Car on the tracks

[CardiffKid]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ends-tram-line-mis-reading-instructions.html

This is the moment a motorist, confused by Sat-Nav instruction, drove on to the a tram line in rush hour. The dramatic picture, released by Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) boss Bob Crow, shows the car on the tracks at Sandilands, south London just after it was stuck after hitting two bollards. Services were halted with the next Croydon Tramlink service just five minutes away.

The motorist was shocked but unharmed after the incident at 5.30pm on Friday. Mr Crow said 'it is a miracle there wasn't a major accident as a result of this latest breach of safety and security on Britain's transport system.

'The incident also exposes the real impact of cuts to security and staffing which has left our transport services vulnerable to this kind of madness.'

Transport for London said 'the driver was following a Sat-Nav when she accidentally went on to the tram tracks as opposed to the road.
'Our officers headed down there and quickly got the car moved.'
Services between Addiscombe and Sandilands were halted as the vehicle, a red Hyundai Amica was removed from the track.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said 'A 23-year-old woman from Tunbridge Wells was reported for driving without due care and officers will be speaking to the lady in due course.'

Not sure I agree with Comrad Crow's comments, but bloody hell, how stupid can you get?

 

[GadgetMan]

To be fair, our roads are that s**t you wouldn't notice a difference between driving on tarmac and driving on ballast.

 

[swj99]

To be fair, our roads are that s**t you wouldn't notice a difference between driving on tarmac and driving on ballast.

That's a good point.

Anyone can make a mistake, but surely by now, everyone knows not to take those new fangled sat nav things as gospel, don't they ? Maybe not. Wasn't there some guy in a BMW a year or two ago who ended up half way down a Welsh mountainside cos the satnav told him to do it ? Sorry officer, I'm not a space cadet really, it was the satnav what done it.

 

[Eagle]

I started reading the article, but I was a few words into the headline and it said "woman motorist" and I couldn't read any further, because I was scared I might have accidentally time travelled to the 1970s.

 

[tsr]

To be fair, our roads are that s**t you wouldn't notice a difference between driving on tarmac and driving on ballast.

I'd far rather drive on a Croydon tram track for the simple reason that the tram drivers are a lot better than the ordinary motorists.

(But I wouldn't, because I am not that stupid. )

 

[90019]

I started reading the article, but I was a few words into the headline and it said "woman motorist" and I couldn't read any further, because I was scared I might have accidentally time travelled to the 1970s.

[youtube]39qdhbkTko4[/youtube]

 

[Stephen55a1960]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ends-tram-line-mis-reading-instructions.html



Not sure I agree with Comrad Crow's comments, but bloody hell, how stupid can you get?

Don't agree with Comrade Crow's comments. What this highlights is the over reliance on sat navs; and the stupidity of a motorist.

 

[Eagle]

Don't agree with Comrade Crow's comments. What this highlights is the over reliance on sat navs; and the stupidity of a motorist.

I believe James May had it right when he said that if you're willing to trust what a pretend woman in a little box is telling you over what you can physically see and hear and feel outside the car, then you shouldn't be driving.

 

[Stephen55a1960]

I believe James May had it right when he said that if you're willing to trust what a pretend woman in a little box is telling you over what you can physically see and hear and feel outside the car, then you shouldn't be driving.

That's very true. I was once instructed to do a U turn in a main road. Had I done so I a) could have caused an accident and b) would have committed a road traffic offence.

 

[wintonian]

I believe James May had it right when he said that if you're willing to trust what a pretend woman in a little box is telling you over what you can physically see and hear and feel outside the car, then you shouldn't be driving.

Most men will do anything there told if done so in a feminine and sexy voice, with or without bedroom eyes.

I can't belive how the world has forgotten how to use an A-Z - says someone who navigates by handheld GPS or Google maps, but at least I can still can read an OS or A-Z if need be.

 

[ainsworth74]

I can't belive how the world has forgotten how to use an A-Z - says someone who navigates by handheld GPS or Google maps, but at least I can still can read an OS or A-Z if need be.

Well like many things in life you should learn to do it the hard way (paper maps in this case) first to a reasonable level of proficiency before using the gizmo's that make it quick and easy (sat nav).

 

[Stephen55a1960]

Most men will do anything there told if done so in a feminine and sexy voice, with or without bedroom eyes.

I can't belive how the world has forgotten how to use an A-Z - says someone who navigates by handheld GPS or Google maps, but at least I can still can read an OS or A-Z if need be.

What amazes me (let's leave driver gender out of this:roll, is how anyone, with an ounce of commonsense would drive through bollards!

 

[Eagle]

What amazes me (let's leave driver gender out of this:roll, is how anyone, with an ounce of commonsense would drive through bollards!

It's time for a gratuitous YouTube montage!

[youtube]O0wY-hvMC44[/youtube]

Suggested soundtrack :P

 

[ushawk]

Don't agree with Comrade Crow's comments. What this highlights is the over reliance on sat navs; and the stupidity of a motorist.

Yeah but he wants any old excuse to moan, despite the fact its due to the driver relying on the sat nav and not paying any attention to what they are doing.

Crow said that it "exposes cuts to staffing and security" - sorry but how is that relevant to this ? No amount of staff could stop a dozy motorist not concentrating.

 

[Stephen55a1960]

It's time for a gratuitous YouTube montage!

[youtube]O0wY-hvMC44[/youtube]

Suggested soundtrack :P

I had forgotten about those type of bollards! I was thinking of the concrete type etc

 

[BestWestern]

I believe James May had it right when he said that if you're willing to trust what a pretend woman in a little box is telling you over what you can physically see and hear and feel outside the car, then you shouldn't be driving.

Indeed. I've argued before that Sat Navs are dangerous. At best they sit in the windscreen, obstructing a driver's view and absorbing far too much of their attention, and at worst you get utter morons like this who are worryingly close to causing carnage. Mobile phones are no more dangerous, yet they'll get you some points and maybe even a chat with a Magistrate. The sooner the authorities realise these bloody things are just as lethal the better :roll:

I suppose we should be thankful it was an empty tram line and not the wrong side of the M25. Regardless, a stunt like this should mean the individual concerned loses their licence and doesn't get it back; ever.

 

[jopsuk]

Crows comments are ridiculous in the extreme in this case. This has nothing to do with staff cuts - what does he want, someone manning every junction where a tram line joins the road?

 

[OuterDistant]

Agreed - Crow is a liability. His judgement is pretty poor - I've never trusted him since he equated the cost of something he wanted to "a penny on every e-mail".

 

[jopsuk]

Another bit that bugs me

Services were halted with the next Croydon Tramlink service just five minutes away.

This is clearly meant to imply that it was five minutes from DISASTER.

But we're talking about trams. They stop quickly. Especially when going relatively sloly between a stop and a junction where the line joins/leaves the road.

 

[JohnB57]

Regardless, a stunt like this should mean the individual concerned loses their licence and doesn't get it back; ever.

Really? So rather than learning from a mistake through proportionate fine and points- a potentially serious mistake granted, but a mistake nevertheless - you would wish to punish this lady to the extent that she may never be able to work again? I would suggest that's just as inappropriate as Bob Crow's inane sound bite and, frankly, silly. I would also suggest that if rails hadn't been involved, you might be a little more reasoned in your reaction. After reflection, you probably now are.

The issue with satnav is that people no longer either prepare journeys properly or have any real idea where they are relative to other places.

 

[sonorguy]

I started reading the article, but I was a few words into the headline and it said "woman motorist" and I couldn't read any further, because I was scared I might have accidentally time travelled to the 1970s.

It was in the Daily Mail.......

 

[ert47]

There are a couple of things bugging me about this article.

1. As you can see from this picture from Google Maps (Sandilands tramstop is in the distance, A232 is to the left and right of the picture), there are no bollards in the middle of the road to say that the road has ended, however there are signs at both side that show that its tram only. In addition to this, in tram only areas in built up areas, the track area is paved, all other areas where normal road traffic is shared, it is normal tarmac.
2. Also from that picture, you will notice that the paving goes for a good 150m (guestimation) before it gets to ballast before the stop. Not sure what she was doing to not notice the impending lack of "road". Not to mention, there is 3m of uneven paving where the shared road ends and the tramway starts.
3. I am still confused as to what bollards she actually struck as there are none to hit in that area (well, since the last time I was there) =/
4. Bob Crows comments make no sense since there weren't any staff nor security cut in the first place.

So what I can conclude from the entire article is that Bob Crow has either been misquoted or hasn't done his homework, this is a non-story, and Sat Navs should be banned. Amirite?

EDIT: Im sorry, completely over looked that the article was from the Mail , over hyping is what they do. =/

 

[BestWestern]

Really? So rather than learning from a mistake through proportionate fine and points- a potentially serious mistake granted, but a mistake nevertheless - you would wish to punish this lady to the extent that she may never be able to work again? I would suggest that's just as inappropriate as Bob Crow's inane sound bite and, frankly, silly. I would also suggest that if rails hadn't been involved, you might be a little more reasoned in your reaction. After reflection, you probably now are.

The issue with satnav is that people no longer either prepare journeys properly or have any real idea where they are relative to other places.

No, I stand by my initial judgement.

If you are driving a motor vehicle and are unable to judge that there is no longer a road ahead of you, then you are not a fit person to drive, it really is that simple. You do not 'learn' from making an error like this, the error occurs because you are quite obviously completely inept and unsafe to be in charge of a vehicle on the roads. To blame a Sat Nav for the fact that you have ceased to drive on a road and are now bouncing down a railway line is just not good enough, surely you don't honestly think that's an acceptable excuse? What if she had ploughed straight through a school playground and scattered children everywhere, would that be ok too?! You may be happy with drivers of this level of skill whizzing about on the same roads that you or your family may be using; I am most definitely not!

 

[GB]

Indeed. I've argued before that Sat Navs are dangerous. At best they sit in the windscreen, obstructing a driver's view and absorbing far too much of their attention, and at worst you get utter morons like this who are worryingly close to causing carnage. Mobile phones are no more dangerous, yet they'll get you some points and maybe even a chat with a Magistrate. The sooner the authorities realise these bloody things are just as lethal the better :roll:

I suppose we should be thankful it was an empty tram line and not the wrong side of the M25. Regardless, a stunt like this should mean the individual concerned loses their licence and doesn't get it back; ever.

Sat Navs are not dangerous, its the morons that use them inappropriately (just like those morons that read conventional maps from their knees or passenger seat) that are the problem.

Its easy to blame sat navs but there is no excuse for poor driving.

 

[BestWestern]

Its easy to blame sat navs but there is no excuse for poor driving.

That is true. Though I still feel that Sat Navs provide too much of an easy distraction to those poor drivers.

 

[maniacmartin]

Some people appear to lose all common sense when using Sat navs. And I agree that Bob Crow's comments as usual are totally irrelevant to the issue and just make him sound like an idiot.

 

[bolli]

And I agree that Bob Crow's comments as usual are totally irrelevant to the issue and just make him sound like an idiot.

I have to say. Is that particularly unusual for Mr Crow?
He seems to be doing it every few minutes....

 

[JohnB57]

No, I stand by my initial judgement.

If you are driving a motor vehicle and are unable to judge that there is no longer a road ahead of you, then you are not a fit person to drive, it really is that simple. You do not 'learn' from making an error like this, the error occurs because you are quite obviously completely inept and unsafe to be in charge of a vehicle on the roads. To blame a Sat Nav for the fact that you have ceased to drive on a road and are now bouncing down a railway line is just not good enough, surely you don't honestly think that's an acceptable excuse? What if she had ploughed straight through a school playground and scattered children everywhere, would that be ok too?! You may be happy with drivers of this level of skill whizzing about on the same roads that you or your family may be using; I am most definitely not!

You need to wrap yourself in cotton wool and stay in bed then.

I'm not suggesting that this driver should not face the correct punishment, just that it needs to be in proportion, be followed up with training - as many other driving offences are these days - and result in improvement. You're seriously suggesting more onerous punishment for this person than drivers whose carelessness kills people? Or bus drivers who go against red lights on crossings? Or would you just permanently ban everyone who makes an error?

The fact is, she did little or no damage, was nowhere near a school playground and was a bit unlucky to miss signage in a sea of traffic and information. There but for the grace... etc. And if you think the skill level on today's roads is generally higher than this, you're deluded. There are thousands of accidents-waiting-to-happen out there and I've already seen quite a few today.

 

[Zoidberg]

Some people appear to lose all common sense when using Sat navs. ...

I agree. It amuses my passengers when I am heard to respond "stupid woman" when issued with a daft instruction.

 

[GodAtum]

Incidentally dangerous driving carries a max of 2 years sentence and a disqualification minimum of 12 months.