Life-threatening vandalism on the A801

Anything goes in here.....
User avatar
campbell
Posts: 17353
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:42 pm
Location: West Lothian
Contact:

Life-threatening vandalism on the A801

Post by campbell » Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:58 pm

On our way back from Cumbria last night with the kids, in the Golf, 10 mins from home on the A801 between Whitburn and Armadale, just west of Bathgate at the time.

Spotted the reflectors of some stationary pushbikes on the flyover we're approaching, get that usual "hm, hope they are not planning on throwing anything onto the car" type feeling.

This time it was justified. Huge bang, large impact crater in the windscreen. Jumped on the brakes, piled out in the hope of ID'ing the wee feckers who did it. No chance, embankment too steep and overgrown to climb and it's pitch dark for heaven's sake.

Both kids wakened, obviously, and screaming with fright. Lisa the angriest I've seen her, trying to comfort them. Me shouting as loud as I can up at the flyover in the hope the neds hear and wonder..."hm, what have we actually done...". Clearly no conscience in them of course, and probably long gone, but it's just a reaction isn't it.

999 very helpful but apologetic that can't get anyone to the scene particularly fast (I guess if one or more of us was injured that would be different). As luck would have it a local patrol was passing, saw the hazards, and stopped to ask "Have you broken down, sir?". When I mentioned the brick through the windscreen, they whipped round sharpish and did what they could. Visit from them this morning to take statements, but sadly with no ID on the vandals and no sure knowledge of which way they fled, chances are slim.

Frankly I'd like to wring their necks. In the absence of any injury (thankfully - let's hear it for laminated windscreens, crash-testing and German engineering), we're well brassed off at the ensuing costs and inconveniences of insurance repairs, car off the road for however long etc. Totally undriveable just now, the missile left a 6-inch crater, accompaning spider's web to all sides of the screen, a half-inch hole right through the screen and a nice crease in the roof at the edge of the point of impact. Missed the roofbox by an inch or two...bummer, that would have saved a fortune had it hit there instead! :-(

Its trajectory was on course for the driver's side so I've had a lucky escape. The potential accident that might have ensued doesn't bear thinking about. I guess when you've got your wife, toddler and baby in the car, your sense of protection and responsibility is a bit heightened.

Turns out a bus was hit in the same way earlier that day, and there has been a spate of similar attacks in the area recently. It's bl**dy mindless and potentially fatal, so all I can say is keep your eyes peeled. Oh, and if you might know of anything that could build up a better picture of those responsible, drop me a PM.

Be careful etc.

Campbell
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy

User avatar
tut
Barefoot Ninja
Posts: 22975
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 5:53 pm
Location: Tut End, Glen of Newmill

Post by tut » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:15 pm

That sort of incident is a nightmare Campbell, and nowadays one that you can do nothing about. Can only hope that they are in line for some sort of severe repercussion in the near future.

Thankfully nobody hurt this time, but dozens killed so far by the same sort of twats on roads and railways.

tut

Gareth
Posts: 4959
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 12:19 pm
Location: The Moon

Post by Gareth » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:17 pm

Shocking, glad all of the family are safe.

User avatar
mattg
Posts: 288
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 12:23 am
Location: Glasgow

Post by mattg » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:22 pm

am always concious when i see folk on overhead passes, check for debris on road under bridge etc... but i guess this isnt possible in the dark

sorry to hear about your hit.

User avatar
graeme
Posts: 3528
Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:29 am
Location: Kintore

Post by graeme » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:26 pm

Frick! Glad you're all OK!

It's ok to change lanes (if it's safe to do so obviously) purely to avoid passing under a somebody or something on a bridge above your lane. The police are taught to do this, and I was expected to say "bridge-check" in my commentary when passing under every flyover/footbridge during the IAM test to show that I had considered whether there was anything above which might make a lane-change a prudent option. Good advice it would seem...

:shock:

Again, really glad you're not hurt.
211
958

User avatar
BiggestNizzy
Posts: 8932
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 6:47 pm
Location: Kilmarnock
Contact:

Post by BiggestNizzy » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:26 pm

Little B*stards!
As long as everyone is ok.

although if I remember right doesn't a roof ding compromise the structural integrity of the whole roof ?
Sent from my ZX SPECTRUM +2A

User avatar
Dominic
Posts: 14454
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:14 am
Location: Milton Of Campsie
Contact:

Post by Dominic » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:40 pm

Sorry to hear this Campbell. As others have mentioned, all the family are okay!

PITA about the car.

With the best will in the world, and safe driving, good observation, it's not always possible to avoid such instances... sometimes you just have to take your chances. :evil:
http://www.dsaccountancy.com

1999 Lotus Elise Sport 135'99

User avatar
campbell
Posts: 17353
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:42 pm
Location: West Lothian
Contact:

Post by campbell » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:51 pm

graeme wrote:Frick! Glad you're all OK!

It's ok to change lanes (if it's safe to do so obviously) purely to avoid passing under a somebody or something on a bridge above your lane. The police are taught to do this, and I was expected to say "bridge-check" in my commentary when passing under every flyover/footbridge during the IAM test to show that I had considered whether there was anything above which might make a lane-change a prudent option. Good advice it would seem...

:shock:

Again, really glad you're not hurt.
Good point Graeme. I have never taken such pre-emtive avoiding action in the past, did briefly consider on this occasion, and of course with sod's law chose not to :-( Will be doing so in future I can tell you.
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy

User avatar
campbell
Posts: 17353
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:42 pm
Location: West Lothian
Contact:

Post by campbell » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:52 pm

BiggestNizzy wrote: compromise the structural integrity of the whole roof ?
I do harbour that worry just now, but will see what Steve Walker has to say this week.
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy

User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:52 pm

Sh!t. Glad you are all OK. :?

We regually get things dropped on the narrowboat from bridges, fortunatly you get a bit more warning to do something. If you catch them they dont know why they were doing it.

Little feckers used todo that in Northern Ireland on the m-ways too. All the bridges now have high fences over them to stop it.
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers

User avatar
gorrie
Posts: 2821
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:40 pm
Location: West Lothian

Post by gorrie » Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:55 pm

I've had a mud-bomb land in front of me before, but nothing has scary as that Campbell. It's actually quite sickening to think that there are fannies around who are quite happy to gamble with peoples lives for a quick laugh to pass the time.

Now, if they had thrown themselves from the bridge, at least there would have been some justice.
I have no signature.

fd
Posts: 883
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:56 pm

Post by fd » Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:30 pm

I never drive underneath people on a bridge if I can reasonably avoid it . . . waving kiddies or otherwise . . . my uncle had a 1/2 slab thrown through the windscreem of his car (then through the passenger seat and into the back of the car) near Glasow years ago . . . of course the neds were never caught, he was ok, the car was written off . . .

In these PC days they will probably get an iPod and a holiday to Barbados if they get caught . . . the same as all the other neds, risking people lives, vandalising peoples property, it goes on and on . . . bring back the birch . . . zero tolerance . . . you'd get the fsckers in the end, one way or another . . .

Fd

User avatar
Matelotman
Posts: 1564
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:37 am
Location: West Lothian

Post by Matelotman » Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:34 pm

Glad everyone is ok - could have been so much worse...

Hope you catch them first and administer some personal justice
Elise S1 B&C 140 - long time ago now

User avatar
craigs135s
Posts: 1960
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Post by craigs135s » Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:35 pm

Glad you are ok mate you must have got a freight.

I always very wary when i have the roof of the car if there is anyone over head.

Cheers
C
Europa
S2 Black 111r. Gone
S1 Exige. Gone.
S2 111s. Gone
S1 sport 135s. Gone

Edin430
Posts: 2952
Joined: Mon May 21, 2007 2:11 pm
Location: Edinburgh..

Post by Edin430 » Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:02 pm

Mate - nightmare.....

Hope all is well and glad you and family are okay...

I have to admit if it happened to me and i caught the fcuk i think i would probably end up in jail - so maybe best you could not get to them...

Post Reply