Poll - Would you help?

[Randonneur]

I have helped out a lady whose car had a mechanical breakdown including being a shoulder for her to cry on. I could'nt fix it but ended up towing her across town to her home so she could get back to her kids. So yes, I would stop to help if I thought she really needed it.

With regard to changing a flat tyre, I think being able to demonstrate changing a wheel should be a part of the driving test. But that said, if I saw a woman struggling with the job, then if I was able to I would offer to help. However, I believe a lot of new cars these days don't actually have a spare wheel ( unforgivable in my opinion! ), to save on weight and boot space. I believe some just come with a can of tyre weld which you're supposed to squirt in through the valve hole! I've used a similar product in motorbike tyres and found it f*****in' useless!! So in that situation I think you would have no option but to call out the breakdown services.

By the way, as well as being a wide shoulder to cry on, my wife says I give wicked foot rubs as well. :scared:

 

[whitevanwoman]

The most frustrating thing about the whole incident was that for 99% of the time I'm dressed in combat style trousers, and walking boots or DM style boots, perfect gear for changing tyres. But yesterday was one of the 2 or 3 days each year that I'm dressed up in "townie" work clothes as I'd been to a big regional meeting in Manchester, most impractical for changing a tyre, especially as I had to get underneath the van to release the spare wheel cos the clip had jammed and that was what took most of the time up. I knew I could change the tyre so long as I could get the wheel nuts undone and that was what I struggled with, but luckily with a good kicking from my heeled boots, I was able to get them off. After that it was a doddle, and done in 10 mins, with a huge amount of satisfaction on my part.

Thinking about it now, its seems that maybe what I was wearing added to my initial stress, had I been dressed in my normal gear, I'd have just got on with it without worrying about putting holes in my tights, scuffing the toes of my boots, showing my backside off cos my skirt had ridden up, getting oil on my good coat etc. Although it was a bit stressful at first, it actually turned out to be a good thing as it gave my self-confidence a boost, and reminded me of the importance of having a torch, blanket to kneel (thanks to the dog), tyre pressure gauge, can of WD40 etc in the van. And it may be worth keeping a pair of jogging pants or waterproof trousers in the van (I usually do keep a full set of waterproofs but I'd taken them out as I'd used them and not got round to putting them back). And also I'll make sure that I check my spare wheel regularly, luckily yesterday it was ok and I was in a petrol station so I was able to stick a bit of air in it to be on the safe side, but it was the first time I'd even seen my spare tyre for several years. There's always a lesson to be learned.

I'm also going to get one of those extendable bars that someone has recommended (Scampa, I think), if nothing else, I'll be able to jump on it with both feet, instead of just one

 

[Mothman]

100% help anyone anytime of day or night,,,

its the only right thing to do,,

Mothman,,,,,

 

[Justjack]

I am female and would not hesitate to stop and help, even though I would be pretty useless. A bit of moral support should never be underestimated.

 

[whitevanwoman]

I am female and would not hesitate to stop and help, even though I would be pretty useless. A bit of moral support should never be underestimated.

Most definitely. Even having someone to just hold the torch for me would have been helpful.

 

[whitevanwoman]

now that pisses me right off as i can't abide that sort of manipulating and would quite happily pass by and let some other mug fall for it

Is this tongue in cheek too?

 

[Canalsman]

Good point. But I'd be reluctant to get out of the vehicle on a motorway at night time and to sit waiting alone for help, especially as the stretch of the M6 that I use a lot has no lighting at night and can be pretty quiet in the wee small hours.

Police statistics about hard shoulder collisions are terrifying - I seem to recall that it's a matter of minutes before your vehicle may be struck ...

Note the angle that recovery vehicles are parked at on the motorway, and always behind the broken down vehicle. If hit they will not be forced into the back of the breakdown.

So please get out even if it's dark or raining or cold.

My best friend at school broke down on the M1 and was killed walking on the hard shoulder. Being in a vehicle that's struck from behind is going to be pretty serious.

 

[whitevanwoman]

Police statistics about hard shoulder collisions are terrifying - I seem to recall that it's a matter of minutes before your vehicle may be struck ...

Note the angle that recovery vehicles are parked at on the motorway, and always behind the broken down vehicle. If hit they will not be forced into the back of the breakdown.

So please get out even if it's dark or raining or cold.

My best friend at school broke down on the M1 and was killed walking on the hard shoulder. Being in a vehicle that's struck from behind is going to be pretty serious.

I seem to remember that you should try to angle your wheels so that they are facing into the hard shoulder, presumably so that if you are hit from behind your vehicle is pushed towards the banking rather than back into the motorway.

 

[Canalsman]

I seem to remember that you should try to angle your wheels so that they are facing into the hard shoulder, presumably so that if you are hit from behind your vehicle is pushed towards the banking rather than back into the motorway.

Correct - and get your vehicle as far off the carriageway as possible.

 

[n brown]

Is this tongue in cheek too?

no serious,having seen my mother and 3 sisters play this card too many times and made sure my 3 daughters never did it.by the way glad to hear you got to see your spare tyre,hope you didn't show it to any body! different with your spare wheel of course

 

[kimbowbill]

A guy had broke down at a crossroads, his clutch had gone while in gear, he was struggling to move his car away from the bollards, this was causing major problems as it was rush hour traffic, sat behind him was a large bloke in a lorry who was blocking the way even more, i was on the other side of the road, i got out and helped him just move it maybe a foot so that cars could get round the ballard, Jess, its not only you, or your atire, people just dont help anyone anymore, for whatever reason, but its every man/woman for themselves these days.

 

[scampa]

Most definitely. Even having someone to just hold the torch for me would have been helpful.

That's why I always carry a head-torch in my van & car, it lets you keep both hands free for wheel-changing and repairs etc (and no, it doesn't make you light-headed lol!)

Also it may be worth carrying one of those aerosol cans of puncture-repair foam, as has been mentioned. Even if you don't trust it to get you all the way home, it should help you drive a few miles to a safer or more convenient place to do a wheel-change. (supermarkets and garages etc sell them). I usually carry one with me, but have only tried it so far on my punctured lawnmower tyre, which has since stayed firm now for a couple of years.

This is the kind of thing that I mean: HOLTS TYRE WELD REPAIR TYRE SEAL PUNCTURE CAR 400ML | eBay

 

[n brown]

one very hot day i came across a woman whose car wouldn't start,saying nowt but suspecting vacuum lock,i chucked half a bucket of water into her engine compartment[over the lift pump] and said try it now. you could see she thought iwas mad,then it started and i just walked off without a word. what she made of that i'll never know,the Mystery Mechanic strikes again!

 

[barryd]

So we would all stop. Good. However would you stop for a couple with a broken down scooter at the bottom of a 25% hill who are stuggling to get back up to their Motorhome 2 miles up the road and one of them is limping with a walking stick and trying desperately to thumb a lift?

Thats exactly what happened to us in Devon a couple of years ago and not one car (and there were plenty) stopped to help or offer us a lift back up the hill.

Im only 45 but I remember a time where we would have certainly got a lift.

Maybe if your a damsel in distress on your own your at a bit of an advantage. Perhaps I should have hopped over the wall and left Mrs D thumbing on her own!

I know its a different senario but I reckon when you take Chivelry out of the equasion people generally dont want to know.

 

[ourglenard]

The most frustrating thing about the whole incident was that for 99% of the time I'm dressed in combat style trousers, and walking boots or DM style boots, perfect gear for changing tyres. But yesterday was one of the 2 or 3 days each year that I'm dressed up in "townie" work clothes as I'd been to a big regional meeting in Manchester, most impractical for changing a tyre, especially as I had to get underneath the van to release the spare wheel cos the clip had jammed and that was what took most of the time up. I knew I could change the tyre so long as I could get the wheel nuts undone and that was what I struggled with, but luckily with a good kicking from my heeled boots, I was able to get them off. After that it was a doddle, and done in 10 mins, with a huge amount of satisfaction on my part.

...You learn so much on here!!......I now know that it's a waste of time (& space) Me keeping My mini-Skirt, Stockings & High-Heels in the Van!!

 

[n brown]

So we would all stop. Good. However would you stop for a couple with a broken down scooter at the bottom of a 25% hill who are stuggling to get back up to their Motorhome 2 miles up the road and one of them is limping with a walking stick and trying desperately to thumb a lift?

Thats exactly what happened to us in Devon a couple of years ago and not one car (and there were plenty) stopped to help or offer us a lift back up the hill.

Im only 45 but I remember a time where we would have certainly got a lift.

Maybe if your a damsel in distress on your own your at a bit of an advantage. Perhaps I should have hopped over the wall and left Mrs D thumbing on her own!

I know its a different senario but I reckon when you take Chivelry out of the equasion people generally dont want to know.

actually i would stop for anyone pushing a bike,cos i know you can't leave them lying around,also, having fitted out my own van i'm not scared of damaging it by having a bike banging about

 

[barryd]

To be fair in the end we abandoned the bike and set off up hill on foot. Eventually we retrieved the van and drove it down to the bike on the narrow 25% hill where I blocked the road to put the scooter on the back just as the Police turned up! Who thankfully considering the mood I was in by then were utterly charming and very helpful. Pity they hadnt come an hour earlier!

 

[Firefox]

...You learn so much on here!!......I now know that it's a waste of time (& space) Me keeping My mini-Skirt, Stockings & High-Heels in the Van!!

Haha. I don't have any stockings or mini skirt, but do have some cowboy boots in the van with 3" heels which I sometimes wear, usually with suits or to some event or other. I would not use them for changing wheels though!!

 

[barryd]

Who voted NO. Spliter!!!!

(Quote Monty Python and the Life of Brian)

 

[ourglenard]

Haha. I don't have any stockings or mini skirt, but do have some cowboy boots in the van with 3" heels which I sometimes wear, usually with suits or to some event or other. I would not use them for changing wheels though!!

We're gonna get our Northern Brethren wondering now!!!!!!