RAC refused to help breakdown because they had dogs inside the vehicle

gettingready

I thought all motorway breakdowns are hard shoulder ones - cars pushed onto hard shoulder?

May be wrong...

Principia_2

gettingready wrote: »

I thought all motorway breakdowns are hard shoulder ones - cars pushed onto hard shoulder?

May be wrong...

I dunno I've always assumed the cars with damage on the hard shoulder were done on the hard shoulder, but thinking about it, there's no reason why they wouldn't have just been pushed there to move them out the way.

adouglasmhor

gettingready wrote: »

I thought all motorway breakdowns are hard shoulder ones - cars pushed onto hard shoulder?

May be wrong...

I broke down in the middle lane of the M8 near Blochairn in Glasgow in the rush hour. Most terrifying 15 minutes of my life until I was rescued and towed by two Traffic cops.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

catkins wrote: »

Yes the hard shoulder is meant to be the place for broken down vehicles and the advice was always to stay in the vehicle. Trouble is nowadays there are far more idiot drivers on the roads and incidents of vehicles (often lorries) ploughing into a broken down vehicle are sadly far too common. I think there are a lot of drivers on the road that definitely shouldn't be.

Try to keep up to date with advice like that.
https://www.gov.uk/breakdowns-and-incidents-274-to-287/additional-rules-for-motorways-275-to-278
leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and ensure your passengers do the same. You MUST leave any animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge. Never attempt to place a warning triangle on a motorway

catkins wrote: »

"used for commercial purposes" - Really!!! What vehicle exactly should people who show dogs use?

I will quote the bit about an international photographer for you

thorsoak wrote: »

The people involved included an internationally-renowned photographer of dogs, her assistant and a dog owner. They were travelling to attend/compete in two dog shows. The woman who was injured has suffered spinal injuries, ruptured spleen and a broken leg. The driver of the articulated lorry suffered no injuries.

blossomsuz

From the other posts I have read on the pet forums, the dogs were secured in airline approved travel crates - I am sure if they weren't even more of them would have been at rainbow bridge at this time.

The ladies involved couldn't unload the dogs due to it being a German RV type vehicle with the door facing out onto the carriageway. I am sure in the same circumstances MOST of us would stay in the vehicle with their dogs.

Also sadly I think it is now four dogs that have passed on as the one in veterinary care had to be put to sleep due to the injuries it sustained.

Regardless of who is at fault it is very sad for all involved and a big reminder to us all to check our breakdown policies.

Here is hoping for a speedy recovery for the young lady who sustained very bad injuries and big hugs to the poor people who lost their beloved companions.

Principia_2

adouglasmhor wrote: »

I broke down in the middle lane of the M8 near Blochairn in Glasgow in the rush hour. Most terrifying 15 minutes of my life until I was rescued and towed by two Traffic cops.

Good grief :eek: I am glad you made it ok.
Being nosey (totally off topic sorry), did you have any inkling or did you just conk out?

adouglasmhor

Principia wrote: »

Good grief :eek: I am glad you made it ok.
Being nosey (totally off topic sorry), did you have any inkling or did you just conk out?

I stalled in a traffic jam and the starter motor solenoid jammed, the traffic started and I didn't, people were swerving at the last minute into the path of other cars and HGVs, beeping horns like I was doing it deliberately.

I got the starter fixed and sold the car, it was so tainted to me.

Principia_2

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/breakdowns-and-incidents-274-to-287/additional-rules-for-motorways-275-to-278
leave the vehicle by the left-hand door and ensure your passengers do the same. You MUST leave any animals in the vehicle or, in an emergency, keep them under proper control on the verge. Never attempt to place a warning triangle on a motorway

I've highlighted the last bit - I assume that also includes the hard shoulder?

Humphrey10

This accident shows the importance of leaving the vehicle - the injuries to the women were totally avoidable.

Principia_2

Humphrey10 wrote: »

This accident shows the importance of leaving the vehicle - the injuries to the women were totally avoidable.

This I do agree with, although if I had not had this opportunity to reflect on it I think I would probably have stayed in the vehicle myself as an instinctive thing.

If the worse happens and something does go into your car then I think I would be more help being uninjured and outside the vehicle rather than injured and inside. Same if you have someone unable to leave the car (although somehow that feels really bad:()

Personally I would leave the car and if anyone needed to stay in the car then I'd be mentioning that to the breakdown company.