Snow carnage !!

[meezermum]

Hi All, Just a quick one, with the snow round us last night I thought it was a great opportunity to go help all the stranded motorists on there way!
Where I live there are a few hills and dips to our roads and low and behold cars were strewn all over the place. What a great feeling towing cars,trucks, vans and taxis up the hills to safety, While I concentrated on the Leyland area my father-in-law helped out in Chorley, he also helped out the local health centre get doctors and nurses to where they needed to be . Cars saved ranged from old fiestas to a brand new Jag XJ but my favorite one of the night was pulling a Rav4 by its ass up a small hill
Any one else get out and be the good samaritan?

Tell us all about it!!!!

[jason]

I am doing the same up here
But it F***ks me wright of when people know its bad out there,but still and try and go out, but then get stuck

[meezermum]

Well i had a slight accident last night by using jims disco as a stopping buffer for my Fronty... Doh lol, managed to crack the N/S indicator But after a few kind gestures from the motorists I rescued It easily paid for a new one, which has been posted already from flebay. Happy days

[bigdazz]

sorry to hear that mate

[Bockscar]

Well done. Done the same down here in Essex. Why do people go out in a KA in this weather?.

Bockskar.

[meooo]

A word of warning (dont wanna spoil your fun everyone)

As I understand it, if you tow someone and they have an accident (slide into another motor/wall) YOU are responsible!!

This happened to a mate of mine down here last year. He pulled a woman out..she had steering lock still on (keys in handbag) and hit another car. Both she and the other drive claimed on the tow cars insurance!

He vowed never to help anyone again...

[Roo]

[Roo]

[meezermum]

Its not just that they don't know how to drive in this weather, its the amount of people who have no idea where the towing eye is!!!. I had at least 4 cars last night that the driver didn't have the stupid recovery eye bolt!!! hence drag them up using there towbar or with some we just had to push!! Mad but fun

[bigdazz]

that's very true and the number that don't have a locking wheel nut key or what it is

[Roo]

[Postfinder]

And then there is the idiots in 4X4's that find that they can go anywhere, are lulled into a false sense of security, then push it a bit faster, until they want to slow down or stop As one Merc 4x4 found out this afternoon when he ran out of road and took out some road cones reducing a duel carriage way to single file traffic.
G.

[meezermum]

I had one of those last night as well, a guy in a road standard disco with road tyres decided he was gonna overtake me and do a sharp right at the lights... Guess what???????
Yep over compensated then over compensated again then round and round then say hello to lamppost.... PLANK

[Frenchfarmer]

[Trugga]

Something that was brought to my attention during some motorsport marshalling training...

offer the end of your tow rop to the stricken vehicles driver and get them to affix it (or indicate to you wher to affix it).

Just something I've always remembered.

Lawrence

[bigdazz]

[Drift]

Unless like last night three taxi's, three private cars, and one plain BMW response Police car aint got a clue where the tow points are and one of the taxi's and would you believe the Police car never had the tow eye, the police car had enough kit for a nuclear war...but no towing eye

Nearly all cars that needed a tow where rear wheel drive, all the front wheel drive cars did good under instruction with out needing a tow.

[bigdazz]

thats shocking

rear wheel drive are bad no weight over wheels

[Big Dav]

Regarding the lack of some car drivers not having the towing eye available, please don't be too hard on them - some fleet managers actively remove the towing eye from the car to prevent their drivers making a hash of things should the car break down preferring contracted garages to carry out any recovery. Admittedly those managers will not think of inclement weather being the cause of the car having to be towed, more frequent need for a fleet car having to be towed in being cross fuelling diesels with petrol.
Come across any of the folks trying to insert the towing eye not realising some are left hand threaded? Got called out 20 miles away one evening to enlighten a colleague - nope, trying to explain over the phone didn't remove the cause of the rescue journey! David.

[Retro Pedro]

Does seem madness that you have to watch your back when helping others.
Within the box, you are helping somebody else because you've got the tool to do the job, plus helping keeping the highways/roads moving.
Then outside the box, should you come across a 'non common sense' or 'jobs worth' fella with a blue hat on or somebody who is prepared to stab you in the back after you have done them a massive favour by claiming on your insurance. I mean, should you be covering your back by putting a trailer board on an on tow sign on the back of the car your pulling. Should you be asking them to sign a disclaimer before you massively help them out - all complete madness but should you cover yourself in the eventuality of you having the finger pointed at you.
Personally, I didn't get chance to go out pulling yesterday because I had to sort out folks shopping and go and get the mother in law home from hospital after her operation.
What I would say is that from earlier this month and last year's helping towing missions, is yes it is frustrating when they can't find their towing eyes and this year I said to people is that if you want me to pull you out, you get down under your car and fix the rope (within reason - i.e. older folks or ladies). Got fed up with crawling under cars and ending up with wet cloths when the fellas (some alot younger than me) stood there and watched. Plus would it be in your favour if any damage occurred if the owner had tied the rope on in the first place. Guess it would always be advisable to say that you are prepared to help them out but you don't take any responsibility should any damage be caused as a direct result of you doing the towing.
Last but not least - how about asking for a donation to Help The Heroes after you have covered your costs and had fun in the process.
.