Careless Caravanners

vc10tom
vc10tom Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited July 2012 in Your stories #1

Last Sunday my husband and I were returning from Cheshire on the M6 after a lovely weekend away in our caravan. We were overtaken at speed by a larger caravan than ours which lost control in front of us, we had no were to go but had to watch in horror as events unfolded. We immediately switched on our hazard lights and to our horror the caravan whipped over the central reservation on to the other side of the motorway and left the towing vehicle sideways on in the fast lane. We rang the emergency services immediately and by the grace of god  continued on our way. We both were so badly affected by this incident that we have decided to retire from caravanning. I hope with all my heart these people were not injured but due to speed these people have taken away the one thing my husband and I loved, as we have now put our caravan on the market.

Comments

  • kilo
    kilo Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2012 #2

    We had just returned from wales and like you we were doing 60mph and one or two caravans past us. I hope you reconsider.

  • tescoboy
    tescoboy Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2012 #3

    We have just come back from  yorkshire with our caravan .A caravan past us  in the outside lane .It must have been doing about 70mph .I give up these people do not realise what could happen in a blink of a eye .Surprised

     

  • tonker
    tonker Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited July 2012 #4

    agree with all of you.

    I have seen cars doing 75mph with their vans behind them.

    I go no faster than 55mph and I have a Kia Sorento to tow with and that is fast enough.

  • Back2Sorento
    Back2Sorento Forum Participant Posts: 75
    edited July 2012 #5

    I have to agree that this can be very disconcerting & I can fully understand your thoughts. I was involved in an accident many years ago doing less than 50 mph, which caused my van to be a write off. At the time we both wondered if we should give up but
    thank God we didn't. Time is a great healer so don't make a rash decision, review your decision in a month's time & if you then feel the same go ahead & sell, but I would hazard a guess that you will realise that you were driving
    correctly & towed in a safe fashion & did the right thing in YOUR actions. I hope you do not let this incident spoil your obvious pleasure & no doubt unless you stop driving altogether you will come across more incidents of this nature . At least you were
    in control & not reliant upon coach trip drivers or aeroplanes as an alternative, make your next trip a local one & stop a few nights to rebuild your confidence.

  • hintza
    hintza Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited July 2012 #6

    I drive a motorhome and have never towed a caravan can someone tell me are caravans limited to a speed less than cars on the motorway? On my journey from Dorset to Scotland as usual I drove with my cruise control at 65mph. Caravans passed me by the dozen,
    it was raining hard and visibility was not good at times. I thought I was pushing it at 65mph.

  • Inali
    Inali Forum Participant Posts: 224
    edited July 2012 #7

    Caravans are limited to 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways, and 50mph on single carriageways.

  • buccaneer
    buccaneer Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2012 #8

    I find caravaning to be very relaxing and quite enjoy driving to our chosen venue,life is to short to chance your or any one elses to arrive that bit earlier.

  • kilo
    kilo Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited July 2012 #9

    I drive a motorhome and have never towed a caravan can someone tell me are caravans limited to a speed less than cars on the motorway? On my journey from Dorset to Scotland as usual I drove with my cruise control at 65mph. Caravans passed me by the dozen,
    it was raining hard and visibility was not good at times. I thought I was pushing it at 65mph.

    Caravanner from Norfolk is correct in his post. If you are involved in an accident and it was your error that caused the accident and you were driving at the time over the permitted speed limit then your insurance will refuse to pay any costs etc. Unfortunatly
    the idiots that speed bring with them a bad reputation for genuine caravanners. Many friends say to me "I hate caravans, they slow the traffic down" We are unique in that we are relaxed with our driving and not in a hurry like 60% of car drivers.

  • ClubMember8B57D74546
    ClubMember8B57D74546 Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2012 #10

    im sorry to hear you have decided to give caravanning i myself have seen fellow caravanners speed past me on a busy carraige way with the back ends swinging i drive with the road conditions and with in the speed limits we are supposed to adhere to when towing
    i hope you both get back into one day again

  • Stills
    Stills Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2012 #11

    Im sorry to hear that this has effected you both so badly, but perhaps in time the effect may lessen and you may regret selling your caravan and stopping yourself from enjoying the freedom it provides you due to other peoples irresponsibility.  The law is
    60mph for caravanners on motorway and duel carriageways and 50mph on single carriageways and is there for a reason.  We have on numerous occasions been overtaken by caravaners to see their outfit start to snake and pray that they dont take us out with them.
    You are clearly sensible law abiding caravaners, please dont give up, perhaps we can lead by example.

  • valeter
    valeter Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited August 2012 #12

    Don;t give up you were driving correctly if these people want to speed giving up wont stop them

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
    500 Comments
    edited August 2012 #13

    We were recently heading home on the M1 and doing 60mph in the inside lane. Three outfits passed us doing 5-10 mph faster than we were. Ten miles further on, one of these speeders was on the hard shoulder, debris galore which included a black plastic wheel
    arch strewn across the motorway. I assumed he had had a blow out, which at that speed had also done damage to the fabric of the caravan. No one appeared to be hurt thankfully and it will be an expensive lesson for the driver that speeding sometimes makes you
    arrive later, much later. I dont think caravan tyres are up to prolonged high speeds and will give out completely if pushed, its 60 for a reason. 

  • Mike16
    Mike16 Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited August 2012 #14

    last sunday i was also involved in an accident with my caravan on the m40 where passing a lorry at 56mph lost one tyre then the other blew its bead threw me out of control resulting in my outfit being written off,  still a little bit raw in our minds but
    i am determined to replace my out fit  and get back out there again ,sorry to hear your decision to give up please reconsider  caravaning is a joyfull expieriance not to be missed .

  • Rick44
    Rick44 Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited August 2012 #15

    You have to ask the question, "If it was another car accident would you give up driving?"

    Don`t let it put you off, just make sure that you are doing the right thing staying in control

    Rick