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Fatal accident linked to Top Gear

  • Carsguide
  • 18 December 2008
image Following UK Top Gear advice fan looses control and crashes.

A motorist involved in a fatal accident was allegedly following advice from TV show Top Gear.

Richard Browne lost control of his 4x4 vehicle while towing a trailer carrying three bullocks, an inquest in Cornwall, in England, was told yesterday.

He sped up to try to steady the vehicle as it swerved from side to side, but crashed.

Browne, 29, told police: "I just tried to accelerate out of it.

"I've watched it on Top Gear and they always say put the accelerator down and get out of it, the worst thing you can do is brake - so that's what I did.

"I tried to accelerate out of it, but it slowly got worse, and then all of a sudden it picked up and the back of the truck was being thrown from side to side. At that point, I had my foot on the accelerator, there was nothing more I could do, and all I remember is it just going."

Farmer Bill Tucker, 85, a passenger in the vehicle in October last year, suffered severe injuries and died soon after the accident.

Cornwall's Deputy Coroner Andrew Cox recorded a verdict of accidental death.

"It would be preferable if people who are going to drive trailers on the road take professional instruction before they begin," he said.

 

 

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 9 comments

  • Make driver training/defensive driving compulsory, write up a rule book, spend millions to get laws passed then hope and pray that someone listens. It may save some lives but it will not stop death on the road. we all know people drive beyond their capabilities.

    concerned charles of australia Posted on 16 March 2010 4:03pm

  • About 25 years ago we had TV adds with driving tips on towing a caravan and guess what if you got the wobbles you accelerated until you gained control. How we forget.

    John Posted on 15 April 2009 9:33pm

  • Hold the front page - halfwit can't drive, sticks it in, blames someone else. There is one reason and one reason only why meaningful driver education is not compulsory - government simply doesn't want the administrative expense and responsibility. In NSW, the government in collusion with the RTA does its utmost to shirk the real work of making the roads safe while extorting hundreds of millions from motorists in taxes, fees and unjust fines. It's not going to get better until right minded people - such as those on this forum - start getting heavy with their local members. You want another comfy bludge in parliament, mate? Then make representations on the motorist's behalf.

    Holden Caulfield Posted on 08 January 2009 4:40pm

  • Driver training needs to be compulsory especially for people looking to buy a 4 wheel drive or who intend towing. Govts are more interested in revenue and being reactive instead of pro-active. I had an incident on the Hume Freeway where a person in a 4wd lost it coming down a large hill and I had a tyre blow out on a fully loaded tandem trailor I was towing. The trailor got a pendulum to it and i floored it pulling the trailor straight and slowed down by coasting from the half way point on the up hill section.

    Ian of Melb Posted on 07 January 2009 5:26pm

  • Tony C - fantastic comment. I couldn't agree with you more. C'mon Australian motoring authorities - wake up!!! Defensive driver training needs to be compulsory!

    Ben of Sunshine Coast Posted on 06 January 2009 7:25pm

  • I am not sure who is worse this cheapshot article or the deficient driver. Maybe people should have their I.Q. test before taking a driving test or maybe this could be incorporated into the test. Absolute idiocy.

    Robert Pawley of Laguna Posted on 23 December 2008 4:20pm

  • To quote Clarkson "What a Bullock". 1: Top Gear has always despised trailers of all sorts, 2: Was farmer Browne thinking that his 4 x 4 just didn't seem to straighten up like the 4 x 4 Gallardo does when exiting a corner. Look, I'm sorry for the death, I really am. But what type of intelligence would apply Top Gear logic to towing 6 tons, and then blame Top Gear. I'll admit this may have been taken out of context, in which case it's the press in the UK, trying to put blame onto Top Gear. In which case, "What Bullocks"!

    Simon A of Sydney Posted on 23 December 2008 3:46pm

  • "towing a trailer carrying three bullocks" That's like 6 tons!!! "I tried to accelerate out of it, but it slowly got worse" What kind of 4x4? Sounds like either he didn't accelerate hard enough to straighten up, or his 4x4 was too weak to be towing such a big load. Aren't there load weight restrictions for towing? I agree with the idea of professional instruction, it needs to include extreme weather and road conditions, defensive driving, towing, road rage management, AND first aid! A driver's license fee should cover these things, as well as sponsorship from insurance agencies who will benefit from the reduction in road accident claims!

    Alice Hanneman of Downer ACT Posted on 23 December 2008 12:41pm

  • "It would be preferable if people who are going to drive trailers on the road take professional instruction before they begin," Trully and inspired thought. Now if the pollies would jump onto this comment and make "Professional Instruction" a requirement for all drivers, "what a wonderful world it would be..."

    Tony C of Karratha Posted on 21 December 2008 2:45pm
Read all 9 comments

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