Traffic Hazard (avoid Whites Road, Salisbury)

[Tommmo]

Just a warning to all those that might be driving through the area.... SLOW down!

Or avoid the road all together if your car is lowered or have low front bar.

There's a "Hazard Ahead" sign, but no indication to slow down.

I was in my Chaser, travelling along at 50, behind another vehicle and didn't notice the massive slabs (3 of them, 10m between each one) of road which the council has cut out and filled in with dirt and with todays rain...all the dirt has eroded. Each ditch is around 8-10cm deep!

I hit the first one at 50km, by the time I realised what happened and reacted, I was going through the second one around 40km.

I pulled over right away and checked to see if there was any visual damage, couldn't see too much, but driving home I noticed it definitely didn't feel the same!

The alignments all out, the steering wheel now wobbles like a b*tch and there's a knocking sound coming from the back! NOT HAPPY!

Fingers crossed the wheels aren't buckled!

Edited April 23, 2009 by Tommmo

[typevu]

Takes pictures of damages and the cause of it(holes and possibly lack of signage to provide proper warning) as evidence and request council to pay up.

[Iron Chef]

^^^ Correct. It has been done before. A mate blew two tyres on a huge pothole and the council paid for their replacement.

[nisskid]

1: find some bent high end expensive wheels

2: get them for dirt cheap

3: put on car

4: claim they were damaged by the roads

5: ????

6: profit

[Tommmo]

I took a couple of pictures with my phone last night, they didn't come out too good though.

Thought about going back there this morning, but its on the other side of the city for me and knowing my luck they would have filled them in by the time I get there.

[Damo_R34]

i live round the corner, but im at work. ill see if i can get some at some stage tonight or tomorrow.

[Tommmo]

i live round the corner, but im at work. ill see if i can get some at some stage tonight or tomorrow.

That would be great! much appreciated..

To the mechanics I go.. fingers crossed its nothing too serious!

[Tommmo]

all 4 wheels are buckled!!

front are quite noticable, rears not so much.

called the council, apparently they are not responsible for the road works, there's a new development between Blaess Dr and Belperio Cl and the builder is in charge!

[gtrkiet]

oh my... definately have to put in a complaint.

[Tommmo]

1: find some bent high end expensive wheels

2: get them for dirt cheap

3: put on car

4: claim they were damaged by the roads

5: ????

6: profit

Hahah.. there's a thought!

Just not my style though

[Murry33]

Damnn, i had similar thing happen in my old skyline. i went to turn a corner and there were concrete pieces all over the road, something had hit the corner before, but by the time you see if you've turned the corner and drove all over it!

long story short, i bent my sparco wheel, waited 2 hours for a tow lol . luckily was fixable though

Edited April 24, 2009 by Murry33

[Tommmo]

Damnn, i had similar thing happen in my old skyline. i went to turn a corner and there were concrete pieces all over the road, something had hit the corner before, but by the time you see if you've turned the corner and drove all over it!

long story short, i bent my sparco wheel, waited 2 hours for a tow lol . luckily was fixable though

that sucks!

how much did it cost to fix?

I was told mine are fixable, but at $200-$300 per wheel plus a wheel alignment! i'm not happy!

I'm not paying for someones negligence!

[SLED]

There's a "Hazard Ahead" sign, but no indication to slow down.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if the above is actually the case, they may use that to waive any responsibility (hazard sign generally means, 'slow down & look').....having said that, if it's as bad as you say, they should have zoned that area off.

And as far as the council not having any liability....huh?!

Even if they are private contractors, I would've thought the council would have to be the overseers of the project.....public road isn't it??

[SLED]

This reminds me of a similar thing that happened to me.

It's amazing how quickly councils and contractors pass the buck to each other when stuff like this happens.

A few years ago I parked in the Elizabeth City Centre car park and put my front wheels against one of those concrete sleepers that are held into the ground with 2 spikes (rio rod).

Unfortuantely, one of the spikes were sticking out approx 6 inches so as I drove forward the spike got hooked under my front bar (didn't even hear it).

When I reversed out it ripped my whole front bar off the car.......consequently my bloke got away.

Tried the Centre Management, didn't want to know me, "council's problem".........tried the council, did't want to know me, "Centre Management's problem".

Went back and forth a couple of times before going into the Magistrates Court and paying $80 for a Letter of Demand which I sent to the Centre's Maintenance Dept and they couldn't pay me quick enough cause I threatened to charge them for a lost day's work as well at $150ph.

[Damo_R34]

Dont f**k with people who know what they are doing.

[Matty 31]

Dont f**k with people who know what they are doing.

+1

[scandyflick]

nah, just dont f**k with pete, or bikies will pay you a visit...

... and lawyers too i spose.

[Tommmo]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if the above is actually the case, they may use that to waive any responsibility (hazard sign generally means, 'slow down & look').....having said that, if it's as bad as you say, they should have zoned that area off.

And as far as the council not having any liability....huh?!

Even if they are private contractors, I would've thought the council would have to be the overseers of the project.....public road isn't it??

I spoke to the council and the contractor.

The council says the contractor has a due care to keep the road in a safe state, which they didnt. According to them, If the road was in a state to cause damage to my vehicle at 50km/h, there should have been additional safety measures, be it signage, patrol, road closure etc.

The contractor said the signage was sufficient and believes road was in a safe state!

They have asked me to send them a copy of photo's and they will review my claim.... I think I already know the verdict!

[SLED]

The contractor said the signage was sufficient and believes road was in a safe state!

They have asked me to send them a copy of photo's and they will review my claim.... I think I already know the verdict!

Clearly the road was not in a safe state with your photos being evidence enough.

You're 1/2 way there....the fact that they've even asked for photos indicates that they are liable for road safety measures as opposed the council.

Now you just have to know how to handle the situation and not take their bluff as gospel or take no as an answer.

[SLED]

hope you got some pics of the pot hole before they filled it again