Man allegedly following advice of Top Gear when fatal accident occurred

mercurial

mercurial

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A MOTORIST involved in a fatal accident was allegedly following advice from TV show Top Gear.

Richard Browne lost control of his 4x4 vehicle while towing a trailer carrying three bullocks, an inquest in Cornwall, in England, was told yesterday.

He sped up to try to steady the vehicle as it swerved from side to side, but crashed.

Browne, 29, told police: "I just tried to accelerate out of it.

"I've watched it on Top Gear and they always say put the accelerator down and get out of it, the worst thing you can do is brake - so that's what I did.

"I tried to accelerate out of it, but it slowly got worse, and then all of a sudden it picked up and the back of the truck was being thrown from side to side. At that point, I had my foot on the accelerator, there was nothing more I could do, and all I remember is it just going."

Farmer Bill Tucker, 85, a passenger in the vehicle in October last year, suffered severe injuries and died soon after the accident.
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A friend of mine did the exact same thing a few year back on his Uno Turbo while pulling a trailer full of bricks. It started bouncing from side to side and he thought if he pushed it the trailer will rectify itself. She hended up off the highway the trailer fk'd and the Uno repairable but also pretty messed up. Lucky no one got hurt
 
What a idiot!

I've seen a GWM bakkie with a load of sand swinging rearend the other day. He was driving on the N1 and the faster he went, the more the back swung around...
 
I don't get it? giving more petrol is for when your backside of the car is busy going out from under you, not for when you're pulling a trailor?

I've watched a LOT of top gear episodes and I didn't see many episodes of them pulling trailors and giving that advice. The only advice I saw constantly is them telling you to speed up when the car pulls sideways and turn into the skid to correct yourself.

Monkey see monkey do I guess

"Where did you learn your advanced driving skills?"
"Watching Top Gear and drinking a beer..."
 
Top Gear is a funny program and if u take anything serious on it your just an idiot.
 
CrzWaco said:
Top Gear is a funny program and if u take anything serious on it your just an idiot.
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+1

A person stears on feeling. When I have a blow out I don't brake. No one taught me it's just the feeling the car gives you. When your in a rare wheel drive car and the arse comes out the car tells you to let go of the power and stear in the sliding direction.

People tend to just sit and drive. Listen and feel what the car is telling you ;)

You will not make a stupid driving mistake if you honestly feel what the car is doing and what it wants you to do.

/Damn, I sound like a rep selling sex toys at a ladies night :eek:
 
That advice can work under certain circumstances. The key is that their has to be plenty- and I mean PLENTY of power. Most towing car/trailer combinations do not have enough power to use this method or the weight of the trailer being towed is to much.

In any case by the time the trailer is swaying/swinging badly from side to side its too late. A gentle sway can be corrected using this method.

Frankly though if you are not experienced you should even be trying it. I have towed many thousands of km and do not use this method. I have towed with powerful enough cars too -- I dont think the average person should be trying it. Risks are too high and most people dont know or understand enough of the physics involved. My 2c
 
Pitbull said:
A friend of mine did the exact same thing a few year back on his Uno Turbo while pulling a trailer full of bricks. It started bouncing from side to side and he thought if he pushed it the trailer will rectify itself. She hended up off the highway the trailer fk'd and the Uno repairable but also pretty messed up. Lucky no one got hurt
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:eek: What in God's name is an Uno doing pulling a load of bricks?

bekdik said:
I guess that's why in RSA you now need to pass a trailer tow test. Towing used to be included as part if your car driver's license.
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The flat trailers [ie half the height of the car] is included in a normal driver's licence [Code: B].
 
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