Drove into a ladder on the freeway. Didn't see the car that dropped it. Police aren't able to help. Any ideas?

mrhanky71 on 04/10/2020 - 11:59

Hi All,

Had a bit of an accident on the Eastern Freeway (M3) on Friday.
Was driving home after work and i drive into a ladder that was in the middle lane of the freeway.

At the time, I didn't see any cars stopped on the freeway so wasn't able to determine who dropped it. My front bumper is now cracked and one of the fog lights is gone.

I rang the police and enquired if there was any way to get camera footage, but they said all the cameras on the freeway are live feeds and don't record.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to find out the details of the vehicle that dropped the ladder?

Automotive

Comments

          • endotherm on 06/10/2020 - 19:47

            @cbastien: A web page from Vic Roads is NOT the official Road Rules.

            • cbastien on 06/10/2020 - 20:00

              @endotherm: Cityofsydney original question was referencing his driving test and i m pretty sure vicroads are responsible for the driving test (which also means they better be right on whatever they say about road rules)

              • endotherm on 06/10/2020 - 21:04

                @cbastien: "2 seconds" and "3 seconds" does not exist in the Road Rules (the actual law). These numbers have been made up by a bureaucrat somewhere in an effort to help understand the law and qualify for a licence. You won't get a fine for "following less than 3 seconds behind a vehicle". The appropriate rule is for following too closely, and as can be seen there is a difference in opinion between bureaucrats as to what constitutes "too closely".

                • cbastien on 06/10/2020 - 21:25

                  @endotherm: We were just trying to say thet even if OP was following the rules he would not have time to avoid the ladder. I understand you try to be right on internet, but what are you trying to say ?

                  • endotherm on 06/10/2020 - 23:48

                    @cbastien: You made the claim "The official vicroad rule is 2 seconds." I pointed out that does not appear anywhere in the Road Rules (which is issued by Parliament), it only appears in a paraphrased document as a teaching aid (issued by a Corporation). It does not have the force of law, there is no penalty for breaching the 2-second rule.

                    • BobLim on 07/10/2020 - 02:22
                      +1

                      @endotherm: Technically the Road Rules are made by the Governor in Council on the advice of VicRoads/VicPol as described in the document, without involving Parliament (who only passed the Road Safety Act itself):

                      These Rules are made under section 95D of the Road Safety Act 1986.

                      VicRoads can't even manage to get signs to match road markings at merges - valid combinations are:
                      * "left/right lane ends" sign with dotted/broken line for ending lane, or
                      * "form one/two/three lane/s" sign with the line separating lanes ending

                      Which of the signs or the road markings outrank the others? Why can't they just match them properly?

  • JIMB0 on 04/10/2020 - 13:13
    +3

    Put out a lost and found add.

    • Muzeeb on 04/10/2020 - 13:19
      +2

      Add what? I'm confused.

      • JIMB0 on 04/10/2020 - 16:18
        +1

        Advertisement looking the owner of lost ladder.

  • BOGOF on 04/10/2020 - 13:17
    +30

    You'll need to do a step by step investigation

    • Kangal on 05/10/2020 - 09:08
      +1

      The suspense is getting high

  • bloom on 04/10/2020 - 13:42
    +17

    Wait you have insurance?
    This is the wrong forum.

    • smartazz104 on 05/10/2020 - 12:23
      +1

      But he's trying to avoid paying excess, so he is in the right place after all.

  • Euphemistic on 04/10/2020 - 17:03
    +7

    How old is the car? Trip to the wreckers for parts and a spray painter to colour match might be cheaper than an insurance claim.

    • mrhanky71 on 06/10/2020 - 16:44

      its a 2011 car. This is what I will probably end up doing. I'm hoping I can get the same color bumper from the wreckers.

  • steven6 on 04/10/2020 - 17:54
    +3

    I rang the police and enquired if there was any way to get camera footage, but they said all the cameras on the freeway are live feeds and don't record.

    I don't believe the police as I've seen camera footage on a TV show about bad drivers from these cameras. Can never make out rego numbers though and police probably can't be bothered viewing it.

    • LordSydney on 05/10/2020 - 23:28
      +3

      agreed. they're probably too busy beating up people breaching public "health" orders.

      • netjock on 06/10/2020 - 11:19

        Or congregating in big groups. Usually see 6 to 8 walking around together like they are scared of something.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/10/2020 - 18:22
    +1

    What car is it? If you are driving certain models, parts can be very cheap because of aftermarket mods.

    For example, if you want a LC200 bumper, just drop by any 4x4 shop. You can probably find one in your colour. I can't give away some of factory fourby stuff not for the lack of trying.

    • smpantsonfire on 05/10/2020 - 11:23
      +3

      I'm pretty sure if he was in a 4x4 he would have cleared the ladder.

    • mrhanky71 on 06/10/2020 - 16:46

      its a 320d. after this incident im thinking of getting a toyota land cruiser but the second hand cars cost a fortune these days.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/10/2020 - 17:02

        Why an LC specifically?

        It's a great car but it is a fair bit of coin. If you don't need the size, Pajeros are great. If you can suss out one that has had an easy life (soccer mom car), they're amazing value.

        • SF3 on 15/10/2020 - 00:02

          Maybe OP wants to drive over the ladder, from high ground clearance?

          OP should consider himself lucky, at least lived to tell the tale. Better a broken bumper / lights than something more serious.

  • Snake 4 on 04/10/2020 - 20:44
    +5

    So the car in front swerved and missed the ladder. You say you couldn't swerve as there were cars in the lanes next to you.

    Could it be you weren't keeping a safe distance from the car in front?

    • dufflover on 05/10/2020 - 09:54

      Yeah was just thinking that. Car in-front not paying attention, OP too close otherwise would've stopped in time albeit hard.

    • 91rs on 05/10/2020 - 11:37
      +18

      A safe distance from the car ahead doesn't stop people being on either side of you.
      A safe distance also isn't enough room to completely stop for a stationary item that you weren't able to see or drive around which the car ahead didn't react to until it was too late.
      Driving in to a ladder is a better option than possibly creating a multi-car accident at or near highway speeds.

      • smpantsonfire on 05/10/2020 - 18:08
        +4

        I wanted to write this but I thought it would have been down voted because the comprehension skills on Ozbargain ain't awesome.

      • McFly on 06/10/2020 - 01:02

        Hard brake in the middle of a highway? WCGW?

  • elgrande on 04/10/2020 - 21:39
    +10

    Put in a freedom of information requrst via vic roads for the footage. It would be their footage, not the police.

  • Pro-crastinator on 05/10/2020 - 01:52
    +5

    Contact Eastlink and see if they have footage or can point you in the right direction… not sure how far outside their tollway you were/the cameras go, but worth the question… and I believe their cameras are recorded.

    • JayEmmGee on 05/10/2020 - 09:36
      +1

      Eastern Freeway not Eastlink, so would be VicRoads

      • Pro-crastinator on 05/10/2020 - 19:19

        Correct, but I wasn't mistaken when I wrote Eastlink.

        OP has already contacted VicPol for VicRoads cameras and they claim that they're not recorded - that's why I made the suggestion and followed with "not sure how far outside their tollway you were/the cameras go…"

        Eastlink do record their cameras, which may help, and the OP didn't state exactly where on the Eastern he was, and I don't know where Eastlink coverage stops, and VicRoads coverage starts - if you do know exactly where the OP was and which cameras cover that location the help would be excellent.

  • reactor-au on 05/10/2020 - 07:48
    +10

    Glad you weren't injured, things can go very bad at 100kph.

    I think all you can do is phone your insurance or try fix it yourself

    • SF3 on 15/10/2020 - 00:04

      totally.

  • subydooby on 05/10/2020 - 08:24

    Bad luck indeed, you are lucky it wasn’t worse because of some jerk being unable to secure their ladder.
    I went past a highway depot near the Westgate bridge and they had a pile of broken ladders over eight foot high.

  • DiscoJango on 05/10/2020 - 09:25
    +1

    That sucks OP. I remember i was driving down princess highway at night, and some genuis decided it was a good idea to put a trolley smack bang in the middle of the 4 lanes, just as you were coming up a slight hill so you only saw it at the last minute. Luckily i just managed to swerve in time.

  • OzHunterNSW on 05/10/2020 - 10:11

    The police sure can track you down if you were speeding….. if insured, go through them.

    The police should be able to view camera footage and ascertain vehicles with ladders…. then suddenly without.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/10/2020 - 10:23

    you are on a high way to hell

  • Davo1111 on 05/10/2020 - 10:54

    Insurance. On the positive you got a free ladder

  • hopper on 05/10/2020 - 11:09

    cameras on the freeway are live feeds and don't record.

    WTH

  • kaleidoscope on 05/10/2020 - 11:11

    Tough luck man… Insurance it is. May be put the word out incase someone in social media might shed some light on it. Bur definitely don’t count or wait on it.

  • doctordv8 on 05/10/2020 - 11:33

    Describe the incidence with location and time, found a ladder in the lost and found in classifieds. When the owner describes it correctly, you have your man…..maybe…if he is reading this, you have little chance unless someone comes up with cam footage.

  • MrKnowItAll on 05/10/2020 - 11:38

    Happened to my mother in law, same thing - 100kph and then slammed into the ladder. Did a bit of damage underneath so she went through insurance to get everything checked over and repaired.

    Costly exercise and one I give her shit for every time I can (she was in the right lane with no traffic) haha.

  • Ozbargainite on 05/10/2020 - 12:31
    +1

    This is why I've never had children.

  • striker5950 on 05/10/2020 - 12:46
    -2

    LOL

  • Scot on 05/10/2020 - 13:18
    +4

    Put an Ad in the paper enquiring if anyone lost a ladder on the M3 at approx. ( time guessed) saying you found it and want to return it and when they answer and give correct description, get their details and give them to your insurance company! BOOM!

    • Herbse on 05/10/2020 - 15:43

      This is literally your best option, op.

      • Daabido on 05/10/2020 - 19:13

        Yes, because all tradies read the "Found ladders" section of the local rag.

        • Herbse on 05/10/2020 - 19:17

          If they're looking for another one they might.

  • localhost on 05/10/2020 - 13:29

    Or check OzB regularly for posts like: While searching for a new ladder, because I've lost mine found this on …

  • brawndo on 05/10/2020 - 14:24

    Where's the mspaint diagram?

  • Thatsgold on 05/10/2020 - 15:28
    +1

    Thank god you didn't get hurt man.
    Goodluck

  • ShanghaiRocks on 05/10/2020 - 15:30

    I almost drove into a ladder at 100KMPH on M4. Just stopped the moment saw it (100->0 in a matter of seconds). A was on my tail and also stopped at safe distance.. Lucky escape for everybody as the ladder was quite large one. Some, idiot missed to secure it!

    • mrhanky71 on 06/10/2020 - 16:49

      oo interesting. I'll check this.
      Thanks

  • funnysht on 05/10/2020 - 18:29

    Keep the ladder or press R1 next time when approaching an object on the road

  • berger on 05/10/2020 - 18:31

    I did something similar, police, city link and vicroads didn’t want to help.

    Also, those live feeds record.. don’t be fooled

  • TheBird on 05/10/2020 - 18:42

    Call up a bunch of tradies. Tell them you found a ladder on the freeway and you're willing to sell cheap. Those who say yes are your suspects. Good luck ;)

  • drfuzzy on 05/10/2020 - 18:46
    +1

    You must watch out for snakes

    • buckster on 05/10/2020 - 22:12

      Underrated comment lol

  • UFO on 05/10/2020 - 19:16

    Any CCTV footage along the stretch of Hwy?

    Doesn't need to be at that exact spot, as you should have a pretty accurate time frame picking when the ladder was dropped.
    I can't imagine many vehicles passing by the ladder unscathed.

    1km before ute with ladder, 1km later same ute no ladder… found your ute driver.
    This of course relies on TollPass (whoever) doing the legwork for you of course.

  • ChadHominem on 05/10/2020 - 19:30
    +1

    At least you didn't drive under the ladder. That would've been unlucky

  • cantstanzya on 05/10/2020 - 21:42

    If you had pictures of the ladder it would have helped greatly with possible identification of the culprit.

    Type of ladder and evidence of use for said ladder can tell alot about the owner. Also most ladders have company/owner ID on them as they are expensive and often stolen.

  • Bignudge on 05/10/2020 - 22:35
    +1

    I'm sure that if this incident caused an injury that calls for a CTP claim or even a death…. this case would be solved pretty quickly. Calls for dashcam footage, recalling the highway cameras and most likely extracting and matching fingerprints off of the ladder.

    • LordSydney on 05/10/2020 - 23:33

      even with CTP claim cases police hardly give a damn, let alone bother showing up to the scene. best they'll do is take a statement and provide an event number. yet, they're off busy bashing up people who just want to enjoy the great outdoors - all in the name of "public health" smh

  • Seni0r El Cheapo on 05/10/2020 - 23:43

    Curious, did you bring it home?

  • Zachary on 06/10/2020 - 00:11

    Well at least you didn't drive over a gold club at 200km/hr on an extremely lowered car….

  • ozgeek on 06/10/2020 - 02:47
    +1

    See if you can go to a wreckers and find a matching bumper and foglight.

    And then get some dashcams. They are cheap and will help very much.

    • mrhanky71 on 06/10/2020 - 16:50

      defs getting dashcams

      • bizarredeal on 07/10/2020 - 05:49
        +1

        It's a pity cops didn't want to help you. I guess it's not like they could fine the guy who dropped the ladder on the freeway.
        Glad you're well OP.

  • Exclusivegoose on 06/10/2020 - 10:44

    This happenned years ago to us with a paint tin fallen from a truck. Easy link picked up the tab.

  • mrjk on 06/10/2020 - 11:14

    Had the same thing happen to me a couple years ago on the M4. Small esky fell off the back of someones ute and straight into my front bumper at 100kph. Foglight and right side bumper was smashed and I was SOL. Had to pay out of my own pocket to get it fixed…

  • johno3456 on 06/10/2020 - 12:20

    Get a quote from a repairer for a cash job. Or pay insurance excess. Chalk it up to the vicissitudes of life.
    No way the police will spend the time watching videos to identify a truck which lost a ladder and did not injury someone.
    May be worth reporting it to the local copshop in case someone saw the ladder drop and reported it.
    Or have a mate ring up and report the ladder drop and give the license plate of someone you don't like. Evil laugh.

  • Bluberry on 06/10/2020 - 15:12
    -1

    You could always buy another ladder :)

  • [Deactivated] on 06/10/2020 - 15:13

    In a different time/place, the injured ladder would have won any court case…

  • Maltopia on 06/10/2020 - 18:23
    -1

    So you want to know what steps to take?

  • spedohero on 06/10/2020 - 19:09
    -1

    Do you get to keep the ladder?

  • gregsurname on 06/10/2020 - 19:47

    Hit a bit of 4x4 that was lying across the road on the Eastern many years ago when on the way to job interview. Blew out a front tire and dented the wheel. Brother had knicked the tools out of the boot so couldn't even swapped on the spare. 40 mins waiting for roadside service. Shit happens. Got a new wheel from the wreckers. Decide for yourself if it's worth claiming insurance or fixing it out of your own pocket.

  • Mario1234 on 06/10/2020 - 23:44

    Remember watching a ladder fall off a ute but this was a while ago
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ0eCgGOkT8&ab_channel=DashC… (10.13)

    If you're lucky it could be caught on dashcam

  • CalmLemons on 07/10/2020 - 01:36
    +1

    Just be glad you weren't injured. Nothing much you can do as those cameras even if recorded won't be that clear to take pictures of the licence plate.

    Had the same thing happen to me on the ring road a year back, 7am in the morning, road was packed, tradie time. Ladder wrote off the tyres of 3 vehicles further up ahead, then the garbage truck clipped it and flung it into the air in front of my car and I swirved left just in time - lucky AF we were just at the left hand side exit, lucky we were all driving slower by that stage otherwise it would have gone through my windshield.

    Have the footage on my other laptop from the dashcam. Yeah, didn't need to go to the gym that morning after that wakeup call.

  • Jackamo on 07/10/2020 - 03:59
    +2

    Advertise the ladder as found on the freeway, If the owner comes to claim it, you're laughing. If 10 tradies show up, you have a problem.

  • mattie on 07/10/2020 - 15:04

    Lock the ladder to a railing in a visible position with your phone number to get the key

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