Unsecure chicken perches

[The Dogmother]

Bear with me on this one... bit of a story, and typing online from a weak connection in a very part of rural Norfolk.

 

My previous Berlingo - bright as bright green, and visible on Google sat had a habit of attracting eejit drivers, who couldn't see it - despite it being build like a big shed and visible from space - it was shunted twice by people who drove into it, having 'not seen it'.

 

In January, I borrowed some dosh from my folks to upgrade to a newer Berlingo, and in the last week, it has had the rear bumper shunted and split in a car park (no note or particulars left - I can only hope that they came off worse). Then on the way up to Norfolk on Friday evening, a woman in a large 4x4 shunted me at a roundabout - I didn't brake in a hurry, nor unnecessarily, in fact she admitted to not paying attention and not seeing the van!!!So our holiday started with a van where the boot wouldn't shut, and a traumatised hooond in the back

 

I have to say that I ripped her off a strip (suspect that she was on her phone at the time) and informed her that I would need to spend some of my holiday getting remedial repairs made so that I could shut/lock the tailgate and keep the dog/our luggage safe.

 

I know that I can be a bit of a Victor Meldrew, ranting about poor driving, but the lack of attention that people pay to other traffic around them never ceases to amazed me and that's from someone who learned to drive in London!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How annoying and frustrating . Stupid woman . Hope it doesn't spoil your holiday and pooch recovers.

[bronze]

Sounds like a female 4x4 driver fromt hese parts. I've noticed they seem to thinkt he law doesn't apply to them (don't get me started on drink driving)

[The Dogmother]

Her Shogun was hardly damaged, but my tailgate and rear bumper will need replacing. I spent yesterday morning getting the lock realigned so that it now shuts and can be locked. I will forward the bill for that on to her insurers.

[Blackrocksrock]

Oh no - especially when on holiday too - its bad enough at the best of times. Mind you I nearly had an accident yesterday as I DID NOT see a car coming and luckily it was not coming fast! eek Hope the hound is ok too

[Redwing]

Oh no what a pain!

 

There is no excuse for not seeing your car - those 4 x 4 cars are high and you should be able to see clearly, you are probably right about the lady being on her phone if she was that unattentive

[Seagazer]

Oh dear, at least everyone's ok although it is a complete pain to get everything sorted out, especially when you're on holiday. Hope you manage to sort it all ok.

[Valkyrie]

Glad you are OK - and it's quite alright to rant under those circumstances. I had a peppermint Ford Fiesta. One woman went up my bum - didn't see you she says. Then someone hit me in the front wing coming out from a side road - didn't see you she eventually said. Actually she went and hid because she saw my expression. I think she called the police for her safety! He asked me if I wanted to press charges. Then not so long ago 2 locals did their best to wipe my Jazz off the face of the earth on blinking roundabouts - didn't see me. That seems to be the automatic response rather than oops I'm so sorry are you OK. I would have kicked them up the bum if I had the nerve.

[Chickvic]

Grrr! How annoying - I get really irritated when people don't pay attention! I usually have my children in the car with me and I complain very loudly that I have my invisible paint on

[chickinboy]

Oh no! Glad no one was hurt. Driving whilst on the phone is the one thing guaranteed to make me go absolutely mental at other drivers. You can spot them- you see a car drifting about in the road, breaking suddenly, and going off course while they change gear and steer with one hand...I have been known to wind down the window at traffic lights and give someone a lecture. Obviously I check to see if they're bigger than me first!

 

It's such a shame that with all the horrific accidents that happen on our roads, and the innocent lives that are ruined....and still we have people doing things like that, driving along with that 'it'll never happen to me' attitude. I lost a family friend a few years ago who was sitting in a traffic jam minding his own business, when bang, a drink/drugs driver killed him instantly. Horrible to say, but sadly I think with some of these people it'll take a near miss at the least to make them stop and think about what they're doing.

 

Ooops, I've ranted now.

[poachedegg]

Blimey - how annoying for you - hopefully the insurance will sort things out without any hassle.

[Egluntyne]

Relieved that you are OK.

[Jules.]

I'm glad that you're all okish, & hope that it all gets sorted out as easily as it can be x

[Space Chick]

Thank goodness you are all OK.

 

Drivers seem to be getting worse and more inconsiderate

 

I have to keep my wits about me more than most in the my Smart, as because its little people think they can cut me up

 

Hope all goes OK with your insurance claim and that you enjoy the rest of your holiday

[ubereglu]

Crumbs Clare. That's not good, but I'm glad you've managed to get the problems sorted. I am truly amazed at how many times your car has been hit by awful drivers, who claim they 'CANNOT SEE' your berlingo. As you know we have one too and they're hardly invisible!

 

I'm glad you're ok though and I hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday and the woman gave over her insurance details. Why she needs a 4x4 is beyond my understanding.

[Charlottechicken]

Thank goodness you are all OK and hope the dog is calmer now.

 

I seriously think there are a lot of people driving around who need specs to sit behind the wheel, but don't know it yet. It seems some folk can't tell when their eyesight is deteriorating. If you have a driving licence, a regular eye test should be a requirement.

[Chucky Mama]

Ah, you must be driving one of those invisible cars. Mine is like that sometimes. Bet she was on her phone

[moochoo]

Oh no! I'm glad you are all ok. What an absolute pain especially whilst you're away from home. The silly moo was probably on her mobile. It's a shame you couldn't confirm that and get her done for undue care and attention..

Hope Rosie and Rubes are ok too.

[rosie]

I went out this morning with DH to the DIY place. On the way we were nearly driven into by a young lady in a car who was all over the place on a dual carriageway. When we pulled up alongside her at a roundabout, I noticed that she was texting on her mobile Makes you wonder

[Looney]

Oh poor you Claret Not great at the best of times, but worse when you are on holiday and have to get it sorted out. I am always amazed by people driving whilst on their mobiles, especially van and lorry drivers. Also extremely aggressive drivers that sit on my bumper, one hand on the wheel the other holding their phone.

 

I passed a chap driving a van the other day on a dual carriageway. One hand holding his phone to his ear. The other hand holding a bottle of pop to his mouth. What on earth was he steering with?!

[chick wiggle]

Grrrrrr Arghhhhhhh

I feel your pain Claret, driving for a living you really do get to see it all and it makes me soooo mad when people dont pay attention especially using phones etc. Its all just so stupidly unnessasary!!!!!!! And so so annoying!!!

I hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday

[The Dogmother]

Thanks Guys, back home now, so easier to type etc.

 

When we had pulled over and she got out of her car, she was on her mobile, so I have no proof that she was on it when she hit me, but it wouldn't surprise me. That and drink drivers really get my wick, and I've been known to beep at people driving whilst they are on the phone. My cousin was killed on his 16th birthday 22 years ago, we were very close and (in protest) I haven't drunk a drop of alcohol since.

 

I have spent 45 ins on the phone with my insurers, the courtesy car people and the menders to get it all sorted. Just one more phone call to make tomorrow. I have kept the receipt from the interim repair that I had to have made so that we could open and close/lock the tailgate.

 

*touching wood* I have been driving for 30 years and not yet had an accident that was my fault, the most hairy by far was when I had my first car (old Fiat 500) and was cut up at Marble Arch (London) by a vast pantechnican, which attached the middle of its trailer to the roof of my little car and dragged me along

 

The doglet has recovered, none of us hoomans were injured and I just hope that it is all sorted out with minimum hassle.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Oh Clare what a rotten way to start your break

 

If it's possible to have a silver lining in this story (I try to find one, however small ) the damage from the unidentified accident will be fixed without question by the second

 

And as for being invisible, when we went up to Whitby last week I was driving as usual........you would not believe the number of times my grande Espace was nearly swiped by motorway drivers....it's one of the biggest cars on the road for goodness sake, not much smaller than a small lorry, whatever happened to checking over your shoulder before pulling out to check your blind spot .........sorry !

 

Glad everyone is recovered

 

Sha x

[chick wiggle]

Oh its all such a hassle you could do without and when its not your fault, doubly so!

Not checking your blind spot is the stupidest but commonest mistakes on the road.

I cant tell you the number of times a car nearly pulled off the slip road onto the motorway right into the side of me, and i WAS one of the biggest vehicles (articulated lorry with over a 40ft trailer!) on the road!!! The blind spot is much MUCH bigger than you think.

Just a quick glance over your shoulder can save so much trouble.

Sorry Claret now Im ranting, but on your behalf!

[Seagazer]

Hubby and I had a close call by a coach a couple of weeks ago as we went down the A20, he just didn't look. We were in the outside lane and he just pulled in. Thankfully the German people in the car in front of us speeded up quickly so we could get away. Really, really scary. I'm afraid I produced a few hand signals that are definitely not in the highway code.