Can Someone In The Know Explain "Free Recovery"

Ms_Chocaholic

Hi

Me and my OH have a longstanding argument about "free recovery" signs on motorways/dual carriageways and I wonder if you could help.

He says that if you broke down within the "free recovery" section, then you would be recovered free but only to the end of the free recovery section, ie they would dump your vehicle just after the "free recovery ends" sign.

I can't believe he thinks this, it is so ridiculous but I can't convince him that it's not true.

Am I right?

Thanks

Ms C x

dacouch

They take you to the next junction and drop you just off the motorway, then its your problem what you do.

What did you think they did then, take you home?

qwopmnxz

its usually where roadworks are taking place, they will recover you to the next exit of the motorway, this is to stop more accidents or traffic jams

Ms_Chocaholic

No, I thought they'd take you to the nearest garage (like the AA or such like would)

anewman

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

He says that if you broke down within the "free recovery" section, then you would be recovered free but only to the end of the free recovery section, ie they would dump your vehicle just after the "free recovery ends" sign.

Yep this is true. You don't think because you happened to be driving in roadworks at the time they'll come along do their best to fix your car, or tow your car to the garage do you?! This is what AA and RAC etc are for. Their aim is just to get you out of the way ASAP to free the road up.

This explains the purpose and intent of the free recovery schemes http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:Au23VTuy_QkJ:www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ians/pdfs/ian65.pdf+%22free+recovery%22+roadworks&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

2.2 The provision of a free recovery service should be considered whenever works are likely to
involve the following:
•
Reduction in the number of lanes available
•
Narrow lane widths
•
Sections of motorway without hard shoulders
•
Hard shoulder running
•
Known congestion sites
•
Decommissioning of emergency telephones over a significant length of carriageway

nearlyrich

I assume they would take you off the motorway at the next junction I have never been out in a car without a recovery contract so I don't know for sure...and I have never been towed off a motorway but I have had various rescue people out to me over the years. Shredded Tyre with only a repair kit , much use that was LOL and last week a big STOP red light came on, had to get them out as it was a coolant issue and I had none with me, car only serviced two months ago.

Ms_Chocaholic

But say the free recovery ends sign is three miles before the next junction, my OH thinks they would dump all the vehicles they have recovered from the free recovery section on the hard shoulder, just after the sign

anewman

Here we go....

7.
Setting Down Locations
7.1 Once the broken down vehicle and its occupants have been recovered, the recovery operator needs
to be able to convey them to a safe location as quickly and safely as possible so that he / she can return
to standby ready for the next incident.
7.2 The designer / contractor should give consideration to the following when deciding upon a setting
down location:-
7.3 Safety – Recovered motorists should be protected as far as reasonably practicable from the
possibility of involvement in accidents with other traffic. Hence, if possible, the setting down point
should not be located on a high-speed road or alternatively physical barriers should be provided to
give some protection from traffic.
7.4 Security – It is important to consider and mitigate as far as practicable any danger to recovered
occupants from criminal threat or activity. In remote setting down locations, it may be necessary to
provide staff or CCTV and lighting to safeguard them.
7.5 Arrangements – At all setting down locations there should be telephone facilities to enable
recovered motorists to make arrangements for further assistance.
7.6 In addition to the above requirement the following items are deemed desirable but not essential: -
a)
Toilet facilities
b)
Drinking water facilities
c)
Shelter with heat, light and seating
7.7. Suitable Locations - Listed below are typical locations that are currently used as setting down
locations for recovered vehicles and occupants. However this list is not exhaustive, and circumstances
may arise where a combination of these locations on a day / night basis may best serve the interests of
the road users. In addition, local knowledge may be employed to identify unique locations, which
fulfil the requirements for setting down recovered vehicles and occupants. The police are often able to
advise on this.
a) Motorway Service Areas – At MSA, the facilities for recovered vehicles and passengers
listed above already exist. Setting down recovered vehicles and passengers at a service station
should be considered whenever a service station is near a road works site. The service area
operator should be consulted at the planning stage to ensure that there are no insurmountable
problems.
b) Local Services or garages. – Checks should be made to ensure facilities are 24 hour and the
local Police should be consulted to ensure there are no security issues.
c) Contractors’ compound – Contractors’ compounds may be considered as setting down
locations where they are situated close to the road works site, and there is sufficient land for
parking and other facilities. For safety and security, it will generally be necessary to fence off the recovery setting down area from plant, materials, and any potential health and safety
hazards in the compound.
d) Winter Maintenance Compounds – As for contractors’ compounds. Operational times may
not coincide with the site times causing problems of access / security.
e) Temporary lay-by – Where there is sufficient highway land, a temporary lay-by behind the
hard shoulder may be constructed to accommodate recovered vehicles and passengers.
However the construction of the temporary lay-bys may be made impractical by topographical
and land ownership factors. After completion of the road works temporary lay-bys should be
removed to prevent their use as general stopping points. In locations where the provision of a
temporary lay-by would involve substantial construction costs, consideration should be given
to more cost effective setting down locations.
f) Off route lay-bys – Where the road works are near a suitable junction, a lay-by on an
adjoining road may provide a good location for setting down recovered vehicles and
occupants.
g) Hard Shoulder – If this option is selected, some measure of physical protection from passing
traffic must be given to the setting down point. The provision of a suitable impact protection
vehicle equipped with a crash cushion, or the deployment of a temporary vehicle restraint
barrier, are two possible ways of providing such protection. If either of these methods are
used, advice should be sought from the Overseeing Organisation on their deployment. Neither
method will be able to fully protect a broken down vehicle from damage should a heavy goods
vehicle (HGV) impact at speed

Keith

They normally take you to where the workers live and there is a little office where you get a cup of tea and can phone your breakdown company.

goldspanners

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

But say the free recovery ends sign is three miles before the next junction, my OH thinks they would dump all the vehicles they have recovered from the free recovery section on the hard shoulder, just after the sign

he was closer than you.

hewhoisnotintheknow

good lord!