what's going on ?
Whilst travelling home yesterday from somerset there were two 'caravan' incidents both on the M5 n/b one just after the weston super-mare turn off which looked like a discovery on it's side detatched from van which was upright and looked ok,,,,, the other was just prior to the junction with the M4 where what was left of a caravan was upside down ,,,,, feel really sorry for the people involved hope they were ok, not the first time of incidents on the M5 what is it with that road ?
My guess is that the deep ruts in carriageways caused by the volume of goods vehicles coupled with some crosswinds and instabilities caused by large vehicles passing caravans at speed have been contributory causes.
The M5 of course is heavily used by caravans and some of these caravanners will be relatively recent owners of tourers.
Excessive speed is the oft quoted cause of most of these accidents but I'd suggest that the causes are more complex then that.
Yes,I cannot disagree with that statement(believe it or not!).Soggy Tyres on the rear of the Tow Vehicle & or The Caravan are very contributory to setting up a Wallow and if combined with front ones that needed a bit of Puff in them;then Poof it is up and running before you can blink.The Tramlines caused by HGV's are mainly on the nearside lane and moving out to the next lane is not an answer/option as the long angle of cross-over is going to get both car & caravan,and again on the way back.I have found that positioning the caravan a little to the left; just off the edge of the hard shoulder/nearside lane division line(UK Motorways)reduces the problem considerably.It also serves to reduce the 'Bow-Wave Push' from HGV's & Coaches.
One other thing that can set up a Wallow/Snake is if an Impatient HGV Driver comes up behind the caravan and weaves side to side for a short while,sufficient to disrupt the wake behind the caravan.He then backs off and or quickly passes leaving a very interesting mobile exercise ongoing. Some years ago I saw the result of this type of behaviour but the truck driver came Very Seriously Unstuck.There was a witness that saw it being set-up and had the sense to stay back a distance,as the rear of the caravan was swaying the driver of the lorry caught the offside rear corner as he attempted to pass and leave it all going on behind him.The result was a rather messed up caravan and an HGV driver that had no choice but to pull over further up the motorway (M6 Southbound,Lancashire/Cheshire border)and await his fate.
My guess is that the deep ruts in carriageways caused by the volume of goods vehicles coupled with some crosswinds and instabilities caused by large vehicles passing caravans at speed have been contributory causes.
The M5 of course is heavily used by caravans and some of these caravanners will be relatively recent owners of tourers.
Excessive speed is the oft quoted cause of most of these accidents but I'd suggest that the causes are more complex then that.
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