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Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:14 am
by Saitek
Been extremely busy with revision. Just a few weeks to go and then I'm on holiday. Thought I'd throw this one to share. I'm just trying to work out if she is an idiot or not. :-? I think I would know if I was going across a railway line even in the dark.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/6646331.stm

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:36 am
by eno
Obviously I had never done the journey before so I was using the sat nav - completely dependent on it


Lesson one: Never completely rely on technology.

I can't completely blame the sat nav because up until there, it did get me where I needed to go," she added.

If maybe I had been more aware of the situation, I wouldn't have had the accident.

But I would be a bit more wary of the sat nav next time because they try to take you the shortest route and not always the most accessible route and not always the safest route.


Lesson two: Learn to use said technology and reference Lesson one.

Lesson three: Situational awareness is a must for everyone at all times.

Lesson four: Reference Lesson one and Two.

Lesson five: If incapable of all of the above ....... USE A MAP!!!

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:48 am
by Souichiro
I say Idiot.....

But then again... I've heard of people speeding into the canal in thick fog because their Satnav said there was a bridge when in fact there was a Ferry service....

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:50 am
by Hagar
I suspect the problem here is that these sat nav systems use the most direct route. I've read cases of people being directed along completely unsuitable narrow roads which are little more than farm tracks & completely unlit at night. Although they used to be fairly common in some parts of the country it's quite possible that this young lady had never seen an unmanned railway crossing of this type before. She said that she thought it was some type of farm gate. She is very lucky to be alive.

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:56 am
by ATI_7500
Satnav is quite helpful, but it doesn't replace situational awareness and common sense.

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 9:04 am
by Saitek
Satnav is quite helpful, but it doesn't replace situational awareness and common sense.


I think that just about squares up how I feel. It is there as a guide, as an aide to assist; not as a replacement for a driver's sense of direction, timing and judgement.

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 9:10 am
by Hagar
I think this is what we're talking about. I wonder how many people have ever seen one of these crossings & what they would do if confronted by this in the dark. Come on now, be honest. Would you know what it is?

Image

Bear in mind that the photo is of a brand new installation on a decent road surface. I've seen some in a far worse condition.

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 9:27 am
by ATI_7500
They look a bit strange in Britain...really like farmgates.



In Germany (and most of continental Europe), train crossings are marked clearly as such.

http://www.regio-verbund.de/uploads/med ... ergang.jpg

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:13 am
by Saitek
I would be able to tell. :-/ Let alone the car headlights on the rails! :-?

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 11:59 am
by stuart1044
Idiot ;)

But an attractive one at that :) ;)

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:31 pm
by expat
Did she not notice that the suspension was trying to shake it self to bits as she drove over the sleepers...............Or, maybe it was a case of, my goodness there are an awful lot of sleeping policemen on this road  ::)

Matt

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:37 pm
by ozzy72
Alas common sense is a rarer commodity than rocking horse droppings these days ::)
Methinks that these GPS/Sat nav twits probably have three gray cells at the back of their head somewhere huddling together for warmth! Learn to use a map you dopey half-wits ::) ::) ::)

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 1:41 pm
by Hagar
[quote]Did she not notice that the suspension was trying to shake it self to bits as she drove over the sleepers...............Or, maybe it was a case of, my goodness there are an awful lot of sleeping policemen on this road

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:22 pm
by Mushroom_Farmer
Seems similar to a story posted not too long ago.

Re: Another fortunate person!

PostPosted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:38 pm
by bok269
I say she's lacking in the common sense/intellect/situational awareness department.  She should have been able to feel herself drive over the tracks, and most certainly should have been able tosee them. Its because of idiots like these that we get warning messages on our nav systems every time we turn our car on.