This afternoon, while walking around Cambridge, I saw an impressive bit of driving.
Cambridge is filled with rising bollards, allowing only tagged vehicles (usually buses, taxis and emergency vehicles) to lower and cross the bollard. The unfortunate driver of this tractor-towing supposed-offroader was a bit of an idiot not to notice that he didn’t have the required tag, causing the road to be closed for the afternoon.
Just click on the image to see the full-size version and savour the damage and ridicule of the situation. Even the policemen nearby were drinking tea and sniggering at the idiocy of the driver. They didn’t even seem to mind me (and many others) taking photos with our camera phones!
Moral of the story is that the roads are full of clueless people. Me not driving makes one less of ‘em! … I mean, Cambridge is a dangerous place to cycle OR drive!
[Update 16/05/06 11:30am: Cambridge News have announced that the driver of the vehicle, a man, aged 55, died after being taken to hospital for his injuries following this crash. True shame that a moment of distraction may have led to the death of the driver.]
May 15th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
C’est peut-être un touriste canadien!!
Mathew Says:Avec une remorque ??
May 15th, 2006 at 11:42 pm
Maybe he wanted to actually use his 4wd off road for once…he got half the car of the road at least. Only two wheels to go.
Peps Says:May 16th, 2006 at 8:52 am
Wow, 10 points for a pedestrian, 100 points for a cyclist (50 on mill road as its too easy)… now hitting a rising bollard - not sure thats even on the scale.
Jim Says:May 18th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
It looks a little bit like he tried to ram the bollard to get through… muppet!
Brian Says:May 23rd, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Seems driver did not die of injuries received; but had heart attack possibly while trying to right the tractor on the trailer
that canadian girl » Blog Archive » Says:November 18th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
[...] Following a post dating back from a few months ago where I posted a picture of some idiot who crashed into a Cambridge bollard, someone has sent me a video of an unknown intersection in the UK that seems to be an idiot-magnet. [...]
Revenge of the Bollards « LOOSE wire Says:December 1st, 2006 at 7:01 am
[...] As you can see from the video, getting impaled on a bollard is not fun. They come back up as soon as the permitted vehicle has passed, so even the fastest driver isn’t going to have much luck. The Manchester Evening News reports some folk being taken to hospital and cars being written off. A 63-year old man died in Cambridge after crashing into one. This is all somewhat ironic given, according to another report in the paper, the bollards were introduced “on a trial basis because of the street’s high casualty rate.” [...]
Bollardian nightmare? at fulminate // Architectures of Control Says:December 6th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
[...] The fatal accident at the Silver Street bollards in Cambridge (photo from Véro’s blog); this photo of the same bollards as my photo at the top of this post. [...]
Karen Says:March 3rd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
The bollards will let you though if you wait. However, they have to reach the top first. Your registration plate is photographed if you proceed through, if you reverse and leave it isn’t. Of course, if you try and rush them then you’ll get impaled on it. There’s been loads of accidents all around Cambridge regarding these bollards, it’s just a combination of greedy, dumb, blind and stupid drivers who seem to get caught by them. I cycle through Cambridge, as a student, going from College to College, it’s the only sane mode of travel!
Vero Says:March 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 pm
No Karen, I don’t believe the bollards are meant to let anyone through who isn’t a taxi or bus.
And if you’re a cyclist down Mill Rd, I’m hoping you’re a conscious one, and don’t stick in the middle of the road or randomly forget to indicate where you’re going. I sometimes wish I could run the students over….
Samson Says:March 11th, 2007 at 5:45 am
What the hell? I’ll never have reason to complain about speed bumps in the USA again! Good lord.
Bollardjunkie Says:December 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
A skilled bit of driving. What do you think of these bollards then?
bollardjunkie Says:December 10th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
It happens. Bollards are there for a reason.