The Devil’s Bridge - the site of Britain’s worst road accident. Twice.

Something particularly alarming about growing up in the eighties and nineties was how ambivalent everyone was about basic road safety – even though horrific accidents happened with terrifying regularity. 

In June 1925, the brakes failed on a coach as it made its way down a steep hill at Dibbles Bridge, in North Yorkshire. Seven people would die in what was at the time the worst road accident in British history. 

Fifty years later, thirty three people would die at Dibble’s Bridge in identical circumstances. 

Nearly fifty years on, this crash remains the worst road accident in British history.

It took another 20 years for seatbelts to become mandatory on coaches. 

Along the way: David Bowie ingratiates himself with the people of Sunderland! John Pertwee takes a very unorthodox approach to convincing electrical retailers to sell their customers extended washing machine warranties! Ben Wishaw smells lovely! Jimmy Nail thinks she’s lying (she’s lying)! 

The gang behind THE OFFICIAL PODCAST OF STACEY SOLOMON SCENTED AIR FRESHNERS also recall the first time they were censored. Young Gareth accidentally doodles boobs. Young Claire defaces her Snatch. Young John articulates a trees-eye view of nuclear war between Britain and America Wogglebox Island

You can reach us on email everyonediesinsunderland@gmail.com, on Twitter at @everyonediespod, on Facebook and Instagram. 

Our theme music is “Steady Away” by Pete Dilley and can be found on his album Half-truths and Hearsay which you can/should buy/stream here: 

https://petedilley.bandcamp.com/album/half-truths-and-hearsay  

 “Well I'm love forty down
And I can well recall the age my father reached the ancient age
That I'm now staring down
Through the barrel of my fourth decade and honestly I am afraid