Monday, November 24, 2008

Car wars

Mysweet is rather bitter tonight.
I am just happy that he is still alive after the car accident.

The weather has been foul today, it never has really got light, with black clouds and squalling wind and rain.
He was on the motorway driving back home this evening in impossible conditions. He overtook a car at a safe slow 90kilometers per hour in the outside lane, and another car came up behind him driving dangerously at 2 metres behind him, flashing lights and pressing him to get out of the way.
The car then overtook him and slammed on its brakes and forced him to slam on his brakes and skid into the central barrier. He bounced off it across the road, narrowly avoided another barrier and managed to regain control.
Ironically the fact that it was very wet meant the car aquaplaned instead of rolling over and killing him. Amazingly, he got the number of the other car.

He went to report the incident to the police, and they said they could do nothing...no witnesses. Apparently, it is a phenomenon well known here called to fish tail someone "queue de poisson".

The damage will be very expensive, and Mysweet wishes he could vist his aggressor and have a chat with him about it! We just need to find a way of getting the address from the car number...

Oh well, maybe better not!

22 comments:

hexe said...

How horrid! There must be some way to make the other driver finacially responsible for the damage. Glad your Sweet is safe and sound.

Frankofile said...

At the least the police should be able to record complaints against a licence plate... Horrible horrible horrible. Thanks to all the powers that this incident wasn't worse.

Mike said...

It's bad enough that the guy did that to your husband, but then to have no recourse at all is even worse. Glad no one was hurt.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad he's okay but I'm horrified that they can't do anything about it!

Zhoen said...

Infuriating. Good thing he's a good driver, and you're not paying hospital bills on top of car bills.

Anonymous said...

Someone out there must be looking after your sweet.

Anonymous said...

How awful and frightening! Glad He's ok, but geesh, I'm surprised that the police will do nothing.

Lesley said...

I hope the other driver saw what happened and has spent a sleepless night wondering if he killed anyone. (And if the police can't do anything, what about the insurance compnany?). Oh, now I'm feeling all vengeful.

French Fancy... said...

That's outrageous! Is there nothing they can do? We also see dreadful driving all the time, talk about queue de poisson, they're practically inside the car they are so close behind. French drivers, eh.

Commiserations.

Dave King said...

Can the insurance company not help? They sometimes have their ways.
(My first visit, by the by. Great blog)

Jean said...

I'm so glad he's alright, though very shaken and angry, I'm sure. Yes, outrageous if you have no recourse despite having the car's number. But look the main thing is that he's ok.

Mrs. Chili said...

I'm SO glad that your husband is okay. That's no small thing.

I agree that you should be able to file a complaint. Aggressive drivers are dangerous, and I can only hope that karma will catch up with the bastard at some point.

Daisy said...

Oh my goodness, how terrifying, thank god he's ok but still it would be so much better to be able to do something about it.

Lucy said...

Shit, that's awful. (Only just got here) I have so many nightmares about that sort of thing in those conditions... amazing he got the number.

The insurance company must be able to help? They're usually more use than the police for such things anyway, and if he went to the police to report it then at least it's been noted.

Does that mean if someone's murdered and there aren't apparently any witnesses they don't bother investigating it? Probably, knowing our wonderful law enforcement agencies.

Rosie said...

Thank you for your sympathy all. The important thing is of course that he is unhurt. We have only third party insurance, so no joy there.
I can understand how these road rage incidents escalate though...because I know that if I saw a car with a certain number parked in our relatively small town, I would be tempted to get my keys out and draw a very beautiful picture all over his paint work.
But, of course, I am not vengeful like that. So I wouldnt...

Anonymous said...

I would. And worse. Potato up the exhaust? Glass in the tyres? So glad your sweet is at least unharmed.

amy said...

Ridiculous that they will flash & fine drivers going a kilometer or two over the speed limit yet allow people to drive so aggressively.

So glad your husband is okay!

Omykiss said...

How awful! There's definitely something very wrong in some peoples heads!

Tail-gating is very common in Auckland. I was advised to deal with it by pressing the brake just enough for the brake light to come on but not enough to slow the car.

This tends to scare most people into keeping their distances. There are still a few lunatics who don't get it. When possible, I just pull over and let them go on their not-so-merry way.

Casdok said...

How frightening - so glad hes ok.
But apauled the Police will do nothing. Grrr

Ms Mac said...

How awful. And how frightening. I'm pleased he can tell the tale but am furious on your behalves. (Is that a word? Oh well)

Anonymous said...

A late addition to the chorus of concern. Thank god he's okay and confoundation to le morceau de merde responsible.

meggie said...

When I read this post, I felt rage. Someone did this to my son, when I was a passenger, & I could not believe anyone would be so stupid. I fear the insane man who did it to my son, thought he had an inept teenage driver he could monster. It was very frightening.
So glad your Sweet is ok.