http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-23538838/

Several people were killed and dozens of others injured following a
horrific motorway pile-up which triggered a "massive fireball" on the
carriageway.

Around 27 vehicles, including a number of articulated lorries, were
involved in the devastating crash, described by emergency workers as
"the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember".

Avon and Somerset Police said "some" people lost their lives and around
51 people were injured in the tragedy, which happened in wet and foggy
conditions on the M5 in Somerset last night.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said a number of passengers
were unable to escape from their burning cars, some of which were razed
to the ground.

"At around 8.25pm yesterday there was a multiple collision around
junction 25 of the northbound carriageway of the M5," he said.

"This involved a large number of cars and also articulated lorries and
up to about 27 vehicles in total.

"The accident resulted in a large number of casualties.

"Up to 35 people were injured - some of those seriously - and tragically
a number have lost their lives as a result."

The officer continued: "The emergency services have been working
tirelessly. The incident was very, very challenging and on arrival crews
were faced with literally one massive fireball.

"Most vehicles were well alight and most continued to burn for a
considerable time. This made it very difficult to search the vehicles.
Some of them have been burned to the ground."

A huge taskforce of police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the
stricken stretch of the M5, which was immediately closed off in both
directions and remains shut.

Firefighters who scrambled around 15 appliances to the scene battled to
rescue motorists by cutting people from cars and lorries using hydraulic
equipment. Television footage also showed motorists trying to pry open
vehicle doors in a bid to rescue those trapped.

The devastating road accident is believed to be one of the worst in the
UK for 20 years.

Paul Slaven, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC:
"This is the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember... so many
vehicles involved."

Edmund King, president of the AA, said the scale of the crash was
similar to one on the M4 near Hungerford in Berkshire in 1991.

On 11/5/2011 9:33 AM, Home Guy wrote:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-23538838/

Several people were killed and dozens of others injured following a
horrific motorway pile-up which triggered a "massive fireball" on the
carriageway.

Around 27 vehicles, including a number of articulated lorries, were
involved in the devastating crash, described by emergency workers as
"the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember".

Avon and Somerset Police said "some" people lost their lives and around
51 people were injured in the tragedy, which happened in wet and foggy
conditions on the M5 in Somerset last night.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said a number of passengers
were unable to escape from their burning cars, some of which were razed
to the ground.

"At around 8.25pm yesterday there was a multiple collision around
junction 25 of the northbound carriageway of the M5," he said.

"This involved a large number of cars and also articulated lorries and
up to about 27 vehicles in total.

"The accident resulted in a large number of casualties.

"Up to 35 people were injured - some of those seriously - and tragically
a number have lost their lives as a result."

The officer continued: "The emergency services have been working
tirelessly. The incident was very, very challenging and on arrival crews
were faced with literally one massive fireball.

"Most vehicles were well alight and most continued to burn for a
considerable time. This made it very difficult to search the vehicles.
Some of them have been burned to the ground."

A huge taskforce of police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the
stricken stretch of the M5, which was immediately closed off in both
directions and remains shut.

Firefighters who scrambled around 15 appliances to the scene battled to
rescue motorists by cutting people from cars and lorries using hydraulic
equipment. Television footage also showed motorists trying to pry open
vehicle doors in a bid to rescue those trapped.

The devastating road accident is believed to be one of the worst in the
UK for 20 years.

Paul Slaven, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC:
"This is the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember... so many
vehicles involved."

Edmund King, president of the AA, said the scale of the crash was
similar to one on the M4 near Hungerford in Berkshire in 1991.

Misplaced but of interest to me having been involved in an accident
leaving a motorway years ago. I knew their speed limits were high but I
think even higher at the time:

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Drivin...ed_limits.html

We were towed to a yard near the motorway full of wrecks which I assumed
happened mostly on the motorway.

On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:15:06 -0400, Frank
wrote:


Misplaced but of interest to me having been involved in an accident
leaving a motorway years ago. I knew their speed limits were high but I
think even higher at the time:

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Drivin...ed_limits.html

We were towed to a yard near the motorway full of wrecks which I assumed
happened mostly on the motorway.

This reminds me of the question, perhaps asked mostly in America, Why
do people drive on parkways and park on driveways.

On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:06:13 -0400, micky wrote:

On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:15:06 -0400, Frank
wrote:


Misplaced but of interest to me having been involved in an accident
leaving a motorway years ago. I knew their speed limits were high but I
think even higher at the time:

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Drivin...ed_limits.html

We were towed to a yard near the motorway full of wrecks which I assumed
happened mostly on the motorway.

This reminds me of the question, perhaps asked mostly in America, Why
do people drive on parkways and park on driveways.

Simple answer: if you do it the other way, you get arrested.

On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:15:06 -0400, Frank wrote:
Misplaced but of interest to me having been involved in an accident
leaving a motorway years ago. I knew their speed limits were high but I
think even higher at the time:

It's been 70mph on motorways for as long as I can remember, although 80
became a sort of "informal limit" in recent decades (above that you're
into the sort of territory where a cop will think about pulling you over,
but people travelling at 90mph isn't a rare thing). 60mph is typical on
roads outside urban areas - but don't forget that UK roads are generally
very well lit and signed in comparison to the US.

I remember there being quite a few "big" motorway accidents back in the
'80s (usually caused by fog) - and *many* times where despite the
conditions people would *still* insist on trying to drive at 70; it
wasn't the limit that was the problem, but peoples' interpretation of
what was safe at a given moment in time.

We were towed to a yard near the motorway full of wrecks which I assumed
happened mostly on the motorway.

Yes, motorway service stations often had a kind of 'staging area' for
vehicles which had been involved in crashes - I don't know if that's
still the case (I don't remember seeing one for years). I assume vehicles
were placed there before being taken away by owners / junkyards / crash
investigators.

cheers

Jules

On 11/05/11 07:11 pm, Jules Richardson wrote:

Misplaced but of interest to me having been involved in an accident
leaving a motorway years ago. I knew their speed limits were high but I
think even higher at the time:

It's been 70mph on motorways for as long as I can remember, although 80
became a sort of "informal limit" in recent decades (above that you're
into the sort of territory where a cop will think about pulling you over,
but people travelling at 90mph isn't a rare thing). 60mph is typical on
roads outside urban areas - but don't forget that UK roads are generally
very well lit and signed in comparison to the US.

Amen to that. And if I look at the parts of the UK with which I am most
familiar on Google Maps Satellite View, the road markings show up better
than the ones around here from street level.

I've read that Texas is considering raising its freeway speed limit to
80mph in some areas.

I remember there being quite a few "big" motorway accidents back in the
'80s (usually caused by fog) - and *many* times where despite the
conditions people would *still* insist on trying to drive at 70; it
wasn't the limit that was the problem, but peoples' interpretation of
what was safe at a given moment in time.

We were towed to a yard near the motorway full of wrecks which I assumed
happened mostly on the motorway.

Yes, motorway service stations often had a kind of 'staging area' for
vehicles which had been involved in crashes - I don't know if that's
still the case (I don't remember seeing one for years). I assume vehicles
were placed there before being taken away by owners / junkyards / crash
investigators.

The Chicago metropolitan area has "accident investigation zones" (I
think I have the name right) where vehicles involved in accidents on the
freeways are supposed to be driven or towed.

Perce

On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:03:12 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"
wrote:




I've read that Texas is considering raising its freeway speed limit to
80mph in some areas.


IIRC, they used to be that or higher in TX. The only reason
interstate limits are not higher is fuel economy, as in the 55 limit
years ago. The roads were built to handle higher speeds in the 50's
and 60's and the cars of today handle much better. Exceptions of
course, in some congested areas where a lower limit makes sense.

In Italy, the Autostrade is 130 kph or 81 mph. There was a higher
compliance rate with the limit than I see here. The drivers were
driving too, not eating a burger and talking on the phone. There are
also a lot of speed cameras, but they are marked in advance.

Their secondary roads also seem to have sensible speed limits too. The
solid line in the center though, is a joke. Lots of passing on curves
and hills.

On Nov 6, 2:05*am, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:03:12 -0400, "Percival P. Cassidy"

wrote:

I've read that Texas is considering raising its freeway speed limit to
80mph in some areas.

IIRC, they used to be that or higher in TX. *The only reason
interstate limits are not higher is fuel economy, *as in the 55 limit
years ago. *The roads were built to handle higher speeds in the 50's
and 60's and the cars of today handle much better. *Exceptions of
course, in some congested areas where a lower limit makes sense.

In Italy, the Autostrade is 130 kph or 81 mph. *There was a higher
compliance rate with the limit than I see here. *The drivers were
driving too, not eating a burger and talking on the phone. There are
also a lot of speed cameras, but they are marked in advance.

Their secondary roads also seem to have sensible speed limits too. The
solid line in the center though, is a joke. *Lots of passing on curves
and hills.

The M5 is close to where I live though the accident is about 60 miles
away.

The speed limit on motorways is 70, there is talk of increasing it to
80.
I wouldn be surprised if this accident doesn't put the kybosh on that
idea.

Back in the 60's there was no speed limit,it was intrduced as a
temporary fuel economy thing that somehow became permanent.

But you can drive as fast as you like here and someone will pass you.
There are lots of speed traps but the locals know where they are.
They get more high tech all the time.
http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/phot...ntid=155479937

I expect when all comes out it will be some f****g Polish truck
driver, driving too fast in fog and wet with no/badly adjusted
brakes. It usually is. I don't know why we let the *******s into the
country.
The motorway has been shut for two days while they investigate.