Night time accident

sja · Post by **sja** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:32 am

Went out Thursday night for a wee run heading up to Comrie from Braco on the B827, as the road drops heading down to Comrie I was blinded by a 4x4 lights, by the time we passed each other I was on the next corner before I knew it I was in the ditch

Both me and my passenger are ok, but my pride & joy is not. Visibly Iâ€™ve damaged both the front and rear clam around the wheel arches and the wheels etc are damaged.
This was my first time out driving the car a night on a B class road that I didnâ€™t know, and being blinded by the lights caught me out. I was doing about 25mph at the time and hence didnâ€™t get hurt but I think Iâ€™ve had a lucky escape. Iâ€™m a newbie to night driving in an Elise and have learnt the hard way that driving roads you donâ€™t know in the dark pose a big risk as you sit so low when oncoming traffic approach

Cars going to Steve Walkers in Bathgate and I should find out on Monday the extent of the damage.

Stephen

Skyenet · Post by **Skyenet** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 2:17 am

sja wrote: Comrie from Braco on the B827,

Stepen

Sorry to hear about your accident. I can fully understand how it happened. A few years ago I went along that same road for the first time on a dark and wet night, and was being followed by an Elise who's was driving too close and blinding me with his lights. Was dipping my brake lights to get him to try and back off and comming round a corner I tried to pull in to let him passed but being half blinded I didn't make out the verge properly and ended up in the ditch right where the phot below was taken.

I had just come round the bend past that farmhouse in the distance. The farmer, a big tractor and another very resourceful Elise owner(who dosn't drive up people's backside) managed to get my car back out of the ditch. Despite ending up at 45 degree in the ditch I didn't have too much damage and yellow duck tape kept the car together for about another year before I got around to getting it repaired.

That was the second time I had tried out the Elise's off road capabilities and came to the conclusion that while they slide great they are not that robust off road. Funnily enough depsite all my track days at Knockhill I never once had more than 3 wheels of the track at any one time.

Hope it all gets sorted out okay

Iain

Matelotman · Post by **Matelotman** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:32 am

Sorry to hear that - I've been forced to an almost complete stop a few times when I've been blinded by 4x4s and vans etc .Even when you know the road, you still cant see the verges to get your road position bearings - the joy of having your backside a few mm off the ground I suppose.

Hope everything gets sorted ok

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:47 am

Glad you and your pax are ok.

I too have had to slow to a crawl due to blinding lights o other cars infront or behind. Sorry you had to find out the hard way

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:14 pm

Bummer. Easy done...hope it's not too serious.

Night driving on a clear b-road (apart from the pish lights) is one of the greatest joys of having an elise I reckon. With other traffic around it's one of the biggest PIA's...

DJ · Post by DJ » Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:17 pm

Sorry to hear this Stephen. Was going to see if you fancied another run soon as well, then saw this. Hope you get it all fixed.

First AJT 2 weeks ago and now you. Hope this isn't catching for other Elise owners based around Falkirk.

AJT · Post by **AJT** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:23 pm

Stephen, hope you will get it fixed OK
Steve Walker is ace, have a look to see how mine is coming along when you are up there on Monday.

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 5:22 pm

Sorry to hear it as long as everyone is ok

Post by **campbell** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:37 pm

Tough one that. You are OK which is the key thing.

Some advice I read years ago when risk of blinding occurs...

Try to avoid temptation to look at the oncoming lights (physiologically we ARE attracted to looking at the lights, it's an animal thing!)

Cast your eyes down towards the nearside kerb or verge and focus on the light the blinding headlamps are throwing there instead.

If you can avoid that "blue flashy patch" when blinded by a direct light, you have a much better chance of picking out detail once the oncoming car has passed. I think the army call it "off-centre night vision", whereby the area of the retina most used for vision becomes a bit desensitised which is most prevalent at night. The area just off-centre of this still provides pin-sharp resolution and contrast however. Try it (outside the car!) sometime.

Meantime, this is just something you need to get used to with the Elise I'm afraid.

Fingers crossed for the repairs.

Campbell

ExigeKen · Post by **ExigeKen** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:40 pm

Sorry to hear that Stephen but at least you and your pax are all right - cars can be fixed.

sja · Post by **sja** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:23 pm

Went back today to have a look in the day light and was surprised to find a small stone dyke in the ditch! The wall would explain the damage to the body work and alloys. Now waiting to see what tomorrow brings.

phraze · Post by **phraze** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:29 am

sorry to hear about the accident, hope you get the car fixed up and back on the road soon!

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:23 am

hate seeing a liz hurt

Brunty · Post by **Brunty** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:47 am

Tis but a scratch!

Stu could put some plasters on that

Scottish Elises

Night time accident

Night time accident

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