helping other road users out

[henryandlesley]

hi all if you was driving in snow like today and you saw someone stuck on the grass verge would you?

A, stop to see if they was ok.

B, pull them back onto the road

C, go past and leave them there

D, would you expect payment for your trouble

the reason for this is I helped to car drivers out today and not one said here is a drink for stopping to help even though I wouldnt take it but it would of been nice to be offered but how many of them car drivers are the ones who complain about 4x4's then when they get stuck we help them

[cobblers]

hi i would do (a)+(b) and a thank you would do me as long they was save and not hurt

[Panda]

Start a poll???

But yer im the same i would be  a+b and if they did give my money then thats a plus.

[Tommo]

ye im an A B man myself. Ill stop and help anyone.

[mill2020]

Hmmmmm depends,  A & B of course and if they happen to be female, blonde, well developed and quite attractive maybe i'd consider her thanking me  ;) ;) ;). So that would be D also.

[Panda]

  O now just worked out you can only vote once   :-. :-. :-.

[Disco-Ron]

Hmmmmm depends,  A & B of course and if they happen to be female, blonde, well developed and quite attractive maybe i'd consider her thanking me  ;) ;) ;). So that would be D also.

She wouldn;t have to be stuck... i'd just stop for a look at her...;)

[SteveGoodz]

I always stop and see if everyone is okay and then offer assistance if they're polite and appear pleased/thankful that I stopped ... otherwise I leave 'em to it  :-o

[cobblers]

i just found out aswell panda :-k

[Mash]

I spend alot of my time at work dragging things out of ditches etc and you wouldn't believe the cheek of some people..

I've had a few folk winging cos they don't like the way we are recovering their "pride and joy" cos we are scratching the paint or pulling off the bumper thats now only held on by one bolt.. Even though the front end has been caved in and you can clearly see that the only place this car is going is the scrap yard :(

So I am VERY wary about these situations and the comebacks that can occur in this "sue me world " we seem to live in.

Most cars do NOT have a suitable recovery point fitted as they are extremelly weak. In our firm we are banned from using towing eyes to get a vehicle on the back if a flatbad. The nly time an eye is used is when the vehicle is being "flat towed" and moves freely.

I'm not suggestting that you do not stop and help but just be careful out there..  :D

[mill2020]

Hmmmmm depends,  A & B of course and if they happen to be female, blonde, well developed and quite attractive maybe i'd consider her thanking me  ;) ;) ;). So that would be D also.

but phil what if she was a nun

Well maybe she could put in a good word for me with the guy upstairs, you never know i may just need it :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Frankie-Boy]

Poll has been revised so that more than one answer applies.  ;)

[Frankie-Boy]

No problem, glad to be of help, (in a big booming voice, lol)

[Bishops Finger]

Stuck muddy ladys dressed as nuns........what is this site coming to....... :dance:

[Bush Tucker Man]

I helped two cars out today and not one said thanks for stopping or have a drink but when i asked would they like me to pull them out they was so happy for me to stop but why not say thank you afterwards

Ditto, I did the same at a car show in Thornes Park (Wakefield) & they even sat in the car whllst I attached the strop :shock:

I towed them, released it & off they went.

With hindsight I ought to have towed them back into the deepest part :twisted:

[Disco Matt]

I'd stop and offer to fish them out, if they offered money that'd be a bonus but I wouldn't expect it. I would definitely warn them about any risk of damage no matter how slim.

I distinctly remember one of the ambulance chaser firms using the example of someone who'd managed to injure themselves while being helped to recover their stuck vehicle by a passing farmer in a TV advert a while ago. For this reason I still wonder if MC should have a printable disclaimer form for members to carry - there must be someone here with legal knowledge who could cast an eye over it and make sure it's watertight?

[Defender]

A couple of years back I put a car fire out in our local Tesco's store carpark.
It was one of those 3-wheel Reliant things. :lol:  It took all of my 2.4litre AFFF extinguisher to sort it.
The guy didn't even say "Thank You".  :roll:
It also cost me £10 to have the extinguisher refilled. My mate said I should have let it burn.  :lol: :lol:

[Panda]

Question is where is the line? 

How stuck do they have to be before you say something?

[Wireless]

Well, I'd stop to check they are ok, but if I did anything that would cost me money, they'd have to pay for it, not for hire or reward, just to cover exactly what it costs me.

They would have to ask politely, they would have to provide a proper tow rope (or pay for the wear and tear on mine), they would have to be prepared to get dirty, or pay for my dry cleaning, if there's any remotely physical risk to myself I'd refuse to help in the recovery, I also would refuse to assist them if I felt they were taking a risk, they would have to accept any damage that might occur to their vehicle during the recovery, and if I felt that damage might occur (every bleeding time) I'd point it out and get their agreement to proceed before doing anything.

They would have to be prepared to pay for any damage that might occur to my vehicle or equipment during the recovery, but in any event if I felt that there was any risk of damage to my vehicle I'd refuse to help.

They would have to pay for any fuel used.

All of this would have to be agreed before I helped, and a couple of pounds would probably be sufficient on most occasions, no agreement, and no offer of money up front, and they can stay where they are.  As you say, a fiver for a drink is only courtesy, but not necessary.

If they start getting stroppy, they can stay where they are and wait for a recovery agent.

I'm afraid I've dealt with too many prats as an Ambulance Paramedic, in a past life, to be worried about driving away from the incident in which I've no statutory responsibility to assist, other than the duty of care an ordinary member of the public has as a general community responsibility towards others.

If there's injured persons, children, or vulnerable adults present, I'd stay anyway to wait for the Emergency Services, give details to the Police, and if I have a Fire Extinguisher and people or property are at risk from fire, I'd try and put it out.

However, I'd make a note of the registration of the vehicle involved, and claim against their Insurance to replace / refill my extinguisher.

[Boggert]

1 & 2 for me,

Reading some of the posts here I would be careful when pulling someone out. If they didn't get out of the car I wouldn't help them and to be fair when attaching the rope i would try to get them to do it to their own car in case you damage their vehicle. Knowing the public of today, you pull them out and they get a mark on their bumper then they want you insurance details to claim against you. :roll:

[lampyrover31]

HI
 I always try to stop and help, always seem to time it just right to arrive at the scenes of accidents, and make sure all is ok. Cant do much in the way of stuck vehicles as I dont have a 4x4 as a daily drive. Saying that though I have pulled a few cars out the way on busy roads using an Lreg rover 216 auto!!!
I wouldnt want or expect any payment for things unless it was majorly expensive to me just a thank you.
I always mention when poss that its up to them if something goes wrong or gets damaged etc
I did have 1 lady who I moved from the A38M in birmingham at rush hour, who when we we talking asked me where I was going etc. Later that day she turned up at my work with a big box of chocolates even though it made her even later for work!!!!
Cheers
Baz

[cobblers]

thats nice of her,there is some people out there who do like to be help`t,but as some of the post say watch out for insurance claims,but they do have the choice before any body hooks a rope or chain to vechiles some of these garages will do damage,but i bet they don`t get g.b.h of the ears for doing it

[666]

I would stop to check they were ok, but only pull them out if i thought they would be ok to continue the journey (weather permitting) other than that i would ofer to take them to there destination if it was not too far or at least to a place of saftey ;)

Cheers

Mark

[lee celtic]

Bishops finger wrote

Stuck muddy ladys dressed as nuns

I put that in google for a laugh and found this :lol: :lol:

[muddyjames]

I am affraid I would have to be stereo typical as to whether I stop or not. If it is a "chav" car all pimped up and lads with hoodies on and shell suits, then I am affraid I would just keep going. I would expect they deserve to be there anyway and also the risk of confrontation from them about damaging thier car. I don't deal with confrontation very well at all. even worse with people my own age. Reminds me of my bullying days at school.

However, a female or family with a respectable car with head in hands looking very cheased off with them selves then yes I probably would stop,

I did alot of recovery work for my voluntary group last summer whilst runing a festival. Multiple vans, with or without trailers, camper vans etc were becoming stuck. Before we even get a tow rope out we make them sign a disclaimer saying any damge caused to anything or anyone during the recovery is all thier fault. If they dont sign the disclaimer we have at the bottom, Failure to sign the disclaimer means we can sue for any damages caused to the ground or persons if you organise your own recovery. We win!!!

Some people didn't thank us as they thought that was our job to do it and didn't realise or believe we were volunteers. Some people were extremely grateful and gave tips or due to the very helpfulness of the recovery guys (eg 4x4 people) and people helping unload thier vans n trailers they are coming back next year.

I was at the outdoor show a few weekends back at the NEC. Just walking about minding my own business I suddenly heard, You get everywhere dont you, by a stall holder. It was only someone I towed out and he reduced an item of his stock from £20 to £5 as he was grateful of the tow. I am amazed he recognised me as I didn't him! :lol:

So yeah, some people appreciate it and others dont, would I stop and help. Depends who they were and in how much danger they were in and if an accident could be caused due to the position of thier car. I would also make up my own disclaimer if it was a tricky recovery eg in a ditch. Just a tow into a car park off a roundabout, I would class that as not enough time and get the car gone quick.

My 50pence worth!

[mill2020]

Nuns Mmmmmmmmmm!

i wonder if there real nuns or the type you book for your stag do????

[Bush Tucker Man]

Nuns Mmmmmmmmmm!

i wonder if there real nuns or the type you book for your stag do????

As they always say
"Don't try that at home"
(I mean finding out next time you see a Nun)

[Wireless]

Looks like real nuns to me, just unusual stools they are sitting on, amazed they decided to sit there at all.

[Lord Shagg-Pyle]

In my professional capacity I will always stop and offer assistance, although there are strict guidleines in my Force about helping motorists due to possible litigation. If you bear in mind that officialy I am not allowed to change a wheel or bulb on a patrol car due to health and safety rules, as I am not qualified. :shock:
When in my own wagon, I'll stop and offer help, as I hope that if I was in the same situation, someone would do the same for me.
I recall one time when I was on patrol, I found a Ford Sierra 4x4 stuck on the beach. The driver had thought that as it said 4x4 on it he could do what an off roader could do.
I was in a Job Landy, and he begged me to pull him out as the AA had said it would cost him £150 to recover him as he was not on a road.
I got him to sign my pocket book to say he would not hold me or the Force liable if any damage was caused. He did so and I linked the 90 to the towbar on his Sierra and pulled it out.
The problem came when he tried to open the door. The Sierra had been in a bad prang and not repaired properly. As a result of the tow, it had stretched. What a bummer!

[Range Rover Blues]

TBH if it's not someone I know then I'll just look to see if they are ok, if they're up and walking then it's none of my business.  I'm not insured to recover other people's cars and given that you expose yourelf to being sued if you damage it then I reckon anyone who doesn't have breakdown insurance is a fool and it's not my problem.

I do make exceptions but I find that the attitude I get back isn't justified and people are seldom that grateful to me.