UPDATED: M5 Crash, 7 dead, 51 injured, 34 vehicles

[Derek]

Originally Posted by mertle

I hated it when you get some stupid copper going about speeds too close basically accusing everyone of stupidity before investigations. At least we not seen this this time. Even if the find this the cause not all would been stupid but might been hit pushed into it. It must be very hurtful to families the way they act at times trying preach the gospel of driving.

I know it's shocking the Police should do anything to reduce the number of deaths on the road.

EVERY fatal I've attended has had excessive speed as either the main or contributing factor. The ACC highlighting this ensures that airtime is given to the message that there is a speed limit.

At some times it is safe to exceed it and at other times drivers should be going way below it.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Derek

At some times it is safe to exceed it and at other times drivers should be going way below it.

Therein lies the conundrum.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Therein lies the conundrum.

Better driver training is the answer.

Like so many things people are taught how to pass a test or exam, not how to actually do something properly.

Anyway there has been the tiniest sliver of positive news from this.

No more bodies have been found at the scene of the crash on the M5 which killed seven people, police have said.

It had been feared the death toll from Friday evening's crash in Somerset could rise and emergency services had been searching for more victims.

But Avon and Somerset Police said on Sunday morning all vehicles had been removed from the site and their "worst fears have not been realised"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15610140

[mertle]

Originally Posted by Derek

Better driver training is the answer.

Like so many things people are taught how to pass a test or exam, not how to actually do something properly.

Anyway there has been the tiniest sliver of positive news from this.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15610140

Agree crazy banning learners on motorway under controlled tuition they will learn how to handle it. Now not proposing green horns there should be staged competance test. Once passed they still learning not allowed on open roads on there own but there allowed under registered driving instructors on motorways.

Another not sure if the competence level should be reviewed test be more stringent. Would argue allowing outside tuition ie non driving instructor should be reviewed. How many hours learning before test taken reviewed too.

They then learn advanced driving techniques including visit to skid pan to learn hazard control.

The system they use to speeders, drugs, mobile and drink driving should be done too by police give them hard facts that what will likely happen.

Why wait why let people self learn motorway driving surely preventation the best solution. However you cant change humans once taught inevitably gets chucked into brain bin. Wonder if drivers become so careless as safety in cars gone to new levels. When they see racing drivers walk away 200mph crashes wonder they think aha only 70mph-90mph I wont die with our now ultra safe cars. Yet we still see racing drivers killed 2 sadly recently but still dont click in the brains.

Should Ford impact collision be compulsary to all cars to me what happens if it fails would we get into new level invisinsability. Maybe speed limiters should be compulsary again it wont stop accidents sadly unless limiter modified by GPS information then tells the car speed limit for conditions. Problem then is those new cars would never be bought second hand market or people would remove them.

It may well been speeding but not jumping to conclusions just yet.

[mertle]

UPDATE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15612315

major line enquiry FIREWORK & BONFIRE next to M5 police say.

This is madness if this ends up the cause of the crash.

Police said witnesses reported "smoke, not fog" creating "impossible" driving conditions.
A display had taken place at Taunton Rugby Club which is situated alongside the motorway.

"Our main line of inquiry has now moved towards the event that was on the side of the carriageway," he said.
"We do believe that whilst there was fog, and it was difficult conditions in the area, that actually from witness evidence that there was very significant smoke across the carriageway which in effect caused a bank - similar to a fog bank - which was very distracting and very difficult to drive through."

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16104319

[Pierre]

That's what I heard,

As usual you get people on here without the full facts banging on about speed and bad drivers blah, blah, blah.

Witnesses are reporting entering a thick black cloud and literally zero visibility.

[Kymmy]

Updated thread title

[Hom3r]

First off condolences to the families of all those involved.

Why is the bonfire & fireworks being blamed?

If conditions were poor visibility, why were they going so fast?

I have been driving for 23+ years and drive to as the conditions allow. I guess some people think they are immune.

I have driven in torrential rain on the motorway (<50mph) only to have a BMW fly past me without any lights.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

First off condolences to the families of all those involved.

Why is the bonfire & fireworks being blamed?

If conditions were poor visibility, why were they going so fast?

I have been driving for 23+ years and drive to as the conditions allow. I guess some people think they are immune.

I have driven in torrential rain on the motorway (<50mph) only to have a BMW fly past me without any lights.

They say that when vehicles arrived at the accident spot the was a dense bank of smoke with zero visibility so if any vehicle had braked it would be unknown to the ones behind.

We will never truly know but it wet damp conditions such an event could occur causing such a thing to happen but without CCTV the is no way to verify even though the is a family who survived saying this is exactly what they come upon at that point.

A man has been charged with seven counts of manslaughter after a fatal pile-up on the M5 during thick fog.

"Having considered the evidence in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the CPS decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Geoffrey Counsell, the provider of the fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club on the night of the collision, with manslaughter."

http://news.sky.com/story/1000093/m5...r-seven-deaths


it will interesting to see how this pans out ,charging the fireworks display provider suggests that health and safety had been breached

Manslaughter charges have been dropped against Geoffrey Counsell after seven people died in a pile-up on the M5 during thick fog.
The 50-year-old was operating a firework display in a field close to the motorway, at Taunton Rugby Club, at the time of the crash on the night of November 4, 2011.
Counsell, who is from Somerset, was charged with seven counts of manslaughter on October 19 last year.
But when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court, he was told the manslaughter charges were being dropped and he would instead face a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act of failing to ensure the safety of others.

http://news.sky.com/story/1038435/m5...harges-dropped