Been in a car crash - Need advice on going to police etc....

MercilessKiller

Hey guys.

So my Pug 206 is apparently still drivable past the £1000 of cosmetic damage to the bonnet etc.

The garage as locked the bonnet onto the catch (release for it under the seat) though the offisde and nearside edge of the bonnet is raised from the headlight (about finger width)...

The garage have said it's fine to drive though someone suggested wind on a dual carraigeway/motorway may cause a danger...

How safe is the bonnet latch? Will I be ok driving it on the motorway? If not I'm stuffed.

Cheers

Mr_Warren_2

do not underestimate power of the wind when driving at speed (or not in case of head wind). Anything protubing of the sleek bodywork is likely to be sheared off with very bad consequences (imagine your bonnet flipping over your eyes whilst doing 60mph !!!). If this is a temprorary repair fine to get from A to B otherwise...get it fixed !

anewman

MercilessKiller wrote: »

The garage have said it's fine to drive though someone suggested wind on a dual carraigeway/motorway may cause a danger...

How safe is the bonnet latch? Will I be ok driving it on the motorway? If not I'm stuffed.

Get your fingers underneath and pull upwards without disturbing the mechanism. Try use two hands if possible. Not sure how much pressure to use to test. I would probably pull with moderate force. Bear in mind driving on the motorway with air flow hitting the front of the car, most of the force is going to go through the hole rather than lift it up - but it will probably lift up if the catch comes undone (although most bonnets have double catches - i.e. you need to pull the bonnet release, then on the bonnet use another mechanism to open it.)

Bear in mind for the MOT the bonnet needs to be openable and to lock in place. Any other problems should not fail it the MOT (unless the bonnet is missing completely).

anewman

Oooooooohhhh wrote: »

This story just doesnt seem right to me

Add to it even more that the OP clearly was aggressive back -whether he wants to claim it was in the idea of safety - I simply dont believe them

Whatever did or did not happen does not make unsafe dangerous driving in return right. You should ignore it and go where you want to go, not throw coins and cut them off and slam on the brakes.

Happychappy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Correct, its a fact that a none abs equipped car can stop faster in the right hands than one with abs.;)

And who has the right hands :rolleyes: ? you mean anyone who jams their foot hard on the pedal and doesnt lift it, hoping the surface is bone dry, with no gravel or debris ?

MercilessKiller

Oooooooohhhh wrote: »

This story just doesnt seem right to me

Add to it even more that the OP clearly was aggressive back -whether he wants to claim it was in the idea of safety - I simply dont believe them

I was *clearly* aggressive back? I had my girlfriend and friend in the car. While he was acting dangerously flashing and throwing things at me, i was worried sick trying to slow down and avoid any confrontation!

Thanks for the helpful and useful post... I'm looking for advice, not criticism or sympathy. Just advice.

As for the car the garage said it is latched as a normal bonnet would be (both latches). I've pulled upwards with both hands on the corner with quite a bit of force (not as much muscle as i can), and apart from starting to bend the metal at the other side of the car, the middle bit seems firm and connected to the bottom of the car... I.e when I pull it, I can see tension in the lower middle of the car (front grill I think its called)?

But saying that, its definitely locked and latched. It's just whether the wind is a danger to this hole on a motorway? I plan to get it fixed within 2 weeks (get paid), but until then I'm broke and have no idea what to do! Unless anyone knows places that will let 20 year olds rent cars?

LottiePink

What a horror story! Hope you are feeling better?!

I was in a similar situation myself and understand how frightening it is/was, although I was fortunate not to crash into the back of the iddiot that did it to me... I still don't know how I didn't though.

I was in the outer lane of a duel carriageway in Chesterfield, overtaking a Clio, when out of nowhere a yellow car appeared behind flashing me to move over. I too tapped my break and then safely moved over seconds later when in front of the Clio (didn't want to speed due to speed cameras too). The yellow car then pulled in front, breaking hard, causing me to break hard and then the Clio behind. Mr Yellow then sped off but I only missed him by a whisker. I was incredibly shaken afterwards.

That was two years ago and as a result I never tap my break lights anymore when someone is up close and too personal, it's just not worth it.

Hope you get everything sorted.

MercilessKiller

I've learnt the same too Lottie. Just can't believe people actually do this kind of thing!!!! It's crazy!

Anyway for the short term I have no idea how to afford to fix my car! Long term I hope my lawyer or the police get him.

GabbaGabbaHey

LottiePink wrote: »

I too tapped my break and then safely moved over seconds later when in front of the Clio. [...] The yellow car then pulled in front, breaking hard, causing me to break hard and then the Clio behind. Mr Yellow then sped off but I only missed him by a whisker. I was incredibly shaken afterwards.

Let me get this right - you brake tested the yellow car, and thought that it was perfectly acceptable to do so. He then brake tested you back, and you were "incredibly shaken". Hmmm.

Also: _break_ is what you do if you don't _brake_ in time.

Happychappy

Just wish the BMW driver was an MSE'r so we could find out the other version of this epic tale, and why he/she has ready to hand, sat on his/her passenger seat, a bunch of missiles ready to throw at other peoples cars through his open passenger window ? very strange ; ) but I doubt we shall ever know.