In todays news...

[Yorick]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

Looked to be early morning when it would have been quiet. Otherwise would have been horrendous.

[Mr. Dazzle]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

I'm thinking there must have been something else wrong (with the bridge, not the ship)...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

[Skub]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

I'm thinking there must have been something else wrong (with the bridge, not the ship)...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

Yeah,maybe it was better it was destroyed at the time it was,rather than when it was full of traffic.

[MrLongbeard]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

I'm thinking there must have been something else wrong (with the bridge, not the ship)...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

True, but there are ships and there are SHIPS, I doubt a billion ton cargo ship was even a thought when the bridge was knocked up in 1977.
Add in a decade or two of reduced / no maintenance and you get what you get.

[Yorick]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

I'm thinking there must have been something else wrong (with the bridge, not the ship)...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

True, but there are ships and there are SHIPS, I doubt a billion ton cargo ship was even a thought when the bridge was knocked up in 1977.
Add in a decade or two of reduced / no maintenance and you get what you get.

Built in 2015, the Dali measures 948 feet in length and nearly 164 feet in width. It can carry about 111,000 tons of cargo on board.
Plus the 95,000 tons of ship.

[Horse]

...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

There was a video up somewhere recently of a container ship approaching a dock.

Angle slightly wrong. Took out three cranes. Three fuggin big ones ...



If you use roads as a parallel, a lot of roadside barriers were improved after Selby.

And bridge supports dramatically strengthened about 15 years after concerns. Possibly from terrorist attacks. A lot of infrastructure is now protected by 'hidden in plain sight' measures. The best example are the 2m high 'ARSENAL' stadium letters - each will stop a lorry.

[gremlin]

The best example are the 2m high 'ARSENAL' stadium letters - each will stop a lorry.

Each one laden with silverwear and trophies being delivered to the club.

Oh, wait....hang on...

[Horse]

The best example are the 2m high 'ARSENAL' stadium letters - each will stop a lorry.

Each one laden with silverwear and trophies being delivered to the club.

Oh, wait....hang on...

And on that [lorry] bombshell

[Count Steer]

The best example are the 2m high 'ARSENAL' stadium letters - each will stop a lorry.

Each one laden with silverwear and trophies being delivered to the club.

Oh, wait....hang on...

And on that [lorry] bombshell

That's going to need a lot of T-cut.

[irie]

James Heappey, Armed Forces Minister, just resigned, and Robert Halfon, Education Minister, just resigned.

Perhaps a yet to be published tasty opinion poll is behind this?

methinks

[JackyJoll]

James Heappey, Armed Forces Minister, just resigned, and Robert Halfon, Education Minister, just resigned.

Perhaps a yet to be published tasty opinion poll is behind this?

methinks

Have they discovered that the Armed Forces are not well educated?

[Horse]

Each one laden with silverwear and trophies being delivered to the club.

Oh, wait....hang on...

And on that [lorry] bombshell

That's going to need a lot of T-cut.

Used to see them, 3 on a low loader, being taken away after testing. Not many salvageable parts!

[MingtheMerciless]

For the scale of destruction,it's a miracle there wasn't a big loss of life.

I'm thinking there must have been something else wrong (with the bridge, not the ship)...as above, you normally design things like this to withstand the impact of a ship. It's shocking just how easily the bridge comes down.

Built in the 1970's, I'm going to guess with some funds/contracts diverted to the local "families" for protection. I'd also suggest the standards back then were much less stringent than nowadays, add to that the ship weighed up to 116000 dead weight tonnes. Also 50 years of sea air won't have done it any good but utlimately I'm not sure what would stop that that sort of weight. Someone said elsewhere that there may not have been "dolphins" around the bridge piers to protect them or at least attempt to divert the ship away from the pier/column but looking at an aerial shot it would appear the boat managed to swerve around something before impact.

[Taipan]

Its the new 9/11. One of many arising conspiracy theories...

[Yambo]

James Heappey, Armed Forces Minister, just resigned, and Robert Halfon, Education Minister, just resigned.

Perhaps a yet to be published tasty opinion poll is behind this?

methinks

Heappey said a couple of weeks ago that he was going to stand down at the next general election - like 61 others.

They're just rats deserting a sinking ship or maybe they genuinely want to spend more time with their families . . .

[Count Steer]

James Heappey, Armed Forces Minister, just resigned, and Robert Halfon, Education Minister, just resigned.

Perhaps a yet to be published tasty opinion poll is behind this?

methinks

Heappey said a couple of weeks ago that he was going to stand down at the next general election - like 61 others.

They're just rats deserting a sinking ship or maybe they genuinely want to spend more time with their families . . .

You have to be out of government office for a fixed period before taking a job related to the position iirc. So a tranche of them are quitting now so they can get ahead of the rush for plum jobs.

[Saga Lout]

Two-thirds of accidents occur within 5 miles of home...

97% of all statistics on the internet are made up.

Even if that statistic is correct, it doesn't tell us anything without context. How much of our driving is done within 5 miles of home? If it's more than two thirds then we're safer within that 5 mile bubble.

Maybe, but I didn't make it up; What Car did the fabricating, not me guv...

https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-crash ... home/n5693

And drawing on a shockingly small sample size (one, me) the last accident I had was no more than half a mile from home...

From that article:

'Our research suggests that many drivers appear to be in a comfort zone when driving close to home on familiar roads, explaining why such a large proportion of accidents occur there.

Brian Martin obviously doesn't understand his own research. When most of my driving was fairly long distance, most of my accidents (and I didn't have many) were 30, 40 or 50 miles from home. Now, most of my driving is within 5 or 10 miles of home I expect any accidents I have will be within 5 or 10 miles of home. It's nothing to do with a "comfort zone" it's everything to do with where most people do their driving.

[mangocrazy]

My most recent accident was at the start of a 75 mile journey. Make of that what you will. My initial comment was only intended as a joke, anyway. I suggest you take it up with Brian Martin if it annoys you that much.

[JackyJoll]

James Heappey, Armed Forces Minister, just resigned, and Robert Halfon, Education Minister, just resigned.

Perhaps a yet to be published tasty opinion poll is behind this?

methinks

Heappey said a couple of weeks ago that he was going to stand down at the next general election - like 61 others.

They're just rats deserting a sinking ship or maybe they genuinely want to spend more time with their families . . .

If they think they are likely to lose their seat, it’s pretty reasonable that they have no wish to waste months campaigning.

Also possible that they have no wish to kick their heels on Opposition benches or in Shadow Cabinet for five years, even if they win their seat.

[cheb]

Maybe they have realised they aren't quite up to the job and have left the way clear for a better person to do it.