a week, you have a lot to learn. Similarly, if you're at a point where you're clipping curbs and the like, you're not a good driver. The public road is no place to try and find the limit, or hone your race craft.

Ok, I know I sound like an old man saying that, but if you want to hustle your Mini then do trackdays.

I'd just count myself lucky that you didn't hit another car or a pedestrian. You may get points, a small fine, or a driver training day. You get a new car. So what? Imagine if you'd hit someone and watch them fly over your bonnet and windscreen? That you'd now be in a police cell waiting to be charged and sent to court?

You were lucky. With time, you'll see that.

[Gavyn.]

Never use street furniture as a guide to what the road is about to do, as there is always exceptions. Use the road itself...

So you blast over a blind summit and 'know' the road bends to the right, because you spot some street lights, and then bang, a tractor is pulling out...

Thats not what i said though is it? I said you know there's a corner so you take it easy over the hill where as if you didn't then you'd hit the tractor or land up off the road

and you should always use it as a guide but never rely on it, when you approach any bend you do it naturally in your head your thinking ok I can't see the exit for this cornor and those bushes mean it must be quite tight so i'll slow down. you should never speed up because you see a telegraph pole going straight on when you come to a bend because it may be going through a field, so you don't rely on it much better to be going to slow round a corner than to quick.

[Callum Trialsin]

yeah i understand you now, i know ive been very lucky that there was nobody around and im going to bare this in mind when i get back on the road. but i thought posting this would help some other drivers out and see how things can go wrong, i so wish i could turn back time.

cheers for all of the advice and let this be a little warning to people.

[Greetings]

I know this isn't constructive and doesn't answer your question, but the problem with young drivers is that they think they are really good drivers. That's exactly why young people have so many accidents - if they accepted they have no idea how to control a car, they wouldn't get into situations which require those skills. Don't mean to offend you, that's entirely normal at our age You've learned it the hard way and are richer for the experience. So when you've gotten yourself a new car, sign up for some lessons on a skid pad - you'll have lots of fun and realize how much skill you're lacking (unfortunately a few lessons is too little to learn how to control a car properly). I took a few lessons on a skid pad, didn't learn anything but realized that if I got into a dodgy situation on the road, it wouldn't be as easy to control a car as I thought. Such "wisdom" can save lives

[Rich Pearson]

Trust me dude, it could be a HELL of a lot worse. Ask anyone who knew Oli Lewis or David Jones. You and your mate walked away with your lives, and didn't ruin anyone elses, if anything, you were lucky.

Hope you get it all sorted soon.

Rich

[Callum Trialsin]

inur- i will take your advice on the skid pad, also i know what you mean every young driver thinks they are a good driver.

karsonlevoret- yeah i know im very lucky, whats worst is the fact that some people dont get a second chance. thats why im going to make sure i do it right when im back on the road.

[F-Stop Junkie]

cheers for all of the advice and let this be a little warning to people.

Let this be a warning to you all...

For background, the '10 Pence Short' poster was a car guy just like so many of us on here, and he was just out for a quick drive on country roads...

[Broomer]

not another mini in the same week. unlucky, shit happens .your both still alive.

[trials_pimp]

Thats bad to hear dude.

And No one on hear has the right to have a go at you, everyone has moments in their car when they drive above the law, and push themsleves.

Im not going to go into the rights and wrongs, the law is there for a reason and speeding is bad, but I dont know anyone who hasnt done it.

And I know its more tempting late at night when the roads are empty, and as youve found out it goes wrong alot faster aswell.

If this was me I would:

Not tell my insurence. I would take it on the chin and pay for a new car out of pocket. If you make a claim, you have to wait 3 years before it comes off the record.

Good luck being a 17yr old new driver with a crash on record. There is nothing Illegal about not informing your insurence, as no other vehicles or people were involved its only your own property that was destroyed. Now when you get a new car all you need to do is call your insurer and just ask to change the vehicle on your policy. Dont mention the crash at all, if they ask why just say your bought another car.

If the Police were involved, what did they tell you? Did they say you would be reciving a report and would be fined, charged ect, or had to pay damages on the Post, or did they say you have to be more carefull in the future ect and as long as no ones hurt then get your car off the road and sort it out yourself?

Either way, unless your police specificly asked for insurnece details to contact them you should be safe. If you do get a fine, or damage charge again, try and pay for it out of your pocket. It may cost alot at the time, but it will be cheaper and easier than 3 years of really high insurence payments, and possible refusal of insurance concidering your circumstances (age ect)

the main thing you need to remeber is dont panic, dwel on how wrong it could have gone and dont worry.

Focus on the fact no one was hurt, no one else was involved and take it as a leason. Now you know how not to take a roundabout.

And dont listen to anyone on here who will talk down to you or have a go. People make mistakes, deal with it, its not thier situation to deal with or criticise.

Just remember, a car is one of the most powerfull tool available to us right now. You have to take good control of it and dont f**k about.

[moose-iow]

Thats bad to hear dude.

And No one on hear has the right to have a go at you, everyone has moments in their car when they drive above the law, and push themsleves.

Im not going to go into the rights and wrongs, the law is there for a reason and speeding is bad, but I dont know anyone who hasnt done it.

And I know its more tempting late at night when the roads are empty, and as youve found out it goes wrong alot faster aswell.

If this was me I would:

Not tell my insurence. I would take it on the chin and pay for a new car out of pocket. If you make a claim, you have to wait 3 years before it comes off the record.

Good luck being a 17yr old new driver with a crash on record. There is nothing Illegal about not informing your insurence, as no other vehicles or people were involved its only your own property that was destroyed. Now when you get a new car all you need to do is call your insurer and just ask to change the vehicle on your policy. Dont mention the crash at all, if they ask why just say your bought another car.

If the Police were involved, what did they tell you? Did they say you would be reciving a report and would be fined, charged ect, or had to pay damages on the Post, or did they say you have to be more carefull in the future ect and as long as no ones hurt then get your car off the road and sort it out yourself?

Either way, unless your police specificly asked for insurnece details to contact them you should be safe. If you do get a fine, or damage charge again, try and pay for it out of your pocket. It may cost alot at the time, but it will be cheaper and easier than 3 years of really high insurence payments, and possible refusal of insurance concidering your circumstances (age ect)

the main thing you need to remeber is dont panic, dwel on how wrong it could have gone and dont worry.

Focus on the fact no one was hurt, no one else was involved and take it as a leason. Now you know how not to take a roundabout.

And dont listen to anyone on here who will talk down to you or have a go. People make mistakes, deal with it, its not thier situation to deal with or criticise.

Just remember, a car is one of the most powerfull tool available to us right now. You have to take good control of it and dont f**k about.

well said

[RobinJI]

Yeah, as people have said, the bit in your first post about thinking you are a good driver is a bit ott, you really arent, I'm not preaching, I'm speaking from experience. I passed my test in september, thought i wasnt a bad driver for my age and shit, then induring some spirited driving in my polo I had a little incident involving missing the road. ended up in a field, no damage done, just needed a new wing, big deal. However it really oppened my eyes as to how easily a car slides, its not a gradual build up of tyre squeeling, it just gives, and there you are in a feild/lampost.

Since then I have been a much better driver, and when I got my golf I whent to a stretch of airfeild to get a feel for what it was like sliding in that car, and try and learn to correct it. This really really helped my driving, I knew the cars limits, and I knew to a cirtain extent how to correct it if i reached them, so I used this knowledge to stay consistently well within its limits. Unfortunatly air feilds dont have off camber sections, or forestry run-off, or lorrys spilling deisel, or any other shit like that, so, last week, I whent into a corner at what even the police said was a fine speed, and should have been ok, and the rear end stepped out, I brought it back again, it fishtailed a little, then corrected, but by this time 2 wheels were in the soft verge, they dug in, turned the car side on and the car did a 540 barrel role into some woods.

I have felt my driving progressing a lot in the last few months, and I'd confidently say I'm not a bad driver, just a little too in-experienced for some situations, I've even had freinds comment on the fact I'm the only person who seems to get them places quick without them holding onto the seat in fright. Yet I still found my self sat the wrong way up staring at a big peice of mud that had just been scooped through the whole that used to be a windscreen.

I put a deposit on a new car yesterday, and I'm picking it up next week, I'll be going straight back to that air-feild, in the dry and the wet, and learing exactly its limits, so I can stay well within them this time. Then up-on receiving my next pay cheque I'll be applying for IAM membership, after which I will be going to as many skid pan sessions as possible.

But yeah, anyway, hope you got something from all that shit, but I've had a licence for a little bit of time now, and you really will look back in 6 months time wondering how you got away without crashing every time you got in a car.

[BenLeacock™]

Let this be a warning to you all...

For background, the '10 Pence Short' poster was a car guy just like so many of us on here, and he was just out for a quick drive on country roads...

That is a very good read !

Hope things sort out dude

[An_toin3]

You'll learn from it !, don't worry too much about that !

as others have said !, it's quite normal when you're young to push the car a little bit ! sometimes too much and you know what can happen !

Inur's idea is a great one and you'll learn a lot from this !

for me, since in canada we have a lot of snow !, i've learned to control my car by using the handbrake late at night at various speed to see how it reacts !

it's quite easy to lose control of a car !, been driving 2 years now and i can't even say i'm an experienced driver !, i have so many more things to learn !

good luck !, hope it all gets sorted !

[Gavyn.]

The problem with that is in this country if you were spotted late at night using the handbrake at every possible oppertunity and countering it you'd get done for dangerous driving.

you can become a good driver in a short ammount of time but it requires you to have dealt with alot of different situations and usually unless your out driving all the time you won't come across these things to often

robin getting an iam membership will be one of the most fun things you ever do. last year I spoke with one of the guys who trains the police and is also an iam advanced instructor, I persueded him to take me for a drive and show me the tricks of the trade and give me an insight into advanced driving and he showed me how to make a running commentry on the road ahead (in rally style pacenotes working gears) some of it was incredible he showed me about the importance left foot braking, bgol, bsol, it was great you'll learn loads and it costs very littleand may save yours or someone elses life one day.