The grumpy thread

[dollywobbler]

Aye. Doesn't sound a fun job at all. You definitely have my sympathies LS. Hope something better crops up. In my experience, driving for a job (especially non-qualified) is a thankless task - used to drive for a Volkswagen dealer and it was a shit load of hassle for absolutely sod all money. 

[Slartibartfast]

Am I correct in thinking you're a trade plater, Mo? Was it someone else's car that got biffed?

[Parky]

Bummer about the accident Mo, glad you are ok though. What happened!

[SiC]

Really rubbish about the bump Mo. To excuse the awful pun, maybe its the bump you need to really look at doing something else?

 

I don't envy anyone having to be a driver for their job on today's roads.

[wuvvum]

FFS, that must be a proper mare when you depend on driving other people's cars for a living.  As others have said though, you've been talking about wanting to get out of this game for a while now - this might be a sign...

[eddyramrod]

That sucks, Mo.  As Talbot said, that's the rest of your day screwed up.  If possible, just get home and get your head down.  This is the unseen fallout, when the innocent party can't carry on with their day and considers changing their life.  All I can really offer is, good luck!

[Lord Sterling]

Am I correct in thinking you're a trade plater, Mo? Was it someone else's car that got biffed?

Basically I was joining the M2/A2 right at the point where it changes from motorway to A-road. As I joined the motorway from the slip road, in front of me looked clear so I checked my mirrors. As I joined lane 1 safely I suddenly noticed a moped that looked stationary I slammed on the brakes but the smacked into the moped, the rider slipped up the bonnet and windscreen then back down and then onto the ground.

 

It was fucking HARROWING. But thankfully, moped rider was Ok, up and walking/talking/on the phone. Police and ambulance came. Details swapped. Lad took away in ambulance for check over. He is fine and dandy as I've been informed, just shook up as am I.

 

Police told me I'd done everything right, checking my mirrors etc... and that I was right to reasonably expect to join the carriageway at around 50mph and not face a 50cc moped doing 25mph.

 

Results:

 

I've been looking for work elsewhere as I've been beginning to tire of this. I reckon this is a wake up call. I used to enjoy this job, going places, seeing different things and challenging myself but financially it's never been great plus the prospect of not knowing what you're next job will be etc... has recently just been getting to me.

 

As a side note; this was a fairly minor incident compared to the other side a few miles down into the M2 where there was apparently a fatality.

[oldcars]

SIGH....

 

FFS. Just had a crash near Maidstone today. I'm Ok and so is the other party. I feel properly shook up though. Fuck. It looked worse than it actually was. The Police were really helpful and told me not to worry as I'd done everything right.

 

I may not lose my job but I reckon I need to lose myself from it now. I love cars and driving but I don't love this job anymore. I gotta keep on though as I've got bills to pay and I will not keep on going on cap-in-hand/charity case.

 

It just doesn't get easier does it?

Nightmare, glad you are ok. 

[dollywobbler]

Eesh. Nasty. I'd probably delete that pic though. Very glad the moped rider is fine.

[oldcars]

Shit, just seem the picture. That must have been terrible for you. Glad everyone is ok.

[Pillock]

You're probably overthinking it Mo, the amount of miles covered every day by your crew there's going to be the odd Biff. I doubt they'll make a meal of it.

 

However, if you're not enjoying your job then maybe it's time to move on. I reckon you can turn your hand to most things, sorry I can't offer anything constructive but have a bit of faith in yourself and get out there.

[Parky]

Jesus, that was lucky. Glad the moped rider was ok too, it could have been much worse.

 

Looking at that windscreen it's a great advert for always wearing a helmet

[SiC]

Basically I was joining the M2/A2 right at the point where it changes from motorway to A-road. As I joined the motorway from the slip road, in front of me was clear so I checked my mirrors. As I joined lane 1 safely I suddenly noticed a moped that looked stationery I slammed on the brakes but the smacked into the moped, the rider slipped up the bonnet and windscreen then back down and then onto the ground.

 

It was fucking HARROWING. But thankfully, moped rider was Ok, up and walking/talking/on the phone. Police and ambulance came. Details swapped. Lad took away in ambulance for check over. He is fibe and dandy as I've been informed, just shook up as am I.

 

Police told me I'd done everything right, checking my mirrors etc... and that I was reasonably expecting to join the carriageway at 50mph and not face a 50cc moped doing 25mph.

 

I've been looking for work elsewhere as I've been beginning to tire of this. I reckon this is a wake up call.

I'd delete that picture, in case it needs to be used as evidence.

 

I suspect that your slamming of the brakes meant you had bled most of the speed off and thanks to pedestrian protection of modern cars, the speed was a lot slower. Glad to hear that no-one died.

 

There are laws against driving at speeds dangerous to the type of roads - not just too fast but too slow too. I guess (being no expert), it could be deem unreasonable for a restricted 50cc Moped to even be on that type of road in the first place.

[Slartibartfast]

You're going to feel really shaken up after something like that but it was one of those freak accidents. It's going to sound really trite but be kind to yourself.

[Parky]

50cc mopeds aren't allowed on M roads, but are Ok on A roads. I suppose it depends on which one of the two he was on at the time of the accident but it may well be the Moped was not supposed to be where he was...

[Lord Sterling]

Without wanting to 'big' myself up. I remained calm throughout the incident remaining as helpful and calm as I could, I moved the car and recovered the moped from the lane into the hard shoulder. The riders Mum had a minor pop at me but all understandable but she did apologise for swearing.

 

I'm Ok now, just a little shook up and pissed off that this happened at all.

 

The problem is that where I'd hit the moped was on the line where the Motorway turns into an A-road despite it still being a 4-lane carriageway.

[fordperv]

The way to combat violence against women is to repeatedly knock the living shit out of those who do it.

Ftfy

[DodgeRover]

Sorry to hear that LS as said most importantly nobody is seriously hurt, the rest of it the insurance can sort out.

so the moped rider wasn't coming down the slip road joining the A road in front of you but had travelled from the motorway onto the A road in Lane 1?

[Lord Sterling]

so the moped rider wasn't coming down the slip road joining the A road in front of you but had travelled from the motorway onto the A road in Lane 1?

It certainly looks like it but I couldn't confirm whether he did actually come up the Motorway part.

[Parky]

Well most important thing is he's ok, you are ok, that car is fixable, the moped maybe less so but it's tin and rubber and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

 

The fact that Plod were on your side is good, you haven't done anything wrong and everyone can continue their existence is wonderful.

 

Everything else is just paperwork. Nothing to be scared of

[Pillock]

Isn't there some law/rule about "failing to make adequate progress"?

I remember something from years ago when a friend of mine rear-ended someone in Sheffield, they were dithering around not knowing whether they wanted the next turning or not so were doing about 15mph on a 50mph road trying to read road signs and he just wasn't prepared for them to be around a bend going that slowly.

 

They got out all the car all "you ran into me, that's always your fault" but the cops sided with him for whatever reason, as did the insurance.

 

Essentially you've only got two eyes, you were looking in the right place not expecting a stationary moped to be in the road. As someone's said, be kind to yourself.

[tooSavvy]

.... Wasn't the Moped making 'some progress/slow for that road'.. ??

 

TS

[Guest Hooli]

I bet moped lad is sore tomorrow, I've done similar (but less damage to the car) on a pushbike & it was the next day it really hurt. Having said that, sounds like you did all you could Mo & no one expects anything that slow on that sort of road.

 

Hope there isn't much fall out from it.

[Guest Hooli]

And my personal grump, I didn't get the job, The bloody stupid presentation thing let me down as I thought it would.

[DeeJay]

His mum probably had a go at you because she had only heard "edited" highlights.

[Lord Sterling]

Cheers lads, I really appreciate the support.

 

At the moment I'm just trying to ready myself for the next move workwise. If it's a case of "see ya later" from work, I'll need to be back in some sort of work asap. I know plating isn't the best but I'm unsure if I could go back to minimum wage jobs. I've spoken to a few plating firms who sound better but then what about say taking on a minimum wage job and hit all the jobsites I can? However, less cars, less mileage and similar pay does sound rather tempting. I need to mull this over but make a quick decision.

 

I wouldn't worry about the picture chaps. I'll take it down if it offends/effects someone but the Police/Insurance companies will have access to the pictures I took seperately on my works phone and sent back to my company.

[brandersnatch]

And my personal grump, I didn't get the job, The bloody stupid presentation thing let me down as I thought it would.

Bad luck matey. Better luck next time.

 

 

One’s too many, ten’s not enough!

[purplebargeken]

Mo,glad you and moped lad are okay. Didn't someone mention doing the bus driver thing? I know having to deal with twats happens but surely that has to be less hassle than plating, it'll be regular income, paid holidays,paid sickness and all that stuff. 

 

Hooli, am so sorry to hear that mate, what went wrong with it?

[Guest Hooli]

The presentation Ken, as I thought would be the let down.

 

 

 

 

 

Mo, I've done the bus thing. If you can deal with idiots all day it's not a bad job, I'm not enough of a people person so hated it.

[plasticvandan]

Can't make an unbiased view on this as I hate driving(for work) and couldn't bear the thought of doing it for as living,I fit accessories on to new 4x4 vat fiddlers,sorry,pickups,and regularly have platers and drivers bringing me vehicles and there's no way I could put up with what they do.obvs I don't know what the moneys like,if its way more than what I'm on I can see why you do it.I know that some of thee local fleet depots are looking for people,not necessarily driving either,as you have an understanding of the system it could be something to look into?