Eventer - horsebox SPEED !!!

harkback

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On my way back from Scotland yesterday (Sunday) in appalling weather conditions on the motorway (driving rain, standing water) a horsebox passed myself and other vehicles at a tremendous speed. And I mean SPEED - outside lane, a former traffic policeman friend who was several cars behind estimated it to be going well in excess of 85 mph.

Burgandy / gold / plus custom artwork all over it, name on the rear, 6 -7 horse plus living. TOO FAST MATE, WAY TOO FAST.

Much of the traffic was driving within 50 - 60 mph while the conditions were ripe for a vehicle to aquaplane due to the standing water, there were some cars ingoring the conditions of course and going well up to 70 +, then this large wagon overtook everything, downhill gradient, and pulled back across all three lanes without even a signal.

Maybe they had a ferry to get to at Stranraer to go back to NI, whatever. BUT the complete utter stupidity of the driver left us stunned. I managed to get the name off the signwriting on the rear of the wagon. We were wondering who in their right minds would have so little disregard for their life, the horses (I assume it was carrying) onboard, AND other motorway traffic. I have driven HGV's for 30 years and know that even in perfectly dry conditions the stopping capability of a box that size would be a fair distance, but in torrential rain impossible. Hit the brakes and it would most likely aquaplane and spin, and probably flip. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
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Gosh, I wonder if it was the one that overtook me and my trailer just outside Perth! It wasn't going as fast as that then but it was certainly doing about 70mph. I remember being pretty surprised at its speed.
 
Oh this isnt posible
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Im sure he would have his or her limiter set at a nice 56mph and had a corectly filled in chart in the tacho... or perhaps not , its amazing what you see people getting away with ... I was doing 60+ in my van and overtaken by a range rover towing a IW horse trailer with horse in and a racing trap strapped to the ramp in the outside lane of the M6 nr Knutsford services ..And foreign lorrys regulaly overtake my lorry which has the limiter set dead on 90kms
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I would have hazarded a guess that the lorry in question could have been trying to get a lorry back to NI, as novice pc champs were on this weekend, and also blair.

What was the signwriters name? and the name on the lorry?
 
name and shame i think, name and shame.
some mates of mine arrived to help me at a horse trials years ago gibbering about being overtaken while doing about 85 in the middle lane on the motorway by a horsebox... it was Eddy Stibbe's enormowagon. long time ago though.
 
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name and shame i think, name and shame.
some mates of mine arrived to help me at a horse trials years ago gibbering about being overtaken while doing about 85 in the middle lane on the motorway by a horsebox... it was Eddy Stibbe's enormowagon. long time ago though.

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sashastewart.com

Hey we are all guilty (maybe) of one or several traffic misdemeanors, I had a speeding ticket of 33 in a 30 mph zone (honestly yes) but that was downright suicidal, not to mention how the horses felt in the back. Wonder if insurance would cover the £10's of thousands of £'s worth of equine flesh if the wagon did do several flips from driver negligance?
 
Would think that the lorry hasn't got its limiter on despite the fact that there is advertising all over the lorry meaning it SHOULD have a VOSA operators licence on it and a DEFRA inspection cert, not to mention a DEFRA Licence and a ACET for the driver/groom!

But like most professionals they all plead 'ignorance' until they are caught!

Go to any top competition event and have a look in the window screen-I would say 85% havent got the necessary legal paperwork and licences

And horse and hound wonder why they haven't got many signatures to their EU Driver rules campaign!
 
There's a picture of a nice looking lorry on her web site. Look familiar?

I hope they all got home in one piece and that it was worth the rush (anyone detect a touch of sarcasm?).
 
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Offending lorry

Mine is limited and will stay that way. A local horse transporter was telling me about people who got caught

On story was the daughter of a wealthy gent, driving a £100k+ 10 ton lorry with just and oridinary diriving licence. When they asked her about the limiter, she said "oh yes Daddy installed a switch for that".

Actually apparently she was driving quite well, but they had to do her for lack of licence and overriding the limiter......
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sashastewart.com

Hey we are all guilty (maybe) of one or several traffic misdemeanors, I had a speeding ticket of 33 in a 30 mph zone (honestly yes) but that was downright suicidal, not to mention how the horses felt in the back. Wonder if insurance would cover the £10's of thousands of £'s worth of equine flesh if the wagon did do several flips from driver negligance?

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**** the insurance, if the lorry crashed at that speed no amount of money could compensate for totally mashed up horses in the back waiting for a vet to get to them asap to put them out of their misery.
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rushing for the ferry is NO excuse at all.
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I have emailed her as I saw this lorry, wondered who it was and was disgusted.

Maybe it will make her think twice about speeding however I doubt it....I just hope she doesn't crash as then its too late to think 'oh I must drive slower and more carefully'....
 
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I have emailed her as I saw this lorry, wondered who it was and was disgusted.

Maybe it will make her think twice about speeding however I doubt it....I just hope she doesn't crash as then its too late to think 'oh I must drive slower and more carefully'....

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Yep, several people witnesed it. There are surveilance cameras on the stretch of motorway where it hauled passed myself at the speed of light so it has been reported.
 
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I am sure that was the one that overtook me at speed just outside Perth! Not just themselves they are putting at risk.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes they are putting everybody with a horse box at risk of more hassle and laws and VOSA/Police checks thank you you selfish turds
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A total disgrace driving at those speeds and in those conditions. I wonder what her explanation will be?

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I would hope that they are so ashamed that they do not even try to give an explanation. An apology more likely, particularly to the owners of any horses onboard. Well maybe no shame will be there as they are obviously so damned selfish and could'nt care less about their equine charges or other road users. And I am pleased others have come forward that whitnesed this wagon's reckless journey the same day.

And drivers like this are going to make the VSOA really make other horsebox drivers a target more than ever now.
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This is all very concerning reading, if this is the offending truck, its quite possible that it was doing madmph, the limiter on these is really easy to disable. Some of the european trucks are limited to 105kph (as they are registered as motorhomes), but this was clearly de-limited.

Just a little food for thought for those de-limiting HGVs, if you have a crash and there is a fatal, VOSA will investigate the truck and if the limiter is off, that consitutes dangerous driving with intent, and therefore a manslaughter charge follows and then prison!

So its not worth the risk, stick with the limiter. Have a look at the FAQ's on www.horseboxworld.com

PS- These rules will only get increasingly more stringent.
 
Well I haven't had a reply from her about my email, not that I am surprised at all.....

I wonder if her owners knew the risks she was taking with their horses perhaps they would give her a bit of direct pressure to slow the f*** down.

Is she going to Burghley? If so anyone from here fancy having a word with her?
 
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