The reason why driving standards have dropped in this country over the years is because police patrols have been replaced in favour of speed camera devices and as we know speed camera’s do not detect bad driving.
Lucy:
repton:
dle1uk:
I,m sure if i had placed the post or some other guys on here it would have been instantly blocked,For the record I would not have removed that post whoever posted it, and although I don’t claim to speak for them I doubt any of the other mods would have either. As I posted earlier in situations like that I personally think it’s much better for people to fall on their sword than to take it off them.
Paul
^What he said.
^ +1
There’s quite a few people on this thread who like the sound of their own voice (well in print anyway !!).
Last report I saw said there were no more fatalities as the wreckage was cleared away, police did fear they might find more bodies but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Figures reported are now, 7 Dead, 51 Injured 34 vehicles involved.
It’ll probably be a while before the M5 is opened again, surfacing crews can be seen on ariel pictures waiting to resurface the carriageway once it’s been cleared of wreckage.
No one yet knows the cause but there’s lots of speculation bouncing around as per usual, everyone seems to know who was at fault. We’ve had a number of opinions here, all from young inexperienced drivers who only see accidents caused by speeding drivers etc, they’ve a lot to learn & I can only hope seeing this accident reported in pictures on the TV & the net has taught them how vulnerable we all are out on the road.
My condolences go out to all those who have lost friends & loved ones in this terrible accident & my utmost respect goes out to our emergency services who answered the call to what must have been a nightmare job to sort out.
Thank the lord for the air ambulance, it was neeed to carry those injured & a helicopter was also needed to fetch a surgeon in from his home to Taunton Hospital but I don’t know if it was the same one. Juding by the stickers on Gregory Transport Trailers, they support this air ambulance & fair play to them for that.
BB
Framptons Transport Services Ltd at Shepton also support the air ambulance,all employee`s have the choice to get £1 a week taken off their wage for that cause,you are also entered in to a weekly competion to win money,like a prize draw.
They have have about 170 staff.
Air ambulance and cancer research…Only 2 I give to.
bigvern1:
Air ambulance and cancer research…Only 2 I give to.
Me too, they are the only two I give to these days.
OTSS:
A sad, sad terrible time…
brought a lump to my throat 
Glasg3w:
Driving artics you have to break the law to keep within the law trying to get to your drop and at night it’s wacky races. This is sad that many people lost their lives and hopefully it was only a freak accident that happened.
Since late friday night the lorry bashing brigade have had a field day with this accident.This comment gives them a justification for said bashing.
Doesn’t take the brains of an arch bishop to do a google search,stumble across this thread and then find you posting drivers have to break the law.Speak for yourself why don’t you.
As a full time night driver I,m yet to see these wacky races too, either I,m too used to the wacky races and don’t notice it,or driving in areas the wacky races are not taking place.
Glasg3w:
Driving artics you have to break the law to keep within the law trying to get to your drop and at night it’s wacky races. This is sad that many people lost their lives and hopefully it was only a freak accident that happened.
That is quite possibly the biggest load of bollox I’ve read on this site in the 8 years I’ve been here. 
paul@midway:
Doesn’t take the brains of an arch bishop to do a google search,stumble across this thread and then find you posting drivers have to break the law.Speak for yourself why don’t you.
Lets hope they don’t read the A75 thread, and then realise that mentality carries on when off the A road and onto the motorway. Of course, its a mentality shared by car drivers too.
largebloke1969:
OTSS:
A sad, sad terrible time…brought a lump to my throat
Im sorry but… YUCK…I never knew the people involved so don’t feel any grief. I was on the m6 at the time never witnessed the accident so feel nothing.
Bit like when diana died, meant nothing to me and felt nothing.
Note to oneself, try and take it easy in similar situations. But we all know what happens traffic bunchs up, tailgaitings the norm, folk jump into your stopping distance and so on.
Everyone else has had a go at guessing the cause so i will. A car driver for sure, a women or and a OAP.
Rob K:
Glasg3w:
Driving artics you have to break the law to keep within the law trying to get to your drop and at night it’s wacky races. This is sad that many people lost their lives and hopefully it was only a freak accident that happened.That is quite possibly the biggest load of bollox I’ve read on this site in the 8 years I’ve been here.
Better put yer’ tin hat on… 
Just saw newspaper reports in Sainsburys; Express says “Lorrys’ petrol tanks exploding” I didnt spot a classic commercial amongst the wreckage…also other rags mentioned the Iceland and TNT lorries burning; these looked only crash damaged to me…
Anyone know if all the lorry drivers are accounted for?
Muckaway:
Just saw newspaper reports in Sainsburys; Express says “Lorrys’ petrol tanks exploding” I didnt spot a classic commercial amongst the wreckage…also other rags mentioned the Iceland and TNT lorries burning; these looked only crash damaged to me…
Anyone know if all the lorry drivers are accounted for?
4 dead from the same car and big jase says the 2 samworth drivers died, leaves one unaccounted for 
Muckaway:
Just saw newspaper reports in Sainsburys; Express says “Lorrys’ petrol tanks exploding” I didnt spot a classic commercial amongst the wreckage…also other rags mentioned the Iceland and TNT lorries burning; these looked only crash damaged to me…
Anyone know if all the lorry drivers are accounted for?
Samworth Brothers have said that 2 of their vehicles were involved but it didn’t mention anything about the drivers so I’m assuming they were not on the list of seven.
I am almost afraid to ask this, but is there any chance that anyone on this forum could have been driving the trucks involved in this accident - are they OK?
This doesn’t mean that my heart doesn’t go out to the car drivers and their families too, but I am dreading hearing the news a couple of months down the line that someone who hasn’t posted on Trucknet for a while was killed on the M5.
Does anyone here drive for the companies caught up in this tragedy?
pavaroti:
Im sorry but… YUCK…I never knew the people involved so don’t feel any grief. I was on the m6 at the time never witnessed the accident so feel nothing.Bit like when diana died, meant nothing to me and felt nothing.
Note to oneself, try and take it easy in similar situations. But we all know what happens traffic bunchs up, tailgaitings the norm, folk jump into your stopping distance and so on.Everyone else has had a go at guessing the cause so i will. A car driver for sure, a women or and a OAP.
I’m nowhere near the most sensitive member here, but I feel for those involved because I know that if it’d been 8.30 am and not pm it could’ve been me or dad trying to escape a burning cab…
I cant believe people are still banging on about J.D’s comment, I was appalled when I read his comment but didn’t feel it was appropriate to comment on this as this is about the accident victims & people involved not what people may of said. Plus he has apologised for his comment so lets give the guy a break.
Back to the accident, my step daughters mate has just come in & informed me that her sisters best mates dad was driving one of the trucks involved in this accident & has lost his life in this tragic accident. Its not clear at this time if he died at the accident scene or later in hospital but nether the less he has lost his life while trying to earn a living. He was from Patchway Bristol just down the road from me.
My thoughts are with everyone who’s lives have been affected by this event.
I always tell myself its better to arrive late in this world then early in the next. I’m one of the drivers who stick to 40 on a single carriageway & I’m always stunned by the amount of truckers who abuse me when they get chance to pass. Why is it that so many truckers feel the need to risk their lives & their licences by racing about like mad men. My life means more to me then the freight I’m carrying & if its late its late but I for one want to get home after work in one piece. I thought the reason we all drive trucks was because we loved driving, if that’s the case why do so many of you allow yourselves to get stressed when you get held up. We all need to think about this tragic event & realise what’s important in the scale of things. I am not saying truckers were to blame for this accident but stressed drivers are a recipe for disaster as are many other things.
Stay safe out on the road guys & girls
moomooland:
Puting the behaviour of car drivers aside, in my honest opinion the cause of many HGV accidents on motorways today are due to speed limiters.
You join a motorway and slot in on which something like resembles a conveyer belt, thus you are sat there unable to make any head way with the vehicle in front or pull away from the vehicle behind with only feet between each vehicle.
I have always said speed limiters are a recipe for disaster, as with out doubt, they cause major bunching up of HGV’s with no one easing off the pedal to leave a safe distance.
I drive night trunk, and can from experience, tell you that i have seen it take from Keele to Knutsford services for one HGV to pass another with neither willing to give way.
I don’t pull over any more to let someone on at a slip road, as you are left stuck in the middle lane for miles elephant racing with the driver on the inside who wont back off…
Here’s an idea 
. How about you drive taking the speed limiter into account rather than driving like it isn’t there and being flat out all the time? It’s exactly the attitude of people like yourself that cause accidents because the only speed you know is 56mph and woe betide anyone getting in your way travelling at a lesser speed. I travel at 50-51mph on motorways and twin track and have none of the bunching issues you whine about. I have enough speed in reserve to overtake the 48mph Tesco lot and still manage to arrive in time for all my Tesco RDC bookings (the usual excuse why anything other than 56mph can’t be done ) plus save on fuel and arrive completely relaxed. The difference in driving time is negligible.