Your silly driving.

[Super Hans]

Thanks,

Some really amusing stories here, especially the driver-less car and the milk float!

Head first is properly? I always thought the general idea was to lose control first, get into a spin and then shoot off the road facing backwards. I was told it 'heightens the suspense'.

Never even thought about trying forwards.

Well. I was running late and I had to carry out the expedited version of this manuoeuvre. Although, as you correctly point out, the way you described it is the way you'd do it in a test.

...AND - Isn't it probable, gentlemen of the jury, that the "friends in convoy" were in fact none other than a 4X4 recreational off-roading "posse"?

Ah ha! Actually, there was never any intention to go off-roading and in fact I only go off road if I have to get to somewhere which is off road. I don't go off road for the purpose of going of road, if you see what I mean. On this trip, it was to help out in locating a historical site. Behind me there was a Toyota Tercel and a Suzuki Vitara. The Vitara driver said that there was no way he was going to risk his transmission pulling me out, despite guarantees by me that it would be OK. So, as it was, I had to leave the truck there overnight and come back for it the next day.
I have pictures somewhere, and I'll post them if I come across them...

But you're right. Getting stuck in a Jeep in any situation is a loss of face.

Taffy, this whole thread was designed around that pun. Thanks for noticing.

[Dog's_Breakfast]

back 2009 I drove my scooter in the night, from a far away restaurant back to the hotel when suddenly the lights went of, I couldn't turn them on again and it was pitch black. I drove very slow but in the end I drove into one of these water drainage things next to the road.. it was about half a meter deep. Thankfully I wore a helmet (I always do) so I just scratched a bit of my chin as well as my knee (i took almost 3 years for the scar on my knee to finally disappear).

A suggestion if that ever happens again (but this might not work): try the high-beam. Or maybe you did try that too? Sometimes it's just the low-beam filament that's burned out. But if it's the headlight switch that's burned out, or a loose wire connection, the high-beams will probably be useless too.

Otherwise, maybe use a flashlight. I have one built into my cell phone. Would be a challenge trying to hold it while driving, but hey, some Taiwanese drive their scooters with a cell phone in one hand and an umbrella in the other, while carrying a dog and a couple of kids.

[*monkey*]

I seem to remember something in Michael Turton's blog about him driving into a rice paddy. As I remember, the story was beautifully illustrated, too. Anyone have a link?

[Super Hans]

Yeah, i remember that. It involved one of those vehicles that looks like a refridgerator.

[Abacus]

I was a little late getting home when I was 17 (half a life) and driving a little too fast on some rural MN roads. I entered an S-shaped corner planning to slow down in the 2nd half of the S. I realized that I was completely fucked when I saw this in the middle of the S:



I didn't even attempt to turn since I knew I didn't want to go in sideways and roll. I hit the brakes (no ABS) and flew off the end of the T into a water filled ditch. The water probably contributed to slowing my momentum because I should have flown thru the windshield (no seatbelt...). The truck was buried in the mud so I went to the closest farm house and called my parents. I got picked up and we planned on towing it out in the morning. However the police did it first and I was visited by a rather unhappy policeman at 2am. I wasn't a perfect driver after that but I was more conservative. And now I'm downright boring but that's how I like it. Unfortunately Taiwan's roads aren't boring.

[Ducked]

I didn't even attempt to turn since I knew I didn't want to go in sideways and roll.

Why not? Odds are better than with a head-on, surely? (though of course in that situation its mostly down to luck either way)

[Ducked]

Ah ha! Actually, there was never any intention to go off-roading and in fact I only go off road if I have to get to somewhere which is off road.

Taffy, this whole thread was designed around that pun. Thanks for noticing.

Does going somewhere offroad, like, for real, happen much, in Taiwan?

I ask because I'm interested in constructing rationales to justify (to myself, I'm single ) buying a Jeep, if the opportunity should arise, but I'm finding it quite difficult.

(Actually I'd like to get a Daihatsu Fourtrack but I've only seen the rather silly Bertone version in Taiwan.)

Designer threads? I'm feeling underdressed again.

[Nuit]

Oh yes. Especially in conveys (a group of vehicles, and so by definition extremely popular).

[Abacus]

I didn't even attempt to turn since I knew I didn't want to go in sideways and roll.

Why not? Odds are better than with a head-on, surely? (though of course in that situation its mostly down to luck either way)

I don't understand. Cars/trucks are much longer than wider and there was zero % chance of making the turn.

[Steviebike]

After passing my test and a managing to persuade my Dad to put me on his insurance, he finally allowed me the chance to drive his car. Reversed it straight off the drive and into the back of the neighbours car. Whoops.

That was last week.