11 December 2008

You're doing it wrong

| Holden Caulfield
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Spotting this Toyota Echo on my morning commute made me do a quick double take. It is on (or should that be off) Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick, just after the Ipswich Street intersection. It looks pretty clear that the driver had been driving the wrong way on the dual carriageway that would normally take you to Queanbeyan. However, our intrepid motorist must have thought all roads lead to Canberra. FAIL!

There didn’t appear to be anything to indicate that this was anything more than a single vehicle accident, and, despite the apparent stupidity behind the events leading up to impact, hopefully the driver (and any passengers) are okay.

So what was it that “forced” the driver off the road? Was it mechanical failure? Was it the cheek of an oncoming motorist declaring his or her right to use the correct side of the road? Was it a legless lizard? Were the last words of the driver leading up to impact “How hard can it be”? No doubt RiotACT readers will pontificate and speculate.

(Slideshow below)

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Yep Leopard is German. But I was taking the piss out of myself, spelling is not my forte.

#19 the Leopard is German. I feel sorry for the tree. The embarrassment of being photographed with a toilet, sorry starlet.

Special G said :

…It’s always funny when you see some moit in a starlet with a wing/hamster cannon and skirts. It doesn’t matter what you do to it, it will always be a starlet…

Too true. I think some of them do it for the laugh value.

Hey…didn’t know Paris had another car..

Obviously a Canberra driver has moved to Queanbeyan… Changed to NSW plates… But still not learnt to drive…

#16 “departed in a Lepoard tank”

Lepoard tank. Lebanese designed, built in the USA (aka seppo).

Knob.

Just writing it off to get the insurance money for a V8. Obvious.

It wasn’t even a hotted up starlet. It’s always funny when you see some moit in a starlet with a wing/hamster cannon and skirts. It doesn’t matter what you do to it, it will always be a starlet.

Yes Starlets became echos.

Massive night at the Canberra South Caravan Park Tavern? Arrived in a Starlet and felt like he/she departed in a Lepoard tank, decided to drive a straight-line home across Canb ave….BOOM.. reality sinks in.

These are the days of our lives.

Holden Caulfield6:10 pm 11 Dec 08

Given the car has an airbag, I’m guessing it also has ABS, which would explain the lack of skid marks. Although, your fell asleep theory may have some merit.

That said, there did not appear to be any evidence of the car crossing the median strip, however I only had a cursory glance in that direction.

In regards the the speed at impact, I’m not sure the car would have been travelling that fast. I would estimate at 50km/h or less. The damage looks pretty bad, but everything from the a-pillar back is in pretty good shape really. If you’ve ever seen a EuroNCAP or ANCAP crash test video you’ll see how badly deformed some cars can get. The speed at impact in those tests is usually between 54-60km/h.

The other interesting point about this incident, specifically in relation to RiotACT, is the lack of replies. If this was a WRX or some sort of modded car I reckon we’d be pushing 150+ posts by now, haha!

Doesn’t seem to be any skid marks. Maybe fell asleep and crossed from the Canberra bound side???

Holden Caulfield12:40 pm 11 Dec 08

Sammy said :

That’s actually a Toyota Starlet. The word “Starlet” on the rear door is a giveaway.

Haha, oops, right you are Sammy. Starlets did turn into Echos. That’s my story anyway. :p

GottaLoveCanberra12:35 pm 11 Dec 08

It’ll buff right out.

There, I said it.

Not as impressive as the SUV on it’s roof out the front of Mckillop Wanniassa campus yesterday. Straight road and all.

johnboy said :

Skidbladnir said :

Any chance of a Swirly Face Man edit on the identifying numberplate?

It’s not as if it’s going to be their car going forward.

Or going anywhere….

Skidbladnir said :

Any chance of a Swirly Face Man edit on the identifying numberplate?

It’s not as if it’s going to be their car going forward.

That’s actually a Toyota Starlet. The word “Starlet” on the rear door is a giveaway.

Pissed.

RandomPoster11:43 am 11 Dec 08

That one is a write off..

Any chance of a Swirly Face Man edit on the identifying numberplate?

Maybe the driver saw Stanhope out walking, and tried to pin him to a tree with their car?

maybe swerved to hit a kangaroo, and just somehow spun around and went into a tree?

Ari said :

So that’s where I parked it.

lol

So that’s where I parked it.

Any sign that they might have come right across the median strip from the other side? Either way, looks like they were still going a fair clip when they re-modelled there front end on the try.

Hope they are alright.

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