4x4 response

[crabman]

Just out of interest what are the insurance implications if involved in work with one of these groups ?

Not looking to stir anything up just a genuine question .

[jason]

Hi all

I have been really looking into this before Christmas but there is no group in Evesham
But i would love to do it.

[yaki]

You have to notify your insurance company, usually they upgrade your policy to include business use.

All 4x4 Response groups are covered by the National 4x4 Response public liability insurance and you can also be additionally covered by the insurance policy of the organisation you are supporting. Most groups will have what is and isn't covered in their written agreement with these organisations

As an example, a certain Police force covers responders with their own insurers and responders even get life insurance cover

[yaki]

[jmc]

Thanks for the writing yaki,it does look like a serous committment and I guessed that there must be some training before anyone could be let loose as it were.
I will have a look at the South East ones website for more info.

[furball]

I think they all offer training to make sure you are at a minimum level of competence before they send you out. Some of the bigger groups have members who are qualified off road instructors

[woodwizzard]

There are training days held that you can attend, but there is no training required before being sent out. Adrian Flux has just started giving a discount to response members on insurance. Common sense seems to be the biggest requirement. They don't expect you to be an off roading genius, but just to help out if or when you can in the conditions you are happy to drive in.

[Sir-Doris]

You need to attend at least one training day before you can qualify for responder status.

Training includes various exercises including:

Recovery
Navigation
Survival
First Aid
Vehicle Handling

Some are optional.

[jason]

[alex]

Its a shame we dont have a group local to me, wouldve joined up.

[4x4 bobby]

Thought about it last year but the unit asked for a level of fitness which i could'nt give due to my illnesses. Could do most of it first aid, vehicle handling, navigation, survival. Would love to help out.

[woodwizzard]

[jmc]

Haven't been on for a few days thanks for the replies about the training.It all sounds interesting.

[gregster]

i have ummed and arrred about joining 4x4 response, but I kinda do it anyway locally...the coastguard calls me if there Hi-lux gets stuck, the police give me a knock if theres a problem and they need a big truck that will go where their 110 can only only dream of going...

I must admit I do have a serious concern that 4x4 response is the cheap option for local authorities, who should invest in the right gear for the services, yet waste fortunes on stupid things...
I dont mind helping out, but I kinda think having to pay to join an organisation so that you can give your time FOC is a bit off...surely the services that use the 4x4 response network should bear that cost...

I kinda begrudge being that cheap option when local authorities spend 10's of thousands on sculptures of questionable benifit....
Lets face it, if someone who worked in a senior position in local authority took there 4x4 into work as their company car was snowed in, do you think they would do it for next to nothing, or would they milk the expenses to death???
Or if a local authority had to hire in 4x4's they would have to pay the going rate...so why us do if for next to nothing? Lets face it, our cars are largely more capable and better equipped than anything they could hire in...

People in "vital" roles should consider where they live and what they drive, and maybe swap in that swanky X5 for something that works...
The biggest issue with climate change is unneccesary mileage in cars...so living within walking distance of work is gotta be the best option all round!
I live on an island with huge employement, but most of the people who work on here live off the island, so cant get to work when it snows, how dumb is that..how much enviromental damage does this do every day???
Why shouldnt the local authorities provisionally licence some 4x4's for use as taxi's or like volunteer driver vehicles like the hospitals use,...that way the vital people can get to work, be invoiced by the local authority and the people doing the work be properly paid for it by the people who use the service...

Dont get me wrong, I would be the first to help in a crisis, towed probably a good 40+ stuck cars out in the snow, largely for nothing although a few people bunged me a drink for helping em, some of these working with the police and gritting/snowplough crews. I towed an ambulance on blues that was stuck, and a stuck police skoda...
I just can see that local authorities would see 4x4 response as a reason to cut budgets to the paid services to waste on other stuff, as they have a bunch of 4x4 owners willing to do stuff for next to nothing, yet in the next breath they will be slating 4x4 owners, the "damage" they cause to ozone, and close our green lanes!!!

Dont mean to seem really tight...as I said I do stuff to help anyway...maybe we could think about doing something similar through FOG, as we all are members with 4x4's and give the forums details and area reps details to local authorities if they want to contact us for help....for a significant donation to the site and sensible expenses!!

I think the better option in the recent snow may have been to mobilise the 2 million unemployed in the UK with a shovel each...
I reckon we would have next to no snow left on the roads left if they did this...
2 million'ish shovels going for 9 hours a day is gonna shift a lot of the white stuff!!!
And if they cant cope, then working parties from the prisons to assist...why should inmates sit in the warm at our expense while we all struggle with the elements!!!
And why didnt the government just take a flipping stand and say "No-one will get sued for clearing snow off pavements or side roads"...that way the people who couldnt get to work had no excuse for not being able to get the car out on day 2...
And one caught sledging on a road or pavement making it more hazardous and icey for everyone, should be liable for prosecution...thats what parks and open spaces are for...highways are not playgrounds...
The massive cost of last weeks snow in commerce will run into millions and millions...and every pound of that is taxable, so the government and authorities are only doing themselves out of money by their inactivty and lack of ingenuity...

Sorry...put soap box back away again...and get Gregster...

My thoughts 4x4 response great idea in principal,
but should be charged properly to the authorities, so as not a cheap option to be exploited, and then be free to members to join with a shout fee and realistic payment per mile considering fuel, wear and tear and risk to your vehicle, and comprehensive insurance for your vehicle should be provided by the local authorities insurers whom you are supporting, so you arent gonna loose your no claims helping them out...


I will get my coat....

[john (smifffy)]

[fogman]

quality post gregster ,i think youve hit the nail well & truly on the head

[4x4 bobby]

Great post Gregster!!!!!
"I VOTE GREGSTER FOR PRIMINSTER"

[domino]

That's the best read I've had in a long while. Long live gregster!

[country_Est]

Whilst I agree with the sentiments of Gregs post, the harsh reality of this is that without the help of the 4x4 response a lot of people would be suffering an awfull lot more then they are currently.

I have so far done 2 nights delivering carers around Wokingham district, and one day delivering meals on Wheels, and 1 night with ooh care nurses at Maidenhead Hospital. Whilst I will be rembursed for the mileage the fact that I did something other that sit and watch telly or play on the computer.

So its up to you how you wish to spend your time. I know most of the people I took out were VERY suprised that we were volunteers.

Trev.

PS for what its worth the price paid to join included £5M Public liability Insurance, along with a days training / assement 2 stickers & a Hi Vis Vest

[domino]

How much did you have to pay? Is it a yearly thing?