4x4 response

[jammywagonwheel]

Gregster - I couldnt agree more!
I towed quite a few cars out around my estate, theres 1 road in and out, but suprise suprise a local counciller lives on the estate and the snowplough / gritter was down there within a couple of days HOWEVER, the snowplough pushed all the snow into a large berm on either side of the road about 3 feet high and blocked all the drives - genius!.

Fronty, knobbly tyres, towrope and a shovel to the rescue, theres a guy 5 doors down with a flatbadge disco (old one and suitibly battered so its OK... ) and we were running around the local estate digging people out, towing them around, doing emergency ration runs (bread, milk, fags and Gin) for the oldies and young mums (quite fun really!) - even Mel got into the Blitz spirit, taking next doors (pensioner - dodgy hip and not made for the slippery stuff) dog for a walk to the local shops and back several times with a pocket full of shopping lists (SMA, toilet rolls - more Gin etc). I then dropped her at the entrance to the estate with a couple of thermos flasks of tea, coffee and tomato soup with a couple of the Thames Valley 4x4 guys (nice crowd - Hi guys if your here - they mentioned theres a LWB Fronty with a lift and a little Suzuki that goes on their days out!!) who were towing cars off the roundabout / up the hill who had been there for hours while i went for a refuel at Tesco's.

We have had a couple of bottles of wine and a thank you card left outside by someone (no idea who!) which is a nice touch.

I had the councillers house pointed out to me... nice 58 plate Audi Q7 (You know the one - Its the great big environmentally friendly and extremely frugal 4.2 ltr V8 4x4 ) still on the drive - still covered in snow - and said that the 'person' (cant repeat what he actually said, as it was quite descriptive and very graphic) was using a cab to get to work, he knew this as he towed the cab (Local Taxi firms People carrier) out the previous day

I'm all for helping out in times like this and any time I'm required, but as Greg quite rightly put it, The Cab I dare say was on expenses - which is covered by OUR taxes, and joining a voluntary organisation shouldnt cost you a penny - St John's Ambulance / Mountain Rescue / Samaritans / childline / Meals on Wheels / Shelter etc (as far as I'm aware) are free to assist, there is no reasonable compensation for fuel / wear and tear (time i'm not so worried about as its spare time anyway),

If we were scheduled to 'assist' in our own time, the least that could be done was to cover out of pocket expenses, if 'we' were used on a "on-call" basis then our time becomes required, we should not be used to cover the holes in the otherwise ill equipped, underfunded and understaffed Emergency services.

The idea about using FOG as a contact point for your area is a great one, the monies 'donated' can go towards keeping this place running, I would be willing to assist in times of crisis to reduce the non emergency incidents from the 'professionals' - not for financial gain, but by the same account why should I be out of pocket?

[country_Est]

[woodwizzard]

Membership is £10 a year to renew and you are covered under the groups insurance. You are also covered if you are not on "duty" and phone the controller to notify them that you are helping someone on the roadside etc. Its ok helping out in the neighbourhood, but in this "sue everybody" era we live in you have to be so carefull in case things go wrong. As Trev says, stuck in front of the box or out and about, I know where I would rather be. Now then, what time is eastenders on

[yaki]

[gregster]

Granted the liability insurance aspect is a good idea to have in place,
but the issue, as I see it, is not about being out and about OR being a member of 4x4 response...
as you can be out and about AND not a member also...

I must admit I have liability insurance incorporated into my motortrade insurance policy, so its not something that I gave a second thought to...but I guess thats worth having if it can be used to protect you for stuff you do outside of 4x4 response...

Good on you guys for doing your bit in the snow helping people ...
getting that help to people is really important...however its sufficiently important that the local authorities should have a realistic and feasible contingency plan for it, not just act surprised and not cope when it snows...

They have the funds to do it properly, only they choose to waste it on other pointless projects or on subsidising the idle ones because they lack the ability, determination and courage to manage them properly...

Personally I think its disgusting that the hundreds of people having a day off work as snowed in, couldn't bring it upon themselves to check on an elderly neighbour who normally relies on meals on wheels,
and maybe cook up a bit extra for a meal for them too...
There should be no need for Meals on wheels in situations of extreme conditions as we have experienced...the people who leave near the old folk you delivered food to should be ashamed of themselves...

But then they were probably too busy to help someone, as they were sledging with their children, up and down the pavement outside the old folks houses, turning a relatively safe bit of loose snow into a serious icy hazard should the old people dare to venture outside...as if it isnt dangerous enough for old folk out in the snow with undisciplined children lobbing snowballs at them, who should have been at school (if the school wasnt closed as they are so petrified of being sued by the same parents!)
or they were too busy digging their drive out onto the pavement making it totally impassible, so they can get the car out, not to go to work, but so they can take the kids sledging elsewhere, or get to the shops to buy 50 loaves of bread!

Good on anyone who helped someone in the recent snow, whether as part of a group or off your own back...
sadly you are in the minority such is the standard of peoples camaraderie in the UK, but without you many would have suffered far more....

A grave concern is suppose is that without "the cheap option" of your help...then nothing would have been done to assist those who needed help as there was "no budget for it", or "no resource available"...

Sad but true I think...

[yaki]

[jason]

I totally agree with all that has been said! Everyone moans about 4x4 drivers - yet when it snows or there is bad weather they want our help!!!

Anyway I am all for helping those who need it, have towed an ambulance, helped a disabled lady get her car unstuck, towed many BMWs (one man didnt even know whether his car was front or rear wheel drive!!! ) I did even phone the local council and gave them my number as they were after 4x4 drivers to take nurses out to patients - cannot believe they had noone to help them!! and the council were overjoyed I had offered my help!!

There is a huge lack of facilities in our area like this(Evesham) however a huge number of 4x4 drivers (and not mums with chelsea tractors!! ) which means although the lack of facilities, there are alot of people pulling together to help - true 4x4 spirit!!!

I am planning to join the 4x4 response team in Gloucestershire area - am begrugingly paying the join up fee which is £35 and then £15 annually I think - but as said you do get hi-vis vest etc... for this.

[john (smifffy)]

there is a video of the dartmoor rescue group from the other night from haydon hill
they dont seem to have hi-viz even along side a major road
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/pe ... 456597.stm

[Road Hog]

[john (smifffy)]

[yaki]

m8 of mine was up in Scotland on holiday last week and did this to help out

[Drift]

[4x4 bobby]

Ste, from that E-Mail i see that SE 4x4 responce its trying to do exactly what Gregster was saying, that the local authoritys should get involved if they are happy to use the sevice provided by the responders. I cant see what all the fuss was about!!!!!

Bobster.

[Drift]

I cant see any fuss

Questions have to be asked to find out the answers

Im all for it

[4x4 bobby]

Good Man

[Dave_RAYNET]

damn right, i'd rather see questions and answers on a site as opposed to speculative hearsay.

As Yaki mentioned the Wales groups organises training events. I attended my first one yesterday, they are normally held over 2 days, but yesterday was over 1 which suited me as getting a weekend off is quite rare for me.

There were alot of green ovals there but me, yaki and my mate Andy were fighting back with our frontys. We had a briefing which was mainly about safe driving and how to use your vehicle in a safe manor in the countryside environment. Then a few little chats about basic first aid which was geared around a vehicle crash, basic recovery info. Safe use of shackles, ropes, use of gloves etc. All interesting stuff. Some of it was common sense based obviousness.

Then we were taken to an off road site. The experienced ones taken off on a more extreme lane, those of use who'd never really hit the mud before were taken around a course based on prepping you for getting ready for how your vehicle will react to hills, drops, side walls etc. We also put into practice some of the stuff we learnt in the morning, failed hill attempts etc. Then we were treated to a supposidly light lane, although in reality the recent snow and rain had made it a boggy mess in some places.

Fantastic day all in all, good laugh and it got you to meet some of the members you'd not normally meet.