Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 20:28:28 GMT
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "P.J. Kenny" <gremlin@iol.ie>
Subject: Carry Warning Triangles
Possibly the most valuable bit o' kit that you can have in your
VW - introducing the warning triangle.
It was mentioned yesterday in the thread about Ric's bug and it
reminded me of the incident I had a couple of years ago.
I was driving my black Jetta in my usual boisterous manner on a
road that I travel almost every day. It's a twisty, lumpy
tarmac road that can be great fun, if the conditions are right.
On this particular evening, I was about two miles from home,
approaching a blind bend. I suppose I was doing my usual 60
mph. at that point. Half way around the corner, in the middle
of the road, was a Chrysler Sunbeam. Stopped. With people
behind it with shocked expressions. Right in front of me. Oh,
shit.
On this one occasion I didn't hit anything. The front fork of
their car had collapsed and dug itself into the road surface.
Although there were five people in the vehicle, no-one had
thought to warn traffic coming around the corner. One lady,
who happened to be standing at the rear of the car when I came
barrelling towards them said that her life flashed before her
eyes!
I was angry. Really angry. I could have killed these people
and they didn't even have the smarts to know that anyone
approaching that corner could not see them until it was too
late. Secondly, if a car had been coming on the other side of
the road, I would have hit it head-on as I swerved to avoid the
Chrysler.
As they didn't have a triangle, and there are no laws in
Ireland to force you to carry one, I gave them mine. I had to
explain what it was for AND tell them where to stand to flag
down approaching traffic!
It was a good thing that I had given them the triangle. When
they returned it they told me this: about ten minutes after I
left, another metal missile bore down on their car. The driver
had not seen the lady trying to slow him, but screeched to a
stop when he saw the triangle. Whereas I missed 'em by feet,
he missed 'em by inches ...
I feel VERY strongly that triangles should be carried and USED,
too.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
--- Schponfirkle!!!
from P.J.
- gremlin@iol.ie - the Bushrat - ennis, co. clare, ireland -
"I met someone who looks a lot like you
She does the things you do
But she is an I.B.M." - 'Yours Truly, 2095', ELO