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' Is it right to call 999 over mattress in the road?' blog discussion

edited 15 March 2011 at 2:23PM in Martin's blogs & appearances & MoneySavingExpert in the news
78 replies 10.6K views
This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.




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Replies

  • real_woodwormreal_woodworm Forumite
    15 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Yes, absolutely it is right! If some following scooter rider had been faced with either hitting the debris or swerving into the path of a lorry I'm sure they would agree!
  • I always believed that 999 was for if there was immediate danger so I'd say definitely yes!`
    Total 'Failed Business' Debt £29,043
    Que sera, sera. <3
  • EvilmEvilm Forumite
    2K Posts
    I probably would have used the local police number (a list here : http://website.lineone.net/~familykeens/policeno.htm) and reported it that way. Or used what our local force called the "nuisance" number : 101.

    Yes, it needs to be reported urgently but I would err on the side of caution and not tie up the emergency lines. It does help that I would usually be a passenger so could make the call right away though.
  • 999 was definitely correct. You may have saved 10s of lives by preventing a major accident.
  • spadooshspadoosh Forumite
    8.7K Posts
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Forumite
    wouldve gone with highways agency myself. those guys just dive out in the road a drag it away. the police will now have the A40 shut for 3 days whilst a full investigation takes place.... cue angry emails to martin :P
  • grahammgrahamm Forumite
    59 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    I'm a biker and I've called 999 over eg diesel spills or a branch on a country road which had fallen down and was sticking out at 90 degrees almost at my head height, so I'd have had no qualms about calling 999 over something like this which was causing a danger to you and other road users.

    BTW I don't know if you use Sat Nav, but my Tom Tom Rider V2 has a "Help Me" function on it where it will give the exact geographic location (latitude and longitude) of where you are and also details of the road you are on and distances eg 800 yards from road X and 100 yards from road Y to help emergency services find where you are.
    if i had known then what i know now
  • Way back when my Dad was moving me back home from halls of residence and had filled the boot full to bursting. Unfortunately he'd not closed the boot properly and it came open on the M40 and a (small) box flew out. We went along the motorway a couple of times before we saw it, and then called the police (non-emergency number) as it was half in the fast lane, half on the central reservation.

    Once the copper had come and retrieved the box he said that we should have phoned 999 immediately as it's a hazard on a main road. If I was told that for a box of no more than 2' x 1' x 6" then I'd say it's definitely the case for a mattress!
    Sum quod sum.
  • king100king100 Forumite
    1.6K Posts
    Evilm wrote: »
    I probably would have used the local police number (a list here : http://website.lineone.net/~familykeens/policeno.htm) and reported it that way. Or used what our local force called the "nuisance" number : 101.

    Yes, it needs to be reported urgently but I would err on the side of caution and not tie up the emergency lines. It does help that I would usually be a passenger so could make the call right away though.

    Yeah hang on while i google on my phone to figure out which is my local police station to call up.

    Actually what is my local police station there?

    You have 1 min off the top of your head to tell me.

    Martin

    Perfectly acceptable, I called 999 when driving down the motorway and there was a wooden pallett in the fast lane, phone operator said thank you, I then pulled into services and saw police there who I told them as well, they said that they had just received the called, guess what I wasent arrested and they said thanks again.
    I all have learnt is from others on many sites.
    Seek legal help if unsure.
    Dont pay Private Parking tickets - they are mere invoices.

    PRESS THANKS
    }
  • Surely postcodes only apply to places that will have post delivered to them ?

    At what point along the 100+ mile long A40 is the letterbox located ?

    Steve
  • tr3mortr3mor Forumite
    2.3K Posts
    You made a public sector worker do some work, so of course she was grumpy!
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